1
I noticed a strong ammonia odor coming from the litter box. Should I be concerned and what does it mean? (I have 2 indoor cats - both 5 years old.)
2
My 8 year old cat has started pooping outside the litter box. The litter box is clean and nothing has changed. How do I get her to stop and what would make her start after 8 years?
3
Just recently, my adult neutered male cat has been urinating (not spraying) on items that have been left on the floor. This is a new occurrence and distresses me to no end. The cat has recently been sick with hemobart and had been doing pretty badly. He has since improved and is running around like a mad man. Is this something I should be concerned with and how do I get him to stop using my clothes as a litter box?
4
I just adopted a 10 week old kitten. She is adjusting well except for one thing. When I first got here home she decided to urinate and defecate in one corner of our living room. I put a litter box in that spot and it solved the problem. Question is how do I get the kitten to use her litter box in our bathroom now that is right outside the living room? We'd like to watch TV without the smell if you get what I mean!
5
Is it true that two females cat won't share a litter box?
1
I noticed a strong ammonia odor coming from the litter box. Should I be concerned and what does it mean? (I have 2 indoor cats - both 5 years old.)
When urine begins to break down, it will smell like ammonia. If you have a strong smell coming from your litter box, it is likely that the box is quite dirty. When you have two cats, it is best to have at least two boxes that are cleaned daily if using scoopable litter or changed twice weekly for regular clay litter. If the litter box is getting dirtier than usual, this might be a sign that one cat or both is urinating more frequently. This may mean that a urinary tract infection is present. If you believe that urination has become more frequent, then a veterinary visit is in order.
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2
My 8 year old cat has started pooping outside the litter box. The litter box is clean and nothing has changed. How do I get her to stop and what would make her start after 8 years?
There could be several reasons your cat has started to defecate outside of the litter box. If there has been a change in the cleanliness or frequency of cleaning of the litter box some cats will not use it regularly; more frequent cleaning might help. In other cases they can no longer fit into the box because of either weight gain or orthopedic changes; a different box may help. As cats age they often become prone to constipation and may have difficulty defecating and associate the litter box with unpleasant experiences; a veterinary visit and appropriate treatment is needed. If the frequency of defecation has increased, the cat might be experiencing inflammatory bowel disease; again, consult your veterinarian. Determining which one of these applies to your cat may help you get her to use the litter box again.
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3
Just recently, my adult neutered male cat has been urinating (not spraying) on items that have been left on the floor. This is a new occurrence and distresses me to no end. The cat has recently been sick with hemobart and had been doing pretty badly. He has since improved and is running around like a mad man. Is this something I should be concerned with and how do I get him to stop using my clothes as a litter box?
When a cat will not use their litter box it is often because there is something about the box that they do not like. Make sure your litter box is very clean and filled with enough litter material. It also should be in an area that is private and quiet. Since your cat was ill, he may have developed a preference for elimination elsewhere. If you provide a clean litter box and keep materials off the floor he may go back to the box. If things don't change, you may want to have him examined and be sure there is not a medical reason for the non litter box use.
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4
I just adopted a 10 week old kitten. She is adjusting well except for one thing. When I first got here home she decided to urinate and defecate in one corner of our living room. I put a litter box in that spot and it solved the problem. Question is how do I get the kitten to use her litter box in our bathroom now that is right outside the living room? We'd like to watch TV without the smell if you get what I mean!
If your kitten is consistently using the litter box in the present location, you can slowly begin to move it elsewhere. Only move the box 6-8 inches every few days and be sure that she still continues to use it in the new place. It also might help to place something over the old spot so she will not be tempted to return there. If she does, move the box back and wait another month or so and try again. It also might help to have two boxes for awhile, one in the living room and one in the bathroom and see if she will gradually begin to use the one in the bathroom as you move the one in the living room.
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5
Is it true that two females cat won't share a litter box?
When there is more than one cat in the home there should be more than one litter box. The general rule of thumb is one box per cat and usually in more than one location. Each cat may want privacy and a clean box which is easier to accomplish when there is more than one litter box.
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