"Hi, Doc," said Mr. Emme. "I sure hope you can help me. I am having a real problem with my cat, Bea. I do not know what has gotten into her. She has started using the bathroom all over the house." "When did that start?" I asked. "A couple of weeks ago," he answered. "Is it urine or stool?" "Stool. She is urinating in her box okay. For some reason, she has just decided to do number two elsewhere, and I do mean elsewhere. She has gone in every room in the house." "Do her stools look normal? Did you happen to bring a stool sample for us to check?" "Yes, I did. Your receptionist suggested that I bring it when I made the appointment. They look normal to me, the same that they have always looked." "Good. First we want to make sure that she does not have a medical reason for her inappropriate defecation, so we will give her an exam and check her stools for worms. Worms could make her want to defecate in places outside of her box." Bea's exam was normal. The 5-year-old domestic short-hair was very compliant for her physical. "While the technician is checking her stool, let me ask you a few questions. Have you changed the type of litter she is used to using?" "No, we have always used the same scoopable litter. I like that because it is easier to clean than the clay litter. We have always used the same brand." "How often are you cleaning the litter box? It is just Bea, right? You do not have any other cats?" "No, it is just Bea, and I scoop her box out every day and clean it once a week." "That certainly sounds adequate. Is there anything different in the household? Are there any changes that might be upsetting her?" "Well, we do have some construction going on. We are remodeling our bathroom, but I moved her litter box so that she would not be bothered by it." "Just the fact that you moved her litter box could be the problem. Where did you move it?" "I put it in the basement." "Near anything noisy, like a furnace or a washer and dryer?" "Actually, yes, it is near the furnace. Do you think that is the problem?" "It could be. If it is noisy, it could make the bathroom scene unpleasant for her, and she is acting out to let you know that. If you cannot put her litter box back in the bathroom for now, try moving it to another place that is not noisy. Let me go check on her fecal sample." Her stool was negative for worms. Mr. Emme took my suggestion and moved Bea's litter box to a quieter place. I also had him clean up the places she had already gone with a neutralizing agent. He reported back that she had stopped defecating outside her box. There can be so many reasons that a cat chooses to eliminate in some place other than in its litter box. A common cause is litter preference: scoopable versus clay, scented versus unscented, fine versus coarse litter. The litter box could be a problem: covered versus uncovered. A covered box could amplify odors. An uncovered box might be too open; some cats might prefer the sense of security a covered box could give. The frequency of cleaning the litter box could be a problem. It is advisable to remove eliminations daily and to clean the box at least once a week. The number of litter boxes in multi-cat households could be a problem. It is best to have one box per cat, but that might not be practical in a particular house. If that is not possible, the frequency of cleaning needs to be increased. Older cats with arthritis might have a problem with litter boxes whose sides are too high. Location, as in Bea's case, could be the problem. Try to place the litter box in a place that is quiet and unlikely to be threatening in any way. Other pets in the house could be intimidating the cat, making it not want to go to the litter box if it thinks it will have to cross that particular other pet. Each cat is different, so if your cat does start eliminating inappropriately, think about anything that might be different in the household. The addition of a new pet could start an elimination problem. To make sure it is not a medical problem, schedule an exam. Mr. Emme was lucky. We were able to pinpoint what Bea's problem was. A lot of pet owners are not that lucky, as once bad behavior starts, it can become a habit. The original reason could be long gone by the time it becomes a serious enough problem that the pet owner seeks help. In that case retraining may be indicated: keep the cat confined to a small area with a litter box until he or she starts using the box consistently. -Dr. Reggie R. Cox Cox a graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia. co-owns and practices at Prime Care Animal Hospital, a small animal practice located at 750 Route 3 South, Suite 12, Gambrills, MD 21054, 410-923-7387 Fax:410-923-3630

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