Usually in cases of housetraining problems with cats or kittens, there
is some neglect in the social and dietary management aspects of pet care.
1. Do not leave food out all the time.
Feed twice daily to allow supervision afterward for at least one hour.
This gives the opportunity to guide the cat to the litter box.
2. Litter boxes should be cleaned daily and refreshed with new litter
at least once each week.
We prefer to use generic cat litter (auto supply stores can supply material
used in auto repair shops to soak up oil- (this is the same thing as
generic cat litter) and totally empty it daily. We can supply
an odor neutralizer to lightly spray on the litter to control
odor. This will give you a very economical alternative to high-priced
commercial cat litter.
Litter boxes must be large enough to allow several eliminations without
the pet having to step on a previously used spot. Be sure to supply
more than one litter box if you own several cats.
3. Plan a 5-minute "play session" with the cat in the
morning and at night.
4. Prolonged "stroking" can lead to problems.
Stroking should be limited to no longer than a couple of minutes, after
which the pet should be encouraged to play with a toy.
5. In the event that spraying has followed an "invasion"
of the cat's territory by a new baby, guest, new pet, etc., more upbeat,
playful attention should be given the cat at times when the "invader"
first enters the cat's area.
This helps associate the target of jealousy with pleasure, rather than
social neglect.
6. If the cat sprays in your presence, try triggering a startling
reflex of other than human origin.
This might be dropping a pot or slapping a table with your hand or ruler.
This sudden noise should stop the urination allowing you to take the
cat to the litter box. It is often necessary to remain there with the
cat until the proper duties are performed and then be sure to praise
the cat lavishly.
7. Cleaning up soiled spots should be done while the cat is placed
in another room.
We have an odor neutralizer that will remove the odor, not just
"cover it up". Remember also that many cleaners contain ammonia-which
is a normal constituent of urine. That only makes the matter worse.
8. One teaspoon of apple cider vinegar put into one feeding each
day will help alter the urine odor possibly preventing the desire to
mark an area again.
9. Start feeding the cat at the location of the soiling.
Leave the food dish, even though empty, down at the spot until the next
meal. If several areas are soiled, split the feeding into however many
dishes are required to cover the areas. One owner required 15 dishes
before the problem was resolved. Bowls may start to be removed slowly
AFTER a minimum of four days without soiling. If regression occurs,
you must reinstate feeding in each spot until another dry spell is accomplished.
This program is usually successful in six weeks or less.
10. Be sure to spay or neuter.