By Bridget Domenighini, Peoria County Animal Protection Services
Many people adopt or purchase cats or kittens during the holiday season, and by now, those pets have hopefully become active, involved members of the family. Sometimes, however, transitions for new pets are not so easy. Some felines, unfortunately, require extensive behavior modification in order to remain in the home.
The most common problem with cats or kittens in a new home is litter box issues. If your cat has had issues using the litter box since you brought her home, there are several things you can do. First, contact your veterinarian to set up an exam to rule out a medical issue. Second, if your pet is not spayed or neutered, he may be marking. The easy fix for that problem is to have him neutered. If you can’t afford this, a simple internet search of low-cost spay/ neuter options in your area will likely solve your problem. Next, evaluate your litter box situation and ask yourself the following questions:
- How often am I cleaning the litter box?
- How accessible is the litter box to my cat?
- What kind of litter am I using?
- Where in the house is the litter box located?
- How many litter boxes do I have available per cat in my home?
Experts recommend cleaning your cat’s litter box twice daily. Cats are naturally tidy creatures, and some cats refuse to use a dirty box; even if it is only slightly soiled. The litter box should be located in a quiet, but not isolated or scary part of your home. Many people like to place litter boxes in the basement, and often this works well. Some basements, however, are full of loud noises, odd smells, and are too far away from humans for comfort. Evaluate what is around your litter box. If your cat stopped using the box when you moved it next to the washer and dryer, he may be fearful of the noises or vibrations from those machines.
It’s also important to make sure your cat can get into the box comfortably. If your cat is approaching 30 pounds, and you have a standard sized, covered litter box, it may not be comfortable for her to get in and go to the bathroom. Start with an uncovered, wide box, with a lower edge at the front so she can get into it easily.
Cats have very sensitive noses, so use unscented clay scoopable litter so the smell does not deter them from using the box. You can also try commercially available litter attractants to draw your cat into the litter box. These usually do not have an odor that humans can smell, but that a cat can detect.
Veterinarians and cat behaviorists also recommend having one more litter box than the number of cats you have in the home. This can prevent conflict between cats.
In cases where you have tried all of these things, it may be necessary to try more drastic approaches such as separating your cat into a private room to work on litter training in a smaller space, using pheromone diffusers or collars in the home to decrease tension between cats that may be causing marking, or increasing vertical space and environmental enrichment to decrease the cat’s stress.
Another common problem for new cat owners is a feline with too much energy or one that is showing aggression. Even the most loving cats who are left home alone all day often exhibit signs of pent up aggression because of a lack of mental stimulation and physical exercise. If your cat is showing these behaviors, you can take the following steps:
- Set aside at least 10 minutes, twice a day to devote to play time for your cat. You can use any commercially available cat toys or you can find ideas to make your own here www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_toys.html
- Create vertical space to allow your cat to exhibit her natural climbing, scratching, and perching behaviors. Websites like Pinterest can even help you make your cat’s vertical space fit with your home’s décor.
- Provide all day enrichment for your cat. You can use commercially available treat dispensers, or you can create your own. Consider a window perch that would allow your cat to watch birds outside, or scent stimuli as described in this article that can be seen at www.cliniciansbrief.com/sites/default/files/attachments/AB_Environmental%20Enrichment%20for%20Cats.pdf
- Plant cat grass or catnip. This can allow your cat to graze on appropriate greens as they would in the wild.
If these tips don’t help, consider contacting a licensed cat behaviorist. You can find one in your area by visiting this website https://iaabc.org/consultants. We always encourage doing everything you can to remedy the problem prior to re-homing or relinquishing the cat to a shelter. However, your local shelter may have options or programs to further assist you with cat behavior issues. Please visit or call your local shelter to see what they can offer!
If you see an animal who looks abandoned, neglected, or in distress, please call local animal control or law enforcement. Your call can mean the difference between responsible, humane care for the animal or a lifetime of suffering. Peoria County Animal Protection Services can help if you lose your pet or see an animal injured or in need. Call PCAPS at 309-672-2440 for information or to report animal cruelty or abuse.