Mission
Animal Hospital and House Soiling problems in cats
Affordable Animal CLinic Granada HIlls INC
Located in the San Fernando Valley, 16907 San Fernando Mission Blvd. Granada Hills Ca, 818-363-8143
Our Veterinarians are waiting to help you
CORRECTING
HOUSE-SOILING PROBLEMS IN CATS
Usually
in cases of housetraining problems with cats or kittens, there was something
neglected in the social and dietary management aspects of pet care.
FOLLOW
THESE SUGGESTIONS:
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. 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 cats 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 matters 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.
16907 San Fernando Mission Blvd. Granada Hills, Ca. 91344 818-363-8143
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