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Behavior and Training - Cats

For Treatment And Prevention Of Litter Box Problems, Here Are Some General Guidelines:

  • You should have 1 pan per cat, plus an extra. (i.e., 3 cat household = 4 pans).

  • Pans should be located in at least 2 different locations, and ideally 1 pan per floor of the house.

  • No hoods! Rims may be okay, but some cats don’t like them. If you have numerous pans, you can offer a variety of hooded, rimmed, and open pans.

  • Generally, extra-large or jumbo pans are the best.

  • Use clumping litter. Sandier textures are best. (i.e., Everclean, Tidy Cats, Fresh Step, etc.)

  • Unscented litters are best. Many cats do not like deodorizers or baking soda. It sizzles when they urinate on it.

  • Scoop daily! Twice daily is better. Cats may not urinate in a pan that has stool in it or visa-versa. Cats in multiple cat households will often not use a pan that another cat has used.

  • Liners are unnecessary with scooping or clumping litter. You should empty and scrub the pan every month or two to decrease odors stuck in the plastic.

  • Use enzymatic odor eliminators on areas where the cat has eliminated. (i.e. Anti-Icky-Poo® (available at Clark Animal Care Center), or Natures Miracle®.)

  • The most common reason cats eliminate outside the pan involve medical problems. You should see your veterinarian as quickly as possible after your cat eliminates outside the pan. The longer it goes on, the harder it is to fix!

Please call Clark Animal Care at (585) 377-1160 if more help is needed.