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Location of Boxes: It is important to provide your
cat with a place to eliminate in a location where she feels
safe and comfortable. Choose a peaceful area where she won’t
be startled and that provides privacy. Ergo, the laundry
room where the spin cycle or dryer buzzer can erupt and
startle her out of her wits does not classify as safe. And
if Kitty feels unsafe in the area you’ve provided,
she will find somewhere more suitable—which might be
in the back of your closet on some soft laundry. Her pleasant
experience in your closet may prove far more agreeable than
her “scary litter box” and she may make it a habit.
She may also find that she likes the feel of laundry or
carpet better than the litter and choose this material on
a regular basis.
Things to consider
when choosing a location for the litter boxes.
Think Stress-Free Litter Box.
1)
If Kitty is part of a multiple cat household, she should
have easy access to a private, quiet area that is not a
dead end. The back corner of a laundry room with one entry/exit,
for example, is a dead end. There should be an escape route
available if she feels insecure.
Problem Scenario: Marie and
Pierre are two cats living in same house. Marie is using
her litter box when Pierre decides “Playtime!”
Pierre plans a strategic ambush of Marie while she is concentrating
on her business, unaware of his intentions. Pierre pounces
on Marie and scares the “!!!”out of her. She tries
to run out of the small laundry room, but Pierre blocks
the entrance and Marie is trapped. With no time to cover
her mess or gather her wits, she records this situation
as a very unpleasant experience and will not let herself
be trapped there again.
Solution: Provide a safe exit
out of the litter box area. Place the box in a spot with
a separate entrance and exit. If this is not possible, place
an upside-down box next to the litter box to serve as a
stepping stool to a counter or some other way out. A kitty
condo works great in this situation as well.
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2)
Keep Fido away from the box.
Problem: If your dogs are like
mine, a little afternoon snack of “Kitty Roca”
is a real treat. While many dogs find cat feces appetizing,
most cats (and humans) find the act disturbing. Kitty will
not feel comfortable using her box while Fido is lurking
around.
Solution: Place a child safety
gate at the entrance to the door. Leave it a few inches
off the ground at the bottom, just enough for Kitty to get
under but not Fido. This is a great solution for keeping
small children out of the litter box as well.
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3)
Don’t put the litter box near Kitty’s food and
water. Do you eat in the bathroom? Kitty doesn’t like
it either. Considering your cleanliness questionable, she
may choose to eliminate elsewhere. Cats do not like to eliminate
where they eat and drink. Also, the box shouldn’t be
near Kitty’s bed.
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4)
Don’t place the box near a door unless the door is
generally left open.
If Kitty is using the box in what she thinks is a nice quiet
area and the door suddenly slams open and someone walks
in right next to her, she is likely to feel startled and
uncomfortable. Preferring privacy in bathrooms is a trait
many cats and humans have in common.
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5)
Place two boxes side by side. Many cats like to urinate
in one box and defecate in another. Providing two boxes
close to each other but not touching gives Kitty options.
If not provided with an option, Kitty may choose her own
locations.
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6) A litter box on every floor
of the house. If you live in a multi-story house, be sure
there is a litter box on every floor your cat can access.
This is especially important with arthritic or geriatric
cats.
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7) Don’t place the litter
box on carpet. Often the feel of the carpet is more attractive
than the litter.
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8) Don’t move the box
around. Find the best spot for the litter box and if Kitty
accepts your decision, don’t move it! If you absolutely
must change the litter box location, do it gradually. Put
a new box in the desired area and then move the old box
a few inches a day until Kitty starts using the new box.
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