What's behind cat's refusal to go in the litter box?
DEAR JOAN >> Our 3½-yearold male cat, Orion, occasionally doesn't squat in the litter box. He steps in with his behind facing out of the box and lets loose all over the floor. He has been diagnosed with crystals and is mostly on a wet food urinary diet (c/d). The little dry food he does get is a c/d variety as well.
We have tried buying litter boxes with doors, but the other two cats refuse to use them. Orion has figured out how to use one box with a door, but seems to prefer the ones without doors.
Otherwise his behavior is normal and he's very affectionate and playful. Do you have any idea why he might be doing this and what we could do to help him stop?
We try to clean the boxes regularly and wash them and change the litter at reasonable intervals.
— Rod Miller, Oakland
DEAR ROD >> The first thing that comes to mind is also the easiest to remedy. The litter box might be a tad too small for Orion. While cats seem happy to squeeze themselves into tiny spaces, that doesn't hold true for litter boxes. Cats like a little elbow room, so to speak, to do their business and scratch around. Orion may think he doesn't fit, so he sometimes hangs out over the side.
Cats, like all creatures, can be motivated by pain, and cats often associate the cause of their urinary pain not with their bladder, kidneys or urethra, but with the place they are performing the task. This can result in bathroom misses or the complete abandonment of the box.
You should consider buying a larger box and making sure you have multiple boxes. It sounds like you already have an assortment, but the general rule of thumb is one box per cat, plus one more.
In case you're wondering whether to get a covered or uncovered version, studies — yes, they actually studied this — say there is no preference, generally. Some cats like covered, some like uncovered, but one type isn't better than another.
DEAR JOAN >> After three years of feeding a feral cat daily, we have established some understanding of her meow patterns.
We get different meows when she wants different things. She seems to understand when we ask if she wants food, milk, to go outside or enjoy a kitty massage. She understands when I say no more food. Or if I tell her to go out, she gets it. These are all accompanied with an appropriate meow.
I recently had an accident that leaves me partially immobile, and I can't always get up to feed her. I tell her that Uncle Art is hurt and can't help her. She doesn't seem to get this one. She sees that I can barely walk but still makes her demands. Any suggestions? — Art, San Jose
DEAR ART >> This might be news to you, but cats are demanding creatures.
It's not that the cat might be unsympathetic to your injury, but she really doesn't care. How you give her food is not as important as actually giving the food. You, mister, through no fault of your own, aren't living up to the bargain. All you can do is keep providing, even if it takes you longer. She'll never understand, but perhaps you can get her to be more patient.