Special Sanitary Care for Long Haired Cats

Long-haired cats are absolutely beautiful, and their soft, satiny fur just invites you to stroke them. Unfortunately, sometimes that lovely, long hair can create litter box problems that you will have to address. A short-haired cat seldom has any problems with accumulated feces on his or her backside, but this is often not the case with a Persian, Angora, or other long-haired breed.

You may well notice that your cat has been scooting its bum along the floor after using the litter box; the reason for this is that fecal matter has probably become caught in the hair. You may notice discolored streaks on the rugs or furniture, and often your cat will have a distinctly nasty odor. Finding stool outside the box after your cat has used it shows that your cat is inadvertently dragging feces out of the box on their hair.

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Helping Your Cat 

While cats are very good at grooming themselves, mats of hardened stool are impossible for the cat to remove, and you will have to step in to assist.

• Use a dampened paper towel as soon as your cat steps out of the litter box to remove any attached feces. Taking it off at this stage will be a lot easier than if it builds up. Starting this procedure when your cat is a kitten will make it routine.
• Daily brushing is essential for long-haired cats. Not only will it help prevent fecal mats from forming on the underside of the tail or on the backs of the legs, but it will keep hairballs from forming.
• If the fecal mats are too large for brushing, but not attached to the skin of the cat, you may be able to carefully cut them off. This is a two person job, and you can expect your cat to be upset.
• Heavy fecal mats, especially those that have become attached to the skin will require that the cat receive a warm bath. It may take some time for the matter to loosen up, depending on the size of the mats. Because your cat may fight you, have someone help you during the bath. Once the mats have broken up, change the water and gently shampoo the area.
• Some owners of long-haired cats simply use clippers to remove the long hair from the bum in order to prevent mats forming in the first place.

Be sure to inspect your long-haired cat's rear end every day to make sure that stool has not become caught in the fur, and if any is present, remove it immediately.

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Picking Out the Sneaky Eliminator

While there is obviously no question who is not using the box if you only have one cat, when you have two or more, finding the culprit could take a bit of sleuthing. You may have a fairly good idea of who the malefactor is, and a trip to the vet to rule out a medical problem is the first step - if you only have two cats, take both, otherwise stick with the most likely candidate to begin with.

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Pinpointing the Culprit 

Finding out which cat is urinating and defecating other than in the box is not an insurmountable task, and here are some hints that will help you find the culprit.

• A nanny cam, set up near the scene of the crime (remember the criminal often returns to the spot) can show you who exactly is not using the box.
• Small cameras that attach to a cat's collar can also help. These won't show the actual deed, but will show the area where the cat has been eliminating.
• The cats can be sequentially isolated from the rest of the clowder, which will show the box-avoider by a process of elimination.
• Your vet can give you a harmless dye that will show up in your cat's urine when using a black light lamp.
• If pooping is the problem, you can put some small pieces of red or yellow crayon in the suspect's food, but only when given the go-ahead by your vet.

Overcoming the Problem

The problem can simply be that there aren't enough boxes for the number of cats; each cat should have his or her own box, and there should be an extra as well. If a dominant cat is causing the problem, place the target's litter box at some distance from that of the top cat - usually moving it gradually is the best approach.

A cat that has been declawed will often experience heightened sensitivity in the paws. Your choice of litter might simply have been too harsh, and often a softer litter will solve the inappropriate elimination. 

Changing the type of litter box could also have a positive effect. Some cats don't like enclosed boxes, and some are afraid of motorized boxes. Litter box liners can also bother cats, so if all else fails, get rid of the liner. And, always make sure that the box is clean; no cat likes to use a box filled with feces and urine-soaked litter.

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Schedule a Trip to the Vet's When Elimination Problems Arise

Nobody likes finding a puddle of cat urine soaking into the rug or in the middle of the bed. However, if your cat suddenly starts misbehaving as regards the litter box, the problem may well be a medical condition. Atypical behavior and inappropriate elimination is a red flag for a visit to your vet, especially if you have made no changes to the litter box. 

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Urinary Problems Can Be Serious 

Urinating wherever the cat feels like it, rather than in the litter box, often means something has gone amiss in the cat's urinary system. Only your veterinarian will be able to diagnose and treat these conditions properly. Your cat may be running to use the litter box every few minutes or will simply let loose wherever he or she is - this indicates that the cat simply is unable to hold it. The amount of urine may be quite small, or it could contain blood or appear cloudy. Urinary problems are often painful, too, and your cat may mew when attempting to go to the bathroom.

• A simple bladder infection can be treated quite easily with antibiotics. However, if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications.
• Your cat can also suffer from feline interstitial cystitis. This is something of a catch-all ailment involving an inflamed and irritated bladder and urethra. Crystals might be present in the urine. Antibiotics appear to have little effect on FIC, although dietary changes may help.
• Feline incontinence can also be caused by bladder stones. Some of these can grow to a significant size, nearly filling the bladder. Stones generally have to be removed surgically.
• Crystals can form in the cat's urinary tract as a result of diet. These can sometimes evolve into bladder stones or can even form a plug which prevents the cat from urinating at all. Plugs will have to be dealt with immediately by surgery.
• Serious health problems, such as tumors can also cause your cat to urinate frequently and inappropriately.

Urinary problems are much more common in male cats than they are in females, and still more prevalent in males cats who have not been neutered. While there is no way to guarantee that your cat will never experience these difficulties, there are a few things that can help to prevent them:

• Make sure your cat drinks as much water as possible.
• Diets that are more acidic will help prevent the formation of crystals and stones.
• Canned food is recommended to keep the urinary tract normal.
• Feed many small meals during the day, rather than one or two big ones.

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Ask Your Vet about a Medical Approach

One of the most important aspects of inappropriate elimination, whether it involves urine or feces, is to get to the root of the problem as quickly as possible. Never punish your cat when you find an 'accident', the cat will have no idea why you are hurting it and it will just make your cat more stressed and more likely to repeat the act. Consulting with your veterinarian is the first thing you should do - there could be much more to the problem than you might imagine.

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Physical Issues

There are a number of urinary conditions that can cause your cat to suddenly begin urinating outside of the box:

• Bladder infections are fairly common in cats and the irritation from the infection will cause your cat to force out small, but frequent, puddles of urine. Antibiotics are the answer.
• Bladder stones form from an alkaline diet, and these irritate the lining of the bladder, making it more likely that an infection will follow. Some stones can almost fill the bladder. These stones will have to be removed surgically, as will plugs in the urethra.
• Interstitial cystitis is a rather mysterious disease that combines both physical and mental factors. Stress seems to cause an inflammation of the nerves that are attached to the bladder, which then leads to a weakening of the protective mucus lining. Interstitial cystitis is treated mainly by varying the cat's diet, giving pain medications and altering the environment. This results in lowering the cat's stress levels.

If your cat is defecating outside the box, this may well be a sign that the gastrointestinal system is affected:

• Constipated cats will strain and struggle to poop, and often desperation forces them to do so wherever they are. A change of diet can often help.
• A number of things can cause your cat to have diarrhea, such as illness or infection. In this case, the cat may simply be unable to reach the box. You vet will have to diagnose the cause of the diarrhea and take appropriate steps to control it.

Treating the Psychological Aspect of Inappropriate Elimination

The sensitive nature of cats can put them under stress, and this can result in your cat's inappropriate elimination. Some success has been achieved in reversing inappropriate elimination using medications such as the tranquillizer valium, and neurotransmitter blockers such as amitriptyline and buspar. Medications used to treat human depression, like clomipramine also have been effective. 

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Many Cats Can Mean Elimination Problems

Cats are certainly not social in the same way that dogs are, but their behavior patterns have certainly been changed over their long association with humans. Strictly solitary in a natural setting, cats now enjoy not only the company of people, but often that of other cats. It's not unusual to see a pile of cats sleeping happily together. However, you should always keep in mind that cats do need a bit of space and privacy as well. Households with multiple cats often suffer from litter box problems where one or more of the felines soils inappropriately.

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Pinpointing the Culprit 

Once one of the cats starts avoiding the litter box, it's important to try to find out which one it is. The problem often arises because one cat is dominant over the others and will attempt, often successfully, to keep the other cat, or cats, from using the litter box. Fights can actually follow as the dominant cat 'repels boarders'. In most cases, the cat who is lower on the social spectrum will be the one who is the inappropriate eliminator. Refrain from punishing the guilty party, neither the dominant cat nor the one who is urinating on the rug; just find a solution as quickly as possible. 

What to Do

It's not too difficult to overcome litter box avoidance in a multi-cat home, especially if you approach the problem through the eyes of your cats.

• The most obvious solution is to provide several litter boxes for the cats, placed at a distance from each other. Cats enjoy some privacy when using the box and a dominant cat will have more trouble enforcing his or her position if the boxes are separated.
• Dirty litter boxes invite cats to avoid them. Keeping the boxes clean will encourage the cats to use them.
• Observe your cats and see the spots each cat enjoys most - this will be the best place to put a litter box.
• Do not situate litter boxes near where the cats eat and drink; this is especially important when you are adding new boxes.
• Use an enzyme cleaner to remove all traces of urine and feces from places where accidents have occurred. Cats will be attracted to the smell and consider the area to be a latrine.

Always keep in mind, too, that after discovering who is not using the litter box to have the culprit examined by your vet just to make sure that no medical problem is present.

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Litter Box Avoidance

Litter box avoidance can arise in one of several ways: your new kitten or cat simply refuses to use the box you provide, or your cat suddenly stops using his or her litter box. Cats are very fastidious in their habits, and even very young kittens will attempt to use a designated litter box rather than soil the floor or furniture. 

When you find an 'accident' of one type or another, it's important that you refrain from punishing your cat - harsh words or blows will not encourage your companion to return to the box - it's up to you to determine why the cat is eliminating inappropriately. 

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Seeking a Solution 

The very first thing to do if your cat starts avoiding the litter box is to schedule a visit to your veterinarian. There could be factors such as a bladder infection, bladder stones, or constipation that could be causing the problem. However, if your cat's health is normal, there are other things that are making your cat avoid the litter box:

• Most cats will avoid using a dirty box. Cleaning the box frequently will often be the answer. Too many cats using one box contribute to this problem.
• Moving the litter box to a new place can cause confusion. Cats are creatures of habit, and shifting the box to a place that might be more convenient to you can result in soiling inappropriately.
• If you have started using a new kind of litter, your cat may not like the smell of the new product or the texture. Scented litters might be too strong for the delicate nose of a cat.
• While mechanized, self-cleaning litter boxes do save owners work and will keep the box cleaner, many cats are afraid of the noise these boxes generate, and may take some time to get used to them.
• Make sure that the cat's box is the right size - boxes that are too small make the cat uncomfortable.
• Hooded litter boxes can keep the home looking better and the floor neater, but some cats are afraid of entering a dark place. Liners may also cause a problem.
• Intact adult cats mark their territory with a spray of urine, especially the toms. Neutering the cat will help resolve this cause of litter box avoidance.

Getting your cat back on track and using his or her litter box may take some time, but in most cases a solution can be found that will work for both you and your feline friend.

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Is Your Cat Marking Your Home?

The smell of ordinary cat urine is strong enough, but when a cat spray marks, the odor will be even more overpowering and unpleasant. Unlike urination, which does leave a message for other cats to an extent, spray marking is more like a billboard with lights. The whole reason for marking is to inform other cats of a particular cat's presence. And, while urine is simply the waste that has been filtered out by the kidneys, marking includes other bodily chemicals with information about sex, health, and undoubtedly other important cat messages.

Unlike normal urination, which is made by the cat squatting down, spray marking is done when the cat is standing and the deposit will be made on a vertical surface such as a door frame or the front of a sofa or chair. The cat will back up to the chosen area, and wiggle its tail as it delivers the spray behind it. The volume of the spray is much less than is produced when the cat urinates.

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<

Stopping Spray Marking 

While some female cats will spray mark, the main culprits are intact males. Spray marking is used not only to deliver some information about the sprayer, but also to mark territory, which is especially important in the wild where hunting grounds must be protected. This behavior is also much more common in homes where there are several cats, and an order of dominance constantly needs to be established. However, there are steps you can take to minimize the chances of spray marking.

• If you have a multi-cat household, provide several litter boxes, rather than just one, there should be a box for each cat, and a spare.
• All litter boxes should be kept completely clean. Feces and clumps of urine-soaked litter should be removed daily and the litter changed completely once a week.
• Block off the area being spray marked. The cat will usually return to the same spot periodically to 'renew' the fragrance, so denying access can help to eliminate the problem.
• Use an enzyme cleaner to remove the spray. You may have to apply it several times to remove all the smell.
• Neutering both toms and tabbies can help to stop spraying behavior.

Stress can also trigger spray marking, so address any issues that may be making your cat, or cats, nervous.

>>> Click here to get Incredible bonuses from Cat Spraying No More <<<