Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/14/2008

Question
We have two cats with two different problems. The younger one, about 3 1/2 year old, female, constantly scratches our Persian rugs, despite the fact the she has one of the stools with carpet around it designed for scratching. She does use the stool too.
The other one, 4 1/2 year old. female again, has gained fair amount of weight despite being on diet by our vet. Recently she started to her number 2 outside the kitty litter, while the litter is very clean, and she goes there to urinate. That doesn't look to be small either for her. Any recommendation for either problem.
Thanks,
naser

Answer
Naser,

Get a kitty scratching post with sissel rope on it. They prefer that. And rub some catnip on it. Or better yet get a kitty condo that she can climb. On the carpet...lightly spray a citrus scent around the area she scratches. They hate the smell of citrus. I'm not sure about a persian carpet (talk to a carpet expert whether it can damage it) but the easiest thing to use is citrus peels (orange, lemon, etc.), put in a blender with a little water and sprinkle that around the carpet. There are professional cat deterrents that you can buy that are citrus blends also.

When a cat goes outside the litterbox she is telling you that something is wrong or something is distressing her. If she has something wrong and it causes pain when she defecates she would avoid the litterbox because she will associate that with the pain.

I would take her to a different vet for a second opinion on her weight. Some cats are just large cats. And to check her for a medical problem causing her to do that before addressing it as a behavioral problem.
A cat will quit using the litterbox also when they are upset at you or stressed over something in or around the home. Have there been any changes in the home? Anyone move in or out? Any new pets in the home or in the neighborhood that she can see but can't get to? Have you left her alone for a couple of days? Have you not been paying attention to her and not playing with her as often?

Sometimes too, cats don't like where their litterbox is located. They like privacy. They also may decide they don't like the litter you are using or the litterbox becomes too small for their liking. Try getting some children play sand from Home Depot or a building supply store and see if she prefers that and a bigger litterbox with deeper litter in it.

I am including a couple of links that have informational articles on improper elimination that you may find helpful. Copy and paste or type the whole links into your address bar:

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/pointe/9352/litterboxhelp.html

http://cats.about.com/cs/behavioralissues/a/outsidebox_two.htm

I hope this helps.

Tabbi