AboutAli Expertise I am currently owned by 3 mixed breed cats ranging from 4 to 10 years old. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats in different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on feral cat colonies, help rehabilitate strays and find them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there is a significant difference. New cat/kitten introductions can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because they are territorial and don't like change. There is a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a house with one or more resident cats. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am not a veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.
Experience I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am the proud pet guardian of three wonderful cats. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up.
Question I have a 7 month old siamese kitten and recently she has stopped using her litter box properly, i.e. Not burying everything. I have a question, is this normal for cats or is there a way I can train her to use it properly?
Answer Denise,
If there is a sudden change in litter box behavior it could signal an infection or other health problem. I would suggest an immediate visit to the vet to rule out medical causes for this behavior. If there is no medical reason found for the change then you have to look at what may have changed in her environment. If you recently changed to or routinely use a scented kitty litter she may have a sensitivity to the perfume that makes her want to get out of the box as soon as she can. If this is the case I would switch to an unscented version of the same product. If you are using anything but clumping kitty litters it may be that the cat is uncomfortable with the texture of the litter (it may be too sharp or feel foreign to her). I would also suggest that if you have an air freshner in the vicinity of the litter that you remove it, the best way to prevent litter box odor is to scoop the box a minimum of once a day. If you have multiple cats the problem could be that she is insecure about her place in the household and she is signalling that she needs more litter boxes, in a multiple cat household I usually follow a rule of thumb of one litter box per cat plus one. If you live in a multi level home and she is your only cat you should have at least one litter box per floor. You should also be sure that the litter box is in a quiet, low traffic, private location, cats are kind of like humans in that they really don't want an audience when they are using the toilet. I hope that this offered some insight. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
