Expert: Ali - 10/6/2008

Question
Hi again Ali.

One of my 5 month old kittens has been exhibiting new behaviors.

He has a new habit of not going in his litterbox, and instead, makes poops right next to me, regardless of where I am.

Also, he walks around the house during the day scratching at the floor, at objects, at toys, at me, as if he were trying to cover up his poops.

He's also been meowing and whining a lot.

And he's been getting intimate with his toys. And his brother.

):

Do these things have anything in common?

Answer
Kayla,

I am somewhat concerned about the fact that this is a new behavior. It's quite possible that your kitten is having a medical problem that's making it uncomfortable or painful for him to use the toilet. Sometimes in male cats defecating outside of the litter box can be a sign that he has crystals in his urine or a bladder infection so it's important to have him evaluated by a vet as soon as possible - if you've ever had a bladder infection or stone you can appreciate the fact that this kitty should be given pain relief and treated as soon as possible if this is the issue that's causing him to eliminate outside of the litter box. The crying could mean that this kitty's in pain, it may also mean that he is advertising his availability to mate. As for the scratching and covering motions it may mean that he's having some sort of litter box related difficulty.

The fact that your kitten is defecating outside of the litter box may be a territorial thing or it could be related to changes in the household, scented kitty litter, too few litter boxes for the number of cats in the home, litter boxes not being cleaned frequently enough and/or other common reasons for inappropriate elimination. I would recommend that you have the kittens neutered as they are approaching puberty and may begin spraying urine to mark their territory in addition to defecating outside of the litter box. As for one kitten mounting the other it could be a dominance thing - I'm sure that this kitten is well aware that his brother isn't a prospective mate. My recommendation would be to have both kittens neutered as soon as possible...There are a number of health and behavioral benefits to surgically sterilizing pets in addition to the moral responsibility that all pet parents have to prevent their pets from mating and causing unwanted litters of kittens to be born. Spaying and neutering saves countless lives each year - partially because of the obvious population control, partly because sterilized cats are far less likely to develop behavioral issues that could result in their caregivers opting to euthanize them. The leading cause of death for cats in North America is euthanasia due to behavioral problems. If you have recently had changes in your household (construction, renovations, adding or subtracting a family member with 2 or 4 legs, moved, etc) your kitten may be trying to communicate his anxiety. The use of scented kitty litter or air fresheners in the area of the litter box can cause some cats to have reactions to the harsh chemicals, perfumes and dyes often found in these products - you'll want to try using a plain, unscented clumping kitty litter to see if that makes a difference. Litter boxes should be cleaned a minimum of once daily - cats are very clean and won't use the litter box if it's dirty. I usually recommend that there be one litter box per cat, plus one to minimize the chances of bullying or territorial behavior causing one of the cats to seek another place to use the toilet.

It's important to avoid the possibility that the kitten will repeat his indiscretions at a later date simply based on the smell being present in different locations. I routinely suggest that kitty caregivers use an enzymatic cleaner to clean any area that their feline friend has urinated/defecated/vomited. Enzymatic cleaners use beneficial bacteria (enzymes) to permanently remove the odors and stains caused by organic substances like urine, feces, blood, or vomit. I have found a product called Petzyme to be well priced, very effective and so far it hasn't done any damage to carpeting or upholstery in my home. It's important to test any areas that you are planning to clean with an enzymatic cleaner to be sure that you don't end up with a bleached or darker look on one spot. Petzyme also provides instructions if you need to add it to a load of laundry. I have seen Petzyme in a few pet supply stores. If you aren't able to find Petzyme you can use another enzymatic cleaner purchased in a pet supply store or a janitorial supply store. If you aren't able to find an enzymatic cleaner in the cat section of your local pet supply store it's perfectly okay (and often cheaper) to check out the dog section's selection of cleaners.