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Cats/cats toilet habits

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Expert: - 7/31/2009


Question
Hi, My cat goes to the toilet outside, we don't have a litte tray because we trained to let us know when he needs to go, when he does go, i don't ever see him do it, ive grown up with cats and have never seen them go to the toilet, but my neighbour keeps accusing my cat of doing number 2's near her back door, next to the place where she sometimes feeds him, there is no muck or grass there, they have like flagged or crazy paving, but using bricks, so its a soid hard surface like concerete apart from the cracks between. my question is would he go there, because i always thought that they went ay to do their business and they dd it in private on a muck or grass surface?  thankyou

Answer
Zoe,

Unless your neighbor has actually seen your cat pooping at her back door it could be any outside cat.

Be that as it may, although cats normally like to use dirt or sand for thier business, they will go on solid areas for their own reasons.

Generally, whole male cats seem to do this more often than neutered male cats.  So, the first question is: "Is your cat neutered?"  If not, neutering him may curb the habit.

Secondly, once a cat detects that it is "OK" to go somewhere because the smell is correct, the ares should be cleaned with an enzyme based cleaner specifcically for pet stains and pet odors (available from most pet supermarkets or farm stores).

Normally, it is difficult, if not impossible to control where cats go out of doors.

I am giving you a link to a series of excellent articles on feline litter pan habits which may have some material about outside cats.

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


Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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