Expert: Karen Craft - 12/9/2011

Question
I've moved to a new house in the last few days and for the most part my cat seems to be adjusting all right. However, in the middle of the night she will dig obsessively in the litter box - this can go on intermittently for a good two hours, for a few to several minutes at a time. As far as I can tell she isn't having any trouble urinating or showing any other signs that might indicate a urinary tract infection. She always has been a bit obsessive-compulsive with digging in her box, but only immediately after using it - not revisiting it over and over again after using it once. In between the digging she is active and vocal (not unusual for her), and will either run around crazily as she often does at this time at night, or else will prowl around inspecting everything and looking/sounding insecure. She now seems less distressed by everything than she did the last two nights, but the litter box digging is as obsessive as ever! The rest of the day she seems all right - sleeps during most of the day, comes out to play and explore in the evening, then sleeps with me most of the night.

Should I have any concern for her health, or is this entirely an anxiety/behavioral thing? Is this a common sort of behavior for very high-strung cats when introduced to a new place? And is there anything I can do to calm her down at night? I've heard Feliway may help for things like this, but haven't used it before personally.

Answer
Hi Ardath,

I would first get her checked out to make sure that she isn't sick. If she gets a clean bill of health then it most likely is from the stress of moving to a new place. You can try Feliway. Or you can try this stuff.

http://www.petnaturals.com/vitamins_supplements/calming-support-softchews-cats.p

It works pretty good. Get a night light for her and set it up by the litter box. This may also help. Time will also make a difference. Once she gets used to the home she will calm down. Good luck and take care.

Ciao, Karen