Expert: Becky - 8/16/2004

Question
In January, I adopted a 6 year old female cat from the pound who is also blind.  The vet said she was in good health, and she's had all of her shots.  My problem is that lately she hasn't been using the litter box.  Usually it's urine, but not always!  This happens 2 - 3 times a week, when I'm not here or asleep.  She knows where the box is, so it's not like she can't find it.  Every time she has an accident, I scold her, put her nose in it, and put her in the litter box, but it doesn't seem to be helping.  Do you have any advice for me?  Could this problem be medical instead of behavioral?  I'm getting really tired of coming home to a mess, and any help at all would be great.

Thanks!
Carina

Answer
HI Carina,

It could be medical.  When cats have urinary tract infections, they tend to go outside of their litter box.  I would have her checked just to make sure.

To avoid further problems try this :
Clean the soiled carpet using either a store solution for urine removal, or try adding vinegar to a carpet shampoo solution. The objective is to get rid of the urine odor so the cat cannot smell it. You may not smell it, but the cat can!  After cleaning the area well...and after it dries,  put aluminum foil on the area.  Cats do not like it,and will not step on it.  Put something there to hold it in place if you need to.    Keep the litter box clean!!  Some cats will not use a dirty box.   If necessary, confine your cat and a litter box in a small room like a bathroom until she is re-trained.  It can happen!  I have a friend who had a major problem, and with some patience and time , his cat is now good as gold!  Also,  cats are not like dogs, so scolding or punishing them for urinating outside of the litter box just does no good, so don't even try it.

Hope this helps!
Becky