Urinating and defecating outside of the litter box (other than spraying) is all too common among cats who spend significant time inside. In these cases, the litter pan itself is always looked at as a suspect since too many people do not have sufficient boxes for their cats, do not pick out and change the litter suitably for their fastidious pets or have other factors about the litter box (location, cover, litter type, perfume, etc.) which their cat does not care for. Complete odor control in the inappropriate locations is always required and the cat’s environment and daily life must be evaluated for additional stressors. Confinement to a small bathroom or utility room is often Characteristics mentioned above, and to establish a new behavior pattern of regular use of the box.

Additionally, a strict feeding schedule (e.g. twice per day) is adopted, allowing the owner to begin to predict elimination patterns so the cat can be supervised to reward appropriate use of the box and perhaps punish potential errors. PUNISHMENT WHICH IS AFTER THE FACT BY EVEN A MINUTE OR TOO HARSH A REPRIMAND CAN ONLY MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE!

If immediate punishment must be used, startling noises water streams and other more “remote” punishments are more likely to be effective since they are less directly associated with the owner. When the cat is finally allowed to begin supervised outings from confinement, the places where it used to inappropriately soil are made aversive as mentioned above and these things are very slowly faded away over weeks or months while the new habit of proper litter box use is well established.  Supervision must continue until the owners feel sure the problem has resolved.