{"id":276,"date":"2022-08-23T17:44:40","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T17:44:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/?page_id=276"},"modified":"2022-09-01T00:22:05","modified_gmt":"2022-09-01T00:22:05","slug":"litter-box-issues","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/litter-box-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Litter Box Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"
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LITTER BOX ISSUES<\/h4>\n

The #1 reason why Bengal cats (including all cats) are surrendered to shelters and rescues is litter box avoidance.<\/p>\n

In reality, it is usually improper litter box maintenance (on the part of the human) that creates litter box avoidance.<\/p>\n

So many cat owners are not aware that litter box issues and \/ or litter box avoidance should ALWAYS result in an immediate Veterinary check, however most owners look for answers elsewhere.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We hope you\u2019ll review the information here and do everything possible to resolve your cat\u2019s litter box issues and keep them in your home.<\/p>\n

LACK OF HUMAN OVERSIGHT<\/h4>\n

We constantly hear from clients: \u201cMy cat is urinating outside of the litter box because he\u2019s mad at me.\u201d<\/p>\n

No. That\u2019s not why.<\/strong><\/p>\n

While there are definitely cases where litter-box avoidance is a medical issue for cats, it is true that the majority of cases are the result of poor litter box setup and maintenance, which is always the responsibility of the owner.<\/p>\n

Lack of human oversight often includes:<\/p>\n

Poor litter box maintenance.<\/strong> This is the #1 reason for litter box avoidance!! The golden rule is scoop AM and PM \u2013 and if you walk by the box and you see it isn\u2019t pristine \u2013 scoop again. We literally had a client who\n said he scooped his boxes (two cats, one box) \u2013 once a week! We asked him if he also flushed his toilet, once a week? (His expression was priceless \u2013 he finally got it!).<\/p>\n

Covered litter boxes<\/strong>. If you don\u2019t see it needs to be scooped \u2013 you won\u2019t scoop it. Cat\u2019s don\u2019t want \u201cprivacy\u201d \u2013 if you asked them they would tell you all they want is a CLEAN box at all times.<\/p>\n

Improper litter<\/strong>, such a corn or other substrates. Scented litter, etc.<\/p>\n

Improper changing of litter<\/strong>. Litter should be completely swapped out with new litter, no less than once per month.<\/p>\n

Inadequate cleaning.<\/strong> Litter boxes should be cleaned with hot water and Dawn soap every month, or more frequently if needed.<\/p>\n

Improper box,<\/strong> such as a box that is too small for the cat, covered litter box, litter box requiring them go into a cabinet or through a maze to get to it. No!<\/p>\n

Improper location.<\/strong> If a cat has to go on a treasure hunt to use their box every time \u2013 they will give up and find a more pleasing location.<\/p>\n

Inadequate number of boxes. <\/strong>You should always have one more box than the number of cats you have. Which means, if you have two cats \u2013 you should have three boxes.<\/p>\n

Resource guarding<\/strong>. Does your cat have easy access to the box, or do you have other pets preventing them from using the box, via intimidation tactics? Unless you have a Ring Camera pointed at the box \u2013 you\u2019ll never\n know.<\/p>\n

Dry food only diet.<\/strong> We do not believe in dry food for cats. It has no moisture, it\u2019s sprayed with a chemical that is a \u201cflavor enticer\u201d which has no nutritional value and makes the food addictive to cats (kind of like\n McDonald\u2019s). Cats are obligate carnivores! They should only be fed a wet food or raw food diet. For more information on this topic check our\n Feeding Your Cat <\/a>page.<\/p>\n

Poor maintenance of water bowl \/ no fountain.<\/strong> Cats need moisture because they have a very low thirst drive. Please check our\n Recommended Products<\/a> page for more information.<\/p>\n

Clothing on the floor.<\/strong> Even if you weren\u2019t exercising, all humans emit ammonia through their pores which remains behind on articles of clothing. The ammonia smell is an \u201cattractant\u201d for cats. If you put clothes \/ towels\n and other articles on the floor, you are inviting your cat to pee on that article. Pick up your clothes!<\/p>\n

Using the wrong cleaner for \u201caccidents.\u201d<\/strong> Most of the cleaning products you\u2019ll find at Pet Stores simply do not work. We recommend Unique Pet Odor and Stain Eliminator (link to the product is below). It eliminates all\n odor, on carpets, floors, furniture, and other surfaces.<\/p>\n

Declawing your cat.<\/strong> Declawed cats are notorious for litter box avoidance! It is a brutal procedure and most have pain throughout their lives, and is the reason why Declawing is being banned nationwide. It is cruel\n and painful and is the reason why so many cats end up in shelters \u2013 litter box avoidance. Visit the\n PawProject<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Is your cat spayed \/ neutered?<\/strong> If not \u2013 well that is likely the issue.<\/p>\n

For more information, please read the article\n \u201cThe Litter Box From Your Cat\u2019s Point of View\u201d<\/a> by Dr. Lisa Pierson, DVM.<\/p>\n

If you have done an honest assessment of your litter box maintenance and environment, and if you are adhering to the guidelines above, then it\u2019s time to move to the next step.<\/p>\n

VETERINARY INTERVENTION<\/h4>\n

All cats should be seen at least once annually, for a health check, however if your cat is urinating outside of the litter box \u2013 a Veterinary exam is ALWAYS called for.<\/p>\n

Ask your Veterinarian to check for Urinary Tract Infection, crystals, stones, and other disorders that might explain underlying medical causes, for this problem.<\/p>\n

Your Veterinarian will likely want to test your cat\u2019s urine (usually with a clean urine pull taken by syringe) to assess whether or not your cat has a Urinary Tract Infection. If your cat tests positive for an infection \u2013 that is an\n ideal outcome. Your Veterinarian will likely prescribe antibiotics and hopefully that infection is cured and does not return.<\/p>\n

However \u2013 if the Urinary Analysis comes out Negative \u2013 then it\u2019s time for more testing and diagnostics. Your Veterinarian will likely indicate that the next step is to rule out kidney and bladder stones, as well as well as crystals\n in the urine, diabetes, and other conditions.<\/p>\n

EXPLAINING FLUTD<\/strong><\/p>\n

If your Veterinarian is unable to find any underlying causes that explain the inappropriate urination, it is possible that your cat has Feline Lower Urinary Track Disorder (FLUTD), formerly known as Feline Ideopathic Cystitis.<\/p>\n

In the end, FLUTD is a baffling disorder where the cat doesn\u2019t have an obvious underlying condition. They just constantly feel a burn when they have to pee, they think the litter box is what is hurting them, so they seek out other\n locations in the hopes that \u201cthis time it won\u2019t hurt.\u201d Stress and the \u201cBengal Brain\u201d is a huge contributor to FLUTD. This is why so many cat owners become beyond frustrated, don\u2019t find answers, don\u2019t know what to do, and seek to\n re-home the cat. The cat can easily be cured.<\/p>\n

FLUTD TREATMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under the care and treatment of a Veterinarian, FLUTD is a CURABLE disorder. We have seen hundreds of cases that were beyond extreme, absolutely turn around with a miracle drug \u2013 Amitriptyline Transdermal.<\/p>\n

Amitryptyline coats the bladder so the discomfort is greatly reduced. This medication also has a magical property that \u201ctones down\u201d anxiety in a cat, which is one of the factors in Bengals that really fuels FLUTD (the anxiety).<\/p>\n

A typical dose we\u2019ve seen Veterinarians prescribe for a 10-12 pound cat is:<\/p>\n

Amitriptyline HCL 10MG\/0.1ML Transdermal<\/p>\n

Apply 0.05 ML to the hairless area of the ear (inside the ear) daily.<\/p>\n

This medication is a \u201ccontrolled substance;\u201d it can only be recommended and prescribed by a Licensed Veterinarian, and can only be compounded by a Compounding Pharmacy. This medication is not expensive \u2013 prices run around $10 per vial.\n A typical cat who receives the same prescription (above) would receive a 20 day supply, per syringe. The best part about this medication? You won\u2019t have to pill your cat or give them liquid medication. We all know what a battle that\n is!<\/p>\n

Be sure that you do NOT use a dispenser that \u201cclicks\u201d \u2013 if your cat hears the click he will run for the hills and you will have no chance of medicating him.<\/p>\n

We highly recommend\n Meds4Vets<\/a> \u2013 they ship all over the USA and their prescription is always accurate, and the dispenser is not a \u201cclick\u201d dispenser.<\/p>\n

PLEASE CONSULT YOUR VET ABOUT THIS AND GIVE IT A TRY.<\/strong> Your beloved feline family member deserves that chance. IT WORKS.<\/strong><\/p>\n

BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION<\/h4>\n

A good behaviorist is one of the best tools you can have! You\u2019ll want a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC). Today\u2019s behaviorists are the best detectives you can have. They will assess your case thoroughly, ask for your Vet records\n in advance, and give you a \u201cget well plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most Behaviorists charge $300 or so. They will send you a very detailed Questionnaire. They will schedule a Video conference with you and your cat(s) and ask you to show them around your house, so that they can provide you with helpful\n solutions.<\/p>\n

For more information see our page\n Behavioral Issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n

LITTER BOX SETUP AND GUIDELINES<\/h4>\n

Below are our favorite recommended products, when it comes to Litter Box setup and maintenance.<\/p>\n

We love this Frisco Litter box from Chewy.com. It has low entry on one side, and his high-sided for cats who stand up when they urinate (common Bengal trait).<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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As important as the litter box setup is \u2013 the MOST important thing is YOU! We ask you human to PLEASE scoop religiously. Every AM and PM.<\/strong> You should also scoop the times in-between; if you walk by and see that there\n is a \u201cdeposit\u201d \u2013 scoop then too!<\/p>\n

Most cats will hop right into the litter box and use it the moment you finish scooping. Why? It\u2019s because they LOVE a clean box.<\/p>\n

The golden rule is also +1 litter box more than the number of cats you have. So if you have two cats \u2013 you need three litter boxes.<\/p>\n

With a little diligence and commitment on your part, you will be setting your cat up for success \u2013 and a lifetime of perfect litter box use.<\/p>\n

CAT LITTER<\/h4>\n

Clay litter has chemicals in it that help make it \u201cclump\u201d \u2013 the cat takes a bath, and now is ingesting those harmful chemicals. Please read this article to learn why clay litter is unadvisable\n Is Clay Litter Bad for Cat Health?<\/a>\n <\/p>\n

Because of the dangers of Clay Litter, we did our research \u2013 and we\u2019re simply over the moon about Okocat Natural wood litter! It weighs 1\/3 of what Clay-based litters weigh, it contains no chemicals at all, it clumps like a charm,\n keeps odor under control, and it\u2019s easy on the budget!<\/p>\n

We recommend both the \u201coriginal\u201d and the \u201csuper soft\u201d versions. The Original version is closer to clay litter in texture, and the super soft version is a very fine substrate that is great for declawed cats.<\/p>\n

Click on the photo and you can buy direct from Chewy.com<\/p>\n

To learn more about okocat visit their\n website<\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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CLAY LITTER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some cats will not adjust to Okocat \u2013 it happens. Whenever there are litter box avoidance issues, we recommend Dr. Elsey\u2019s Litter Attract. It does help stop litter box avoidance in it\u2019s tracks!<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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LITTER GENIE<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Litter Genie makes scooping more efficient, but we do not recommended you keeping it near the litter box as kitty noses are sensitive!<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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CLEANER<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you are currently struggling with Litter Box issues, the most important thing you have to do to get things under control, is to invest in a GREAT enzyme cleaner. Pet Store shelves are overflowing with products that DO NOT WORK. Trust us, these are the only products that DO work.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anti-Icky Poo<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is our #1 go to for cleaning up pet odors and stains. We\u2019ve tested it on Carpet, Custom wood flooring, tile, walls, fabric, leather \u2013 you name it. Be sure to buy only the unscented.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Unique Pet Odor & Stain Eliminator<\/strong><\/p>\n

If the Anti-Icky Poo doesn\u2019t do the trick \u2013 we move next to Unique. This product really works! It\u2019s great on tile, on wood, on carpet, and on fabric. It is concentrated; a little goes a long way.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Thornell Cat Odor Off<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fantastic product! Cat Odor-Off is concentrated, so a little goes a long way.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS<\/h4>\n

Bengal Rescue attempts to be as accurate as possible. However, Bengal Rescue does not warrant that product descriptions or other content on the Site is accurate, complete, reliable, current or error-free. If a product recommended by\n Bengal Rescue is not as described, your sole remedy is to return the product to the manufacturer.<\/p>\n

Bengal Rescue makes no claims or warranties with regards to any medical information on this site. It is not intended or recommended to be followed, in place of your Veterinary care.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LITTER BOX ISSUES The #1 reason why Bengal cats (including all cats) are surrendered to shelters and rescues is litter box avoidance. In reality, it is usually improper litter box maintenance (on the part of the human) that creates litter box avoidance. So many cat owners are not aware that litter box issues and \/ […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/full-width-page.php","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":193,"url":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/faqs\/","url_meta":{"origin":276,"position":0},"title":"FAQs","date":"August 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"f.a.q. You have questions. wE have answers. We've had many questions from adopters, fosters, , and clients. We hope this FAQ page will help answer some common questions about us and the Bengal cats we love.\u00a0 There seem to be a lot of Bengals in need of rescue. Is there\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":274,"url":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/recommended-products\/","url_meta":{"origin":276,"position":1},"title":"Recommended Products","date":"August 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS So, you\u2019re bringing home a new feline family member? Where do you even get started with all of the things they will need? We\u2019ve pulled together this list of Recommend Products to make the task easier for you. We\u2019re here to make it easy. Below is a list\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":280,"url":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/rehome\/","url_meta":{"origin":276,"position":2},"title":"Rehome","date":"August 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"REHOME A BENGAL Sadly, the need to rehome a Bengal is a reality that we face, on a regular basis. It\u2019s hard on the owner of a Bengal Cat to come to terms with this painful decision, but sometimes it is the best decision a cat owner can make. We\u2019ve\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":192,"url":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/our-team\/","url_meta":{"origin":276,"position":3},"title":"Our Team","date":"August 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Our team at East Coast Bengal Rescue is led by professionals who love the Bengal breed and everything they have to offer. We are a non profit volunteer-based rescue organization dedicated to rescuing Bengal and other hybrid domestic cats.\u00a0 What We Do Our Team works with a large and ever-growing\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":278,"url":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/medical-issues\/","url_meta":{"origin":276,"position":4},"title":"Medical Issues","date":"August 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"MEDICAL ISSUES We don\u2019t know why this is true \u2013 but we are constantly begging owners to bring their cat to their Veterinarian, when there is ANY unwanted behavior or change in habits (eating, sleeping, playing, etc.). Medical issues are often the reason why your cat isn\u2019t acting right! So\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":188,"url":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/adoption-interest\/","url_meta":{"origin":276,"position":5},"title":"Adoption Interest","date":"August 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Our Adoption Inquiry Form is a short form with initial inquiries for each cat. This form helps us to quickly identify who meets the criteria to be considered for full adoption of cats in our program. There is no fee to submit an adoption inquiry form.\u00a0 We may receive up\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/276"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=276"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":705,"href":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/276\/revisions\/705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bengalrescue.ngo\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}