Introducing a new kitten or a cat to your house means having a litterbox.  While you may think it is quite a nice litter pan your cat may not agree.  Here are some tips for the new litterbox………

Most cats have an innate tendency to use a litterbox.  That means that they do not have to learn in order to perform.  When kittens are very young they often like the feel of soft ground on their toes and will scratch in the area and often eliminate there as well.  So unlike their dog counterparts cats usually do not need to be shown how or where to eliminate.  In fact putting a kitten in the box and scratching with its front feet in the litter is often an unpleasant thing for the kitten and they sometimes will not go back to the box.

Picking a location for the litterbox is difficult.  Usually owners will want to put the box in the basement, on a cold concrete surface beside a noisy appliance.  This can pose a few problems.  One, if a kitten is little often it will not make a flight of stairs to go to the washroom.  Two, imagine how scary an experience it will be if the washing machine hits the spin cycle while you are trying to urinate, this will usually mean that the kitten will not go back to that area.  Three, most cats like to scratch around the litterbox when they are "done".  This may be a perfect time to introduce a scratch pad.  Some owners will start a kitten’s litterbox in a nice quiet area on the same floor as the family living space and clean it frequently. 

Picking the litter type is important as well.  Most cats prefer a soft, grainy type of litter.  I find that my cats have liked a product called "World’s Best Cat Litter".  It is organic, scoopable, flushable and quite soft to the touch.  However some cats may like the bargain brand clay litter.  Try several types of litter and see what your pet likes the best and then stick with that same type.  A change in litter can often lead to behavior problems like eliminating outside the box.

Deodorants and odors that we may find pleasing to the nose does not necessarily agree with your cat’s nose.  Most cats are often offended by smells that we like so a fine layer of baking soda on the bottom of a litter pan is often enough to contain odors and not offend your pet.  Cleaning of a litterbox should be done with a simple soap and water.  Bleaches and other harsh chemicals are not pleasing to a cats nose and may end up causing your cat to eliminate outside the box.

How many boxes should you have?  The rule of thumb is one more than the number of cats.  So if you have 3 cats you need 4 litterboxes.  Most cats will not eliminate where another cat has just gone to the washroom so that extra box allows for a clean box.  Cats will usually not prefer one box as being their own but it may happen. 

To cover or not to cover……..many cats do like the privacy of a covered litterbox and they can also help to control odors.  Large cats will not like the box if they cannot turn around so you may have to make a litterbox out of a large plastic tub.  Give your new cat the option at first and see which one they approve of.

If your cat starts to eliminate out of the box catching and dealing with the problem as soon as possible may prevent behavior problems later on.  Consult your veterinarian as it may be a medical problem like crystals, diarrhea or it could be a behavior problem that needs medical attention.  You can also call a local animal behaviorist in the area as they may have some suggestions for you.

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I am going to put a plug out there for a great dog trainer I know.  Dara of Mutts N Manners is excellent with both the pet and the person.  She not only helps you and your dog learn to work together but she teaches the entire family as it is important that all family members are able to work with the pet and see positive results.  Dara only uses positive reinforcement in her classes which is a plus for both the dog and the owners.

Dara offers many different types of classes from basic puppy training to clicker training, advanced training to just being able to take your dog for a walk.  Dara is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and is a member of the CAPPDT and APDT. 

If you are in the market for a dog trainer or behavior consultations contact Dara, I know you will be impressed.

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Wow so what do you think this dog will turn into if his owners don’t get their act together………………. Yesterday at work we had a cute little puppy come into the clinic.  He was 7 weeks old.  So as I bent down to pet him he started to growl and attack my hands, feet and pant legs.  I said "ow" and pulled away.  He continued to bite, so I picked him up and put him on his back, trying to get him to submit, but he kept trying to bite and wouldn’t look away.  I put him on the ground and he continued to growl. Little history…..the puppy was taken away from its mom and litter mates at the age of 3 weeks.  He has not learned any social skills or play skills from his mom or siblings.  The owners are 18′ish and have lots of friends that come over and rough house with the puppy. The puppy is a pitbull.  Your guess is a good as mine. I think next time they are in if they haven’t already done so I am going to recommend a friend of mine, Dara Ashton of Mutts ‘n Manners and hope that they go and see her for some puppy classes otherwise they are probably going to have to put the dog down in a year or two because it has attacked someone or another animal.