Decoding Your Cat by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists

Author:American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9781328489852
Publisher: HMH Books
Published: 2020-07-20T16:00:00+00:00

Is That Really True?

Is my cat being spiteful or vengeful when he eliminates outside the litter box? As offensive as finding cat urine around your house can be, your cat is not deliberately engaging in a feud with you. Try not to take his bathroom habits personally. This is not about you; it is about his individual preferences or his attempts to tell you something.

First and foremost, your cat may be sick. There are many illnesses (discussed later in this chapter) that typically manifest as changes in litter box habits. He also may be unhappy about where the litter box is located or something having to do with the box itself. He may be stressed by and anxious about his environment. Remember, your cat did not decide where, how, and with whom he wanted to live; you decided for him.

It is the responsibility of caregivers (both owners and veterinarians) to understand why a cat is eliminating outside the litter box and to find a solution to the problem that is respectful of the cat’s well-being. It is very important for you to avoid anthropomorphizing your cat and to realize instead that he is house soiling out of anxiety, not out of spite or a desire for revenge.

Is urine marking a sign of dominance? Your cat is an intriguing and elegant creature who possesses fascinating communication skills. Among these skills, marking plays an important role. You may have noticed that he marks his environment (also known as your home!) in different ways: with his chin, with his head and the sides of his face, with his whole body, with his paws, and . . . with his urine.

Urine marking is one of the many behaviors cats use to convey a message, perhaps Single tabby male seeks calico female. Or Beware: cat on the premises! Or even That new baby is stressing me out!

By contrast, behaviorists define dominance as controlling access to resources. Your cat is not trying to control access to anything by depositing his urine outside the box. Dominance is not the issue (and, more broadly, not an issue in cat-human interactions at all).

Should I reprimand my cat when he eliminates outside his litter box? No. Punishment, including verbal reprimands, is unlikely to change your cat’s elimination habits. Keep in mind that poor litter box management, fear, anxiety, and stress are among the most frequent causes of feline house soiling. Punishment can actually exacerbate the situation and make the house-soiling problem worse.

As frustrating as it is to find urine or feces on your favorite chair or your brand-new carpet, the best thing you can do is simply clean it up. Showing the urine or feces to your cat or, worse, rubbing his nose in it will only make him afraid of you and more anxious about his eliminations in general.

To teach my cat to use the litter box, should I lock him in the bathroom with the box? While you work on the treatment plan for house soiling with your veterinarian, do your best to prevent your cat from eliminating outside the litter box.

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