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 Pet Central
Q&A
Q: My cat is urinating
in the bathtub. Cleopatra is 6 years old and never had a problem before.
Six weeks ago, she started this, but only went in the tub once every 10
days. Now, she does it almost every day. I'm tired of cleaning the tub.
What can I do? — C.D., Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
A: For starters,
fill your tub with water. That ought to convince Cleopatra not to go there.
But she may seek out another alternative if she's displeased with her
litter box or its location.
Veterinary behaviorist
Dr. Amy Marder, of the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton,
Mass., says your cat may have been content with the box in the bathroom
for years. Then something may have scared Cleo while she was doing her
business and she now associates being scared with using the box. Add another
litter box elsewhere in the house. Always pick a location that provides
privacy and easy access. As another possibility, Cleo may have started
using the tub when she considered her box too dirty to deal with.
Marder also recommends
setting up a litter box buffet in the bathroom, offering two or three
boxes with a different kind of litter in each. If the boxes have hoods,
remove at least one. Since Cleo apparently likes a smooth surface to stand
on, give it to her; use this column if you like, and spread just enough
newspaper to cover the bottom of one box. In another box, use clumping
litter. Take your best guess for the third box. As alternative litters,
I'm impressed with natural wood chip choices like Gimpet Luv My Kitty
and Gentle Touch.
Whenever a cat is
missing its box, consult a veterinarian. Even when the problem appears
behavioral, a physical condition can be responsible for stressing out
a cat.
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