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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
Feline Inappropriate Elimination
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What is Feline Inappropriate Elimination (FIE)? |
FIE occurs when a cat either
urinates or passes stool in areas of your house other than the litter box.
“Inappropriate Elimination” is different from “Urine Marking” or “Spraying”
in which a cat defines his/her territory by urinating on it.
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What’s the difference? |
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FIE |
Urine marking |
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Medical
condition or response to stress |
Territorial
behavior or response to stress |
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Males
affected more than females |
Intact cats
more than spayed or neutered, males more than females |
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Urine tends
to be on horizontal surfaces (e.g. floor) |
Urine tends
to be on vertical surfaces (e.g. walls, furniture) |
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Large or
small quantity of urine |
Small
quantity urine |
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Responsive
to behavioral modification |
Less
responsive to behavioral modification |
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Urine or
feces |
Marking
with urine or feces (on substrates associated with owners or other
animals (gym shoes, laundry, pillows) |
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Why does YOUR cat go outside the litter box?
The first thing we need to rule out is a medical problem!!
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There may be as many causes of FIE as there
are cats.
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Urinary tract conditions
(crystals/stones/bacteria) are painful and will cause your cat to strain
when trying to urinate. If your cat experiences discomfort while using the
box, he or she will begin to associate the box with pain. Many cats will
urinate in different areas, trying to find a spot where it doesn’t hurt.
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Other diseases, such as hyperthyroidism
and diabetes) mellitus, will cause your cat to drink more frequently
resulting in a frequent need to urinate. This urge may catch your cat
unprepared to make it to the box in time.
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Gastrointestinal problems may result in a
sudden urge to defecate. Again, your cat may simply be unable to reach the
box quickly enough.
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Bone or joint pain, such as arthritis,
can cause your cat to choose not to use the box if it is far away or
difficult to reach.
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Behavioral Issues
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Any negative incident that occurs near or
in the box, such as sudden loud noises (music, dog barking, machinery, oil
burner coming on)
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Catching your cat in or near the box in
order to give medication
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Multi-cat households in which a dominant
cat does not allow another cat access to a shared litter box
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New animals in your home can create
stress; your cat may be afraid to venture out to the box.
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FIE may become a habit. Cats may urinate
repeatedly in the same areas.
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What can YOU do to prevent (or stop) inappropriate
elimination by YOUR cat?
Punishment
will not work!!

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Litter boxes
Generally, cats prefer large uncovered
boxes. Why? In the wild, cats prefer open fields where they can visibly see
and protect themselves from predators. When they are eliminating, they are
vulnerable to being attacked. Uncovered boxes allow them to be on the
lookout for predators. Large boxes such as clear plastic clothing bins
provide room to circle, dig and investigate before they eliminate.
Try to provide 1+ the number of cats
in the home (i.e.- if you have 2 cats, provide 3 litter boxes).
Provide at least one box per floor in your house.
Substrate
(what to put IN the box)
There are many types of litter on the
market: clay, clumping, silicone beads or crystals, paper products, etc.
Just like humans, cats are individuals with preferences. Multiple studies
have shown that overall, cats prefer clumping litter, but there are always
exceptions.
One way to determine which substrate your
cat prefers is to run an experiment: put your cat in an enclosed room (such
as a bathroom) for a few hours along with multiple boxes each containing a
different type of litter. This will allow your cat to chose which type of
litter he/she prefers. Then stick with this type of litter.
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Some cats prefer urinating on hard flat
surfaces, in which case an empty litter box may be all they want.
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Other cats prefer shreds or strips of
newspaper, or wood chips (avoid cedar).
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For cats that have made a habit out of
urinating on carpet, you might try laying an old piece of washable carpet
in the box.
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For indoor/outdoor cats with elimination
problems, you might consider placing leaves in the box.
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Longhaired cats may be predisposed to
improper elimination because they tend to collect litter on their coats.
Routine brushing may be helpful for these cats.
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Litter box liners are not for everyone.
Your cat may not like the odor or texture. In that case, do without it.
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There is a litter called “Cat Attract”
available at pet supply stores. It promises to keep your cat thinking
inside the box. It’s worth a try.
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Location,
Location,
Location!
Cats prefer to eliminate in areas that they frequent the
most. These are generally quiet areas, but you should pay attention to areas
where your cat feels comfortable. For example, if your cat prefers solitude,
do NOT put the box in areas of high traffic or noisy areas such as a
playroom, main bathroom, or next to your noisy washer & dryer.
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Scooping and Cleaning
If you are using a clumping litter, try to
scoop the box at least once daily, and replace litter to maintain a constant
depth of at least 3 inches. Discard the entire contents every 2-3 weeks.
Regular clay litter should have fecal
matter removed at least once daily. The entire contents should be discarded
at least once weekly, more often with multiple cats.
Clean the litter box with mild soap and hot
water. Do not use harsh smelling disinfectants, as the residual odor may be
objectionable to your cat. If you can, let it dry outside–Sunshine is an
effective germicidal agent! |
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