Does your cat refuse to use the litter box? Did he get fleas? Is there medicine he refuses to take? Do you feel your sanity slipping away?
1. The first step is acceptance.
Okay. You’ve accepted your station. Now what?
2. Get this book.
3. Scoop the box regularly.
This one can be filed under common sense, but it bears repeating. Make it a daily habit, and things will be less chaotic.
4. Consider the litter.
According to Rainbolt, cats can be particular about both smell and texture. She suggests unscented litter. Pay attention when your cat uses the box. Does your cat like digging in it?
5. Open it up.
If you're using the enclosed kind, your cat may not like the door or the lid. I know, I know. I don’t care for the view, either.
6. More litter boxes.
Have more than one cat? You need more than one box. Ideally, you should even have a third. Sometimes, the more dominant cat will guard both boxes. I live in a one-bedroom apartment, and fitting two boxes and two feeding stations has been a challenge. Do what you can.
7. Watch for strange behavior.
Your cat could have medical issues, and that might be why they’re peeing outside of the box. This happened to my cat. Does it look like your cat is struggling to pee? Is he going back and forth between the box and the rest of the home? If your cat’s behavior seems odd, take him to the vet.
8. Use cat-specific cleaning products
9. Use pheromones.
10. Change your perspective
Try to look at your home from your cats' perspective. I hadn’t thought about this until I read Rainbolt’s book. Having another cat means you need to make more territory, so they can have their own areas. You can make more territory by adding things like cat trees. Think vertically; cats like to go up. I have storage bins that I stack on top of one another. Just make sure that their new perch is sturdy.
11. Be patient.
Both of my cats need to take medication daily, and neither likes it much. I’ve tried the liquid form and the dreaded pill popper. These methods led to fear and resentment. One time, I wrestled with my cat for half an hour on the kitchen floor, and he still managed to evade me. I've found several methods that work.
12. Crush up the pills and hide them in wet food.
My vet suggested a mortar and pestle, but I found a spoon and a bowl did the trick.
13. If your cat notices the taste in the regular food, try it with tuna.
I get the salt-free kind from Trader Joe's.
14. Hide them in treats
15. If the situation is bad, don’t dawdle. Get an exterminator.
16. The best topical flea medication for cats that I’ve found is Cheristin.
You can’t buy it from the store; you have to get it from your vet. It’s expensive, but it’s worth it.
18. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.
Then, dump and clean out your vacuum. Don’t skip the last step.
19. If there is a bed or toy that can’t be washed, try heat treating it.
If it’s over 90 degrees out, put it in your car and leave it there. Several hours of intense heat should kill anything on it.
20. Try this spray.
Alright, cat ladies, that's it. One step left.
21. Breathe, take a step back from the feline chaos.
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