Inappropriate Elimination Disorders in Cats

What is "inappropriate elimination"?

Inappropriate elimination generally refers to a cat is urinating and/or defecating in the house in places other than its litter box.

What causes it?

This can be caused by either medical problems or a behavioral disorder. Behavioral causes of inappropriate elimination fall into two common categories: 1) a dislike of the litter box or litter-box aversion, and 2) a stress-related misbehavior.

Why would a cat not like its litter box?

One of the main reasons for this is because the litter box has become objectionable to the cat. This usually occurs because it is not cleaned frequently enough or because the cat does not like the type of litter in it. The latter is called substrate aversion. It can occur because the litter was changed to a new, objectionable type or because the cat has associated a stressful event (such as a sudden fright) with the type of litter.

What stresses can cause inappropriate elimination?

There are probably hundreds of these, but the more common ones are as follows:

• A new person (especially a baby or spouse) in the house
• A person that has recently left the house (permanently or temporarily)
• New furniture, drapes or carpets
• Rearrangement of the furniture
• Moving to a new house
• A new pet in the house
• A pet that has recently left the house 
• A new cat in the neighborhood that can be seen by the indoor cat
• A cat in "heat" in the neighborhood
• A new dog in the neighborhood that can be heard by the indoor cat

I feel that this is a problem that cannot be tolerated, even if the cat has to leave my house. Is that wrong?

No. Many people are very proud of their home and are unable to tolerate house-soiling by their cat. However, before giving up your cat, you should discuss the problem with your veterinarian since there may be a simple solution to manage the behavior.

Can the problem be treated?

Yes, in the majority of cases. However, the treatment is more likely to be successful if several of the following are true:

• The duration of the behavior is less than one month when treatment begins
• There are only one or two locations in the house that the cat uses for inappropriate elimination
• It is possible to identify and relieve the stress-causing situation
• It is possible to neutralize the odor caused by the urine or stool
• You have only one cat

What is involved with treatment?

Most successful treatments rely on a combination of behavior modification techniques and drug therapy.

What are behavior modification techniques, and how are they used?

In general, behavior modification techniques are either Aversion Therapy or Attraction Therapy. The former repels the cat from the inappropriate location, while the latter encourages the cat to choose an appropriate location.

"The purpose of Aversion Therapy is to make the area of inappropriate urination or defecation undesirable for the cat."

The purpose of Aversion Therapy is to make the area of inappropriate urination or defecation undesirable for the cat. There are many ways to do this, but the following steps have proven successful in a high percentage of cases:

• A product to neutralize the odor of urine or stool should be used in places where inappropriate urination or defecation has occurred. If the objectionable location is on a carpet, it is necessary to treat the carpet and the pad below because most of the odor will be in the pad. This usually means soaking the carpet with the neutralizing product so it penetrates into the pad. Test an inconspicuous area of the carpet to ensure that it won't be damaged before using any odor-neutralizing product.
• Cover the area(s) with double-sided tape or aluminum foil taped down to the carpet or furniture. Aluminum foil or sticky surfaces are textures on which most cats do not like to walk. You can also purchase a pressure-sensitive mat that emits a loud noise or a very mild static electricity shock when the cat walks on it.
• If the soil in potted plants is being used, place a lemon-scented air freshener at the base of the plant. This will usually repel the cat.

"The purpose of Attraction Therapy is to make the litter box more desirable than the inappropriate site."

The purpose of Attraction Therapy is to make the litter box more desirable than the inappropriate site. The following are usually successful:

• Purchase a new litter box; even well cleaned litter boxes have odor deep in the plastic. It is important not to use a litter box with a hood in cases of inappropriate elimination. Many cats find a hooded litter box undesirable.
• To increase the chances of your cat using the new litter box, purchase unscented clumping litter. Many cats prefer clumping litter to regular clay litter. And, although you might prefer a scented product, most cats do not.
• Place the new litter box near the area of inappropriate urination until it is used for several days. Then move it 2-3 feet (0.7-1 m) per day until it is back in the desired location. In some cases, the litter box may need to be moved shorter distances each time; in others, it may not be possible to relocate to the litter box.
• Keep the existing litter box in the normal location in case the aversion therapy causes your cat to return to it.

What medications are available to treat inappropriate elimination

Anti-depressant and/or anti-anxiety medications.  This can be dicsussed further with your veterinarian.