Tiggers bad habit

Question
Why has my 1 year old male cat suddenly decided that the litter box is not for him? He's been using my kitchen floor as a bathroom and I'd really like it to stop, soon, as my house smells awful and I don't know what to do about it. I clean the litter box twice weekly, and I mean, all fresh litter and everything, so I can't figure out what his problem is! Help, please!

Answer
LeAnna,

Given your cats age and the sudden onset of the problem, it would, most likely, be a physical problem.  Urinary tract problems can result in this type of behavior.  I would have your boy checked out by your vet.

If it is not a physical problem, some other thing may have happened to trigger this kind of inappropriate behavior.  The trigger can be anything from a new outside cat spraying in the area to a change in brand or type of litter and lots of other possibilities!  I am including a link to a series of excellent articles about litter box problems:

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/pointe/9352/litterboxhelp.html


Also, you need an enzyme based cleaner specifically for pet stains and pet odors (available from most pet supermarkets or farm stores) to help get the odor out.

Please let me know what you find out.

Best regards... Norm.