Inappropriate elimination in cats – also known as house soiling and FIE—is a problem that many cat owners in the Louisville area and beyond will face at some point during their cat’s life. Unfortunately, knowing what is causing the issue isn’t always easy to determine. In many cases, FIE results in a cat being relinquished because a pet owner loses patience with the problem. Although it may seem that a cat is eliminating outside of their litter box to be spiteful, there are many reasons why a feline could be acting in this way.

Health problems in cats can often lead to inappropriate elimination throughout a home. For example: if a litter box is located down a flight of steps, an older cat that is suffering from arthritis may find travelling to it painful. For this reason, they may seek another location to eliminate that is not appropriate.  To discover what health condition could be causing your cat’s aversion to using their litter box, schedule an appointment for them at Belpar Pet Care Centre in Canton, Ohio.

At this local veterinary clinic, pet owners can speak one-on-one with one of their professional veterinarians to help rule out possible conditions that can cause cat elimination problems. Often, a few tests will need to be run to determine if a urinary tract infection (UTI), diabetes, intestinal disease, or other health problem is causing a feline to eliminate outside of their litter box. In the case of a UTI, a cat may associate their litter box with pain. Even though it is the UTI that is causing the feline discomfort when they eliminate, they may come to associate their litter box as the place of that pain and want to avoid it.

Cat behavior problems like these are often referred to as” litter box avoidances” or “litter box aversions” and can be caused by more than just health problems in cats. Instead, these cat behavior problems can be brought on by past traumas that have occurred regarding their litter box. If a cat is bothered by other cats, people, or loud noises when attempting to use their litter box, they may begin to negatively associate it with these problems. Past health problems may also cause litter box problems to form.

To help eliminate these issues, changing things about the litter box in shape or style can help draw a cat back to an appropriate place to eliminate and reduce the amount of inappropriate eliminations occurring throughout their Louisville, Akron, or Alliance area home. Cleanliness, location, number of litter boxes per multi-cat household, and substrates used are also contributing factors to inappropriate elimination in cats. However, if these factors have all been addressed and there are still no changes in behavior, a trip to Belpar Pet Care Centre in Canton should be the next stop.

Through years of experience, their friendly veterinary staff can help cat owners learn more about the causes behind the litter box problems they are facing with their cat and how it can be treated.  Often, litter box problems associated with a cat’s health can be eliminated using the appropriate pharmaceuticals for their condition and patience on the pet owner’s part. Furthermore, understanding the causes behind cat elimination problems can help pet owners learn how to prevent them from occurring in their Akron or Alliance area home in the future.

For more information on Belpar Pet Care Centre, visit their website at www.belparvet.com. Otherwise, feel free to call 330.492.8387 to speak with one of their knowledgeable staff members.

Belpar Pet Care Centre
4835 Fulton Dr. NW
Canton, OH 44718
www.belparvet.com
330.492.8387