The cat is a naturally clean animal that spends several hours a day washing itself with its tongue. So if your cat isn’t potty trained, that’s not normal. In this article, I explain to you why your cat is not clean and especially how to make it clean.
My cat is not clean: The causes and their solutions
If your cat is not toilet trained, several causes can lead to this problem. Here, I present to you the causes with for each one how to recognize it and especially how to put in place the solutions adapted to each one.
He is not weaned
If your cat isn’t weaned, or wasn’t weaned at the right time, then he hasn’t been potty trained. Make sure he understands that he needs to use the litter box to relieve himself. Start by having him scratch his litter box with his paw.
Then scratch the litter so he understands that it’s a perfect place to relieve himself, so you can be sure he’s creating associations in his mind. Obviously, it will take time for him to understand 100%.
Even better, when he relieves himself, put him in the litter box, it’s a very good way to make him understand that he must relieve himself there.
He prefers another place
Some cats prefer to soil the sheets, for example, they are warm, they are comfortable and in a quiet place, so for some cats it is an ideal support for defecating. The vicious cycle starts when you wash off the urine with bleach, because its smell reminds him of the smell of cat urine and he will urinate on it to mark his territory, thinking another cat has urinated.
If your cat urinates and poops in a particular place, make sure he realizes quickly that it’s not a good idea. The easiest way is to spread a citrus smell in it, cats hate citrus fruits.
Getting your cat used to the litter box
Here, the solutions to put in place are the same as for the previous solution and must absolutely be put in place from an early age to facilitate the work and make it easier for your cat to understand how to relieve himself in the litter box.
The earlier the cat is accustomed to the litter box, the more it will be able to be clean, because with age, it will have acquired its habits and it will be more difficult to change them, and its brain will be less wired for learning. .
Set up a reward system
By associating the litter box with something positive, your cat will understand that he has done well. So when he goes in the litter box or you put him there because he’s pooping, give him a reward to let him know he did the right thing.
Conversely, ignore him or lock him in a room for 15 minutes if he has relieved himself elsewhere. Without physically punishing him or yelling at him because he will lose his trust in you and see you as a potential danger.
Give him a suitable litter
Sometimes the litter is not suitable. For example, covered litter boxes may displease cats because they feel enclosed in them. For old cats, a completely closed litter box can cause difficulty in stepping over because of possible joint problems (think kibble and olive oil in this case).
The litter can also be too close to his food and disgust him or even be in a noisy place that scares him. But she may also not have enough pellets which prevents her from covering the droppings.
Cats are also very sensitive to odors, so if you wash the litter box with very chemical products or even bleach, which drives cats crazy, he will not want to go there.
Finally, a litter that is not changed regularly will disgust them and they will dodge it.
Basically, a litter box must be accessible, in a quiet place and with enough granules (about 5-7 cm) and of course completely clean.
Give him his litter
Cats are territorial animals and do not share their personal corner, and their litter box is one of them, your cat must have its own litter box so that it can do its business there, otherwise it will go to do it elsewhere.
The litter must also be sufficiently spaced from that of other animals so that he does not smell their odor when he does his business, he must understand that it is his litter and that it is not the property of a other animal.
Define your personal scope
Your cat must have his own litter box, but also his own personal corner in which the litter box is located, a quiet place, without noise and where he feels completely safe. Don’t forget that outside, your cat puts itself in danger when it does its business, because potential predators can attack it.
Of course, he does not risk anything in your home, but he retains his natural instinct even in the domestic state. It is also for this reason that he will never sleep near a source of noise, such as the washing machine for example.
Detect a potential problem
Certain problems can make your cat dirty, such as a source of stress. Cats can have completely irrational fears, such as cucumbers . So, if your cat is afraid of something, hygiene can take a back seat.
It could be a new animal, construction noises or even a smell. In any case, it will be necessary either to remove the source of stress or to accustom it to it.
Make it less territorial
Cats are very territorial, if yours goes to urinate in height, on a plant for example, it marks its territory, classic case when a new animal is in the home. So make him understand with games, cuddles and his personal space, that he will always be at home.
Detect a potential disease
Cats tend to hide their illness, but certain signs are unmistakable, such as lethargy or refusal to eat. So if your cat is sick, take him to the vet if nothing goes wrong.
Because if your cat is sick, he can become doubly dirty, he can already not wash at all and be dirty on himself, and he can also relieve himself elsewhere, especially in the event of a urinary infection or he can lose bladder control.
If your cat is at least 12 years old, don’t really wait to consult the veterinarian because his state of health is naturally fragile.
The diseases more often concern the internal organs and therefore the stool, for example a lack of control over the bladder or the sphincter.
Go see a specialist
If nothing works, go see a behaviorist who can make him stop this bad behavior and make sure that he is clean both on him but also on the level of his needs. Cats that have not been weaned at the right time will often need to have several behaviors corrected by a specialist.
My cat is not clean: The final word
If your cat is not toilet trained, there can be many causes, so be sure to pinpoint the cause of the problem and always be able to implement a suitable solution so that he can use the litter box and groom himself normally. .