LAS VEGAS, Aug. 31, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A local veterinarian is prompting pet owners to ask themselves if their cat's litter box is ignored. Dr. Trish Auge of A Cat Hospital says some pet owners may be unknowingly aiding in their cat's rejection of a litter box. The veterinarian says cats can become unhappy with the litter box environment and the resulting "inappropriate elimination" is a way to communicate unease.
Dr. Trish Auge says one of the common problems that veterinarians see is humans wanting to avoid their cats' litter boxes. She says there are some general rules: one litter box per cat; uncovered, unscented, clumping litter; and scooping litter at least once, preferably twice, daily. Litter box locations should be in areas that are easily accessible to cats. Dr. Auge says owners should avoid placing boxes is in a noisy area where the cat feels there is too much commotion, such as a laundry room or a hallway where kids are frequently passing by. Dr. Auge added, "People often don't even notice a glare from one cat towards another, which can create fear for a submissive cat!"
Dr. Auge says she often hears from pet owners "I hate litter boxes, so I have it in the garage." She says this frequently means the cat must go through a doggy door to get to the box in the garage, which is easily forgotten and accumulates the cat's waste. The Las Vegas veterinarian says some people put litter boxes a closet or a cabinet. She insists this is not natural for the cat; they may want privacy, but not that much privacy.
Said Dr. Auge, "Not cleaning the litter box is similar to not flushing after using the restroom. It is better to have the box in an area where you will notice it quickly and thereby tend to clean often. It's a good idea to keep some plastic bags and a scooper right next to the box."
Cats have a very keen sense of smell. Dr. Auge says this means they do not want a litter additive that may be a "turn off" due to the smell. She asks pet owners to keep in mind that a cat's natural instinct is to just dig a small hole in the sand to "do their business." She advises that if cats are not happy with their elimination area, they will move to another spot in the home.
Dr. Auge added, "By nature, cats are very clean animals. You can get away with a lot of litter box "no-no's" until your cat decides it will just be better to go someplace else. Some cats tolerate these frustrating human habits better than others."
The first veterinary hospital in Nevada to care exclusively for cats, A Cat Hospital's on staff licensed veterinarians have extensive experience providing full service veterinary care for cats.