Outside the Box, Inappropriate Elimination Inappropriate elimination can drive even the most loving pet owner crazy.  It’s the number one reason cats are surrendered to shelters or pounds.  The good news is house soiling problems can be prevented.  Cat preferences for a desirable toilet are not unlike our own.  It must be clean, private and easily accessible.  They also have some requirements that are based on their survival instincts:  It must contain an easily raked substrate and it must offer escape potential.  This survival know-how is pre- programmed into your cat’s brain.   Always base your decisions on what is most natural from the cat’s point of view.  If kitty were to use the great outdoors, he would look for a soft, diggable substrate such as garden soil.  There would be no artificial fragrance and, of course, no plastic liners.  He would have plenty of room to sniff, dig, squat, and turn around.  A clean spot would be selected each time – at least six inches from the last spot he used. How do we meet these requirements indoors?  Select a box that is at least 16 inches by 22 inches.   Hooded or covered litter boxes are popular with consumers, but if cats did the shopping, they would be left on the shelves.  Humans do not want to see or smell what kitty leaves behind and neither does kitty.   The hooded litter box forces him to enter a cramped, cave-like structure that concentrates odors, creating an outhouse effect.  Since the cat’s sense of smell is at least 14 times more sensitive than ours, this may be all it takes to send kitty in search of a fresher smelling toilet area. Cats are genetically inclined to seek out an easily raked substrate in which to eliminate.  If kitty is not selecting the litter box as his preferred area, then something is wrong. Perhaps he has a urinary tract or intestinal disorder that makes elimination uncontrollable or painful.  He may be associating the litter box with his discomfort and is avoiding it.  So, always rule out any health considerations by taking kitty to the veterinarian.  All cats six months or older should be spayed or neutered to prevent urine marking.  If the problem is not kitty’s health or hormones, then perhaps the litter box is the problem.  Is he eliminating near the litter box but not in it?  If so, this may indicate that he intended to use the box, but for some reason he just couldn’t bring himself to get into it.  Usually this is because it is too dirty.  Cats are not going to voluntarily step into moist or dirty litter that they will later have to clean off their paws or fur.  A box that seems clean to you may not be clean enough for your cat.  What is not offensive to us may be unbearable to them.  Remember it is kitty’s preferences, not yours, that count when it comes to the litter box.