The Marin Humane Society’s behavior department receives many phone calls from exasperated families searching for a solution to their cat’s sudden change in litterbox habits. Even though it can be a challenge, there are many things you can do to remind your kitty that it is inappropriate to eliminate outside the box.

The very first thing is to make sure your cat does not have a health issue. Something like a urinary tract infection, diabetes or metabolism change could make cats falter on their litterbox habits. If it is a health problem, no matter what behavior modification you do, it will have no effect.

As for the box itself, no one likes a dirty bathroom. Scooping daily will make your cat and your nose happy. Try to completely change the litter and scrub out the box every two weeks. Cats like privacy and an easy-access, non-stress environment, so avoid putting the box in a high-traffic area. Studies have shown that cats prefer non-scented, clumping, sand-like-texture kitty litter. If you need to change brands of cat litter, do it slowly by mixing the new in with the old. Many cats are more comfortable urinating in one box and defecating in another. This is tied to their instinct to hide from predators and avoid calling attention to themselves. And to eliminate competition in a multi-cat household, the rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one more box.

The most annoying part of all this for humans is having smells and stains around the house. Your best defense in this area is having the proper cleaning tools handy. Your cleanser should be designed for pet stains — otherwise, it is just an air deodorizer for humans. Look specifically for a cleanser that says “enzymes for cat urine” on the bottle. Household cleansers may make it so you cannot smell the urine but your cat still can. And the scent of urine or feces can be a trigger for your cat to stain the spot again.

Notice that the directions may say to saturate the spot and let dry. That’s because the enzymes need time to break down the urine and diffuse it into the air. While you are waiting for the spot to dry, your cat may decide to go in that spot again. Covering the spot(s) will help your cat resist the temptation. Cover with something that creates texture, like aluminum foil and double-sided sticky tape.

What about triggers or why is my cat doing this? Most likely, if it’s not a health problem, your cat is reacting to a change. It may be a small detail to you, but for cats, change is the worst. Think back to when the behavior started. Did something happen? Maybe you had friends over for dinner. Did your family get a Christmas tree? Or really big, from the cat’s eyes, did he or she go outside for the first time? Thinking back to the ‘change’ may help you understand the reaction your cat is having.

A health check, a clean littlerbox and using the proper cleaning techniques are your starting place. My favorite words in regard to cat behavior modification are “patience” and “persistence.” Keep at it, even though it can be tough and frustrating. Call us here at the Marin Humane Society at (415) 506-6280 and we can discuss your tactics. This is just the first level of defense. There are more ways of helping your cat realize that it is inappropriate to eliminate outside the box.

Laura Hazard is the cat behavior consultant at the Marin Humane Society.

Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal