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The two main causes of cat litter box problems are behavioral issues and physical problems. The first thing you should do then, is have your vet check out your cat to make sure there are no physical causes.

If your cat learns to link a bad experience with the litter box, she may start to resent the box. If this happens often enough, she may stop using the box altogether. You should be aware that the problem may have a physical cause at the root.

Here are four good reasons your cat won't (or can't) use the box:
1. Urination Pain - if your cat has a physical problem causing her pain when she urinates, she'll learn to hate the box. When she absolutely can't hold it anymore, she'll go on your bedroom carpet. Remember that cats often return to the same spot again and again until you remove the odor!
2. Painful Bowel Movements - obviously a similar situation applies. For example, if your cat is constipated and it causes her pain to have a bowel movement, she will associate pain with the litter box. When she finally does work things out, so to speak, it may be on the living room floor instead of the box.
3. Joint or Muscle Pain - in order to use the litter box, cats have to be agile enough to get in and out of the box. They also have to be able to squat comfortably. Arthritis, an injury, or any problem with your cat's joints or muscles may cause your cat too much pain. The litter box becomes associated with pain, and your cat doesn't use it.
4. Limited Range of Motion - it's possible that your cat may not be able to climb up into the litter box. If you have an older cat, or injury or disease has limited her movement, she won't be able to use the box.

Many people that I talk to seem to believe that litter box problems are always behavioral. I hope this article has shed some light on other possibilities. If your cat is having a physical problem that you are unaware of, your vet can help sort that out.

For painful urination, bowel movements, or joint or muscle pain, proper treatment will have to be sought out in consultation with your vet. Once the pain is gone, some retraining will probably be required and a large amount of patience on your part to help your cat through it.

If a mobility problem is at fault, there may be some things you can do to help. Make it easy on your cat by getting a low litter box so your cat doesn't have to step too high into it. Also, a large box that is easy to move around in would be better. Depending upon your situation, your vet may have a treatment to help your cat's mobility problem.

If you catch these problems early on, they are much easier to handle. Remember, a cat litter box problem that has a physical cause is often fixable, once the cause is identified by your vet. Anything that causes your cat to associate an unpleasant experience with the box needs to be addressed right away.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kurt_Schmitt
http://EzineArticles.com/?Cat-Litter-Box-Problems---Four-Physical-Causes&id=721681

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