Kitty bathroom redesigns

Cats can be very particular about where they 'go'. If conditions are not just right, they may develop a house-soiling problem. Advice for determining a cat's litter and litter-box needs and preferences is provided.

Ever enjoy a lovely meal at a charming new restaurant, but adjust your "review" down a peg or two upon visiting the ladies' room? I'd bet most of us harbor the hope that a business's restroom reflects the attention to detail we enjoy on our plates.

Cats resemble us in their pickiness about where they "go". Like us, if they don't get what they want, they take their business elsewhere: Okay, not to another bistro, in their case, but maybe to the living-room rug.

House-soiling is the number-one behavioral complaint among cat owners, and can become a serious problem, even life threatening. Too many owners force their cats to risky life outdoors. I or even surrender them to shelters, because of a problem that could easily have been prevented or resolved.

The scoop on litter boxes

Most owners know that cats like clean boxes. But what they don't know is that cats' litter and box preferences vary as much as their personalities. My last cat, Theo, preferred lightly scented clay litter, while my current feline companion, Eddie, favors un-deodorized clump able litter.

Some cats are partial to newspaper in their boxes. Aside from the type of litter, there are lots of other variables for your feline to be finicky about, such as:

Amount of litter: Does your cat like several inches or less than an inch? Some cats like to dig.

• Location: Does your feline do fine in the basement, or might she like to be closer to family living areas? Most cats prefer private corners.
• Lids: Owners love 'em; cats tend to favor open-air styles.
• Size: Usually, the bigger the better. True, you can't ask Felix or Whiskers what he likes. But with a little help, he can vote with his paws.

If your cat's not using his setup scrupulously, your first move should be to a veterinarian to check for medical problems that may be causing the breakdown in etiquette. (See "Surprising Cause of Poor Potty Etiquette," below.) If there are no physical problems, or if you want to find out what your cat likes best, try the following "litter-choice experiments," which I often prescribe for my clients:

Figuring out feline needs

Like a scientist, you need to alter one variable (those described at left) while keeping everything else the same. Then take notes on kitty's re action. Let's say you're using regular clay litter, but your cat isn't. Buy an identical litter box and put the two boxes next to each other. In one, put the litter you are now using. In the other, put an alternative litter, like the clump able type, which many cats enjoy. Keep records for one to two weeks. Your cat will use the type of litter she prefers more frequently than the other. Apply the same method to the other variables. You can test a scented product against an unscented one (again, keeping the style of boxes the same). Or you might need to test a covered litter box against an uncovered box (keeping the litter type the same).

Regardless of which option you're changing, always keep the boxes clean. Scoop every day and add fresh litter. If you detect an odor after cleaning, change the entire box. (This will be about once a week with coarse clay litter, less often with the clump able type.)

When you find the right litter-box design for kitty, both of you will know it. She'll spend more time in the box and may even start to dig and cover when she didn't before. and, like a homeowner who has just installed a fabulous new designer bath, your cat will probably enjoy life just a little bit more.