Urinating and defecating outside of the litter box is the most common behavior problem seen in cats. What can be done to help owners of cats with elimination disorders before those cats end up in the shelter?

At the 2011 Purdue Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Symposium, Dr. Susan Krebsbach, veterinarian and owner of the Creature Counseling veterinary behavior practice, spoke on Curing the Litter Box Blues: Feline Elimination Disorders.

In her presentation, she reviewed the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of urinating and defecating outside of the litter box. Once medical problems are ruled out, she said, implementing such simple environmental changes as scooping the litter box daily and placing larger litter boxes on every level of the house in areas where kitty has some privacy is all it takes to resolve the problem.

In addition, Dr. Krebsbach gave information on how the principles that apply to cats in homes can be adapted to use in a shelter setting.

To watch the presentation, click here.