ArcaMax

Dear Cathy,

My son adopted a nine-year-old female cat this past October, after losing his previous cat to cancer. After spending the day in the bathroom to acclimate, she indicated she was anxious to come out. At first, she jumped on everything, including a tall armoire and the refrigerator. Each time, my son helped her down and said, “No more jumping up on things.”

Her litter box is kept in the bathtub, and she initially used it without issue. However, she soon began defecating on blankets on the couch, the bed, and the carpet – about every couple of days. Each time, my son brought her to the spot, told her “No,” and gave her a slight crack on the butt. He took her to the vet who expressed her anal glands and recommended adding ¼ teaspoon of psyllium to her food. She continues to have bowel movements outside the litter box, even though he keeps the litter box very clean.

The cat’s previous owner was a single man who surrendered her after losing his home. She doesn’t respond to her name, which he kept – Bella. When he asks if she is hungry, she is silent. My son works from home three days a week and gives her lots of attention.

She is declawed, but we don’t believe this is the cause, as we both have had declawed cats without issues. My son doesn’t know what else to do, other than return her to the rescue. Why is she doing this, and what can be done to stop it?

—Charlotte, Schaumburg, Illinois

Dear Charlotte,

Bella may still be adjusting to her new home and grieving the loss of her previous owner. Understanding what’s normal for cats can help make better sense of her behavior.

Climbing and jumping onto furniture is normal. It’s a cat’s way of learning where they are and reassuring themselves that everything is OK. Preventing a cat from accessing high spaces without offering acceptable alternatives, such as a cat tree, shelves, or window perches, can increase their frustration or stress.

Cats don’t behave like dogs, and they’re not trying to. Many won’t come when called, answer to their name, or give responses when asked if they are hungry. That doesn’t reflect a lack of intelligence or that something is wrong. It simply means cats communicate differently. Seeking affection is one way they do it (on their schedule, of course).

Regarding the litter box: Moving into a new home can cause inconsistent behavior. Many people are familiar with the 3-3-3 rule for new pets – roughly three days to decompress, three weeks to learn the routine, and three months to feel at home – but cats can take longer, sometimes several months, to fully relax and feel secure in a new home. Smacking a cat on the butt – even lightly – for inappropriate elimination is not helpful and can make issues worse. Cats (and dogs) don’t understand physical correction. Instead of learning what we want, they often associate the correction with fear or confusion.

You mentioned declawing, and while I understand your experience has been different, declawing can cause long-term sensitivity or discomfort in some cats, even years later, and even if it never caused problems before. That doesn’t mean it’s the sole cause here, but it can contribute to litter box avoidance, especially during stressful periods.

So, here’s what I recommend.

Stop all physical correction. If the cat is doing something you don’t want, calmly interrupt with a gentle clap or saying “ah-ah,” and redirect them to an acceptable alternative, like a scratching post or toy.

Except for the kitchen counters, let Bella jump onto the furniture or provide her appropriate vertical spaces, like cat trees, shelves, or perches. Cats need to explore, and if discouraged from doing so, this can cause stress (which can cause litter box avoidance).

Add a second litter box in a quiet place. Cats sometimes like to pee in one and poop in the other. Experiment with different litters, and sprinkle a litter box attractant in the box to help draw her to them (available online and at pet stores).

Use feline pheromones, either a plug-in diffuser or a collar, to help ease her anxiety and make the home feel more familiar. These can be especially helpful for cats who are adjusting to big changes.

In addition to the psyllium recommended by the veterinarian, a teaspoon of plain canned pumpkin (no sugar) may also help but check with your vet before combining the two.

Adjustment isn’t a straight line – for cats or people – but understanding what’s normal feline behavior can make things easier for everyone.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)

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