Improper management of the cat's litter box or bathroom area can have more serious consequences than one might think. One of the causes of a cat's stress is an uncomfortable or unsafe feeling during elimination. This stress can lead to conditions such as Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC), which is a common condition in both male and female cats. FIC is characterized by symptoms such as difficulty urinating or blood in the urine. Some cats may experience this only once and recover, while others may suffer from chronic symptoms. Generally, this condition is caused by an unsuitable environment that leads to chronic stress in the cat.

An example of litter box arrangement that many owners still misunderstand, thinking that their cat likes it.

1. A scent that people like but “cats” don’t The scent of the sand can be a good thing for owners in helping to mask unpleasant odors. Even though cats have small noses, they are very sensitive to smells. If your cat refuses to use a scented litter box (which may be too strong for cats) or has a habit of eliminating outside the litter box, you may try changing to a litter that is not too strong scented or unscented. This can help increase your cat's happiness when using the bathroom easily.

2. Too small, the cat is uncomfortable. The size of the sandboxes sold in general stores are often too small. Many times, cats are found sleeping in the sandbox instead of using it as a bathroom because the size is not suitable. The appropriate size should be large enough for the cat to turn around conveniently and have enough space for digging. Some houses may use a large basin sold in the market instead or may adapt a swimming pool for children that is slightly wider.
3. A covered litter box is easy on the eyes and nose, but it may make your cat feel “uneasy”. Nowadays, there are many types of litter boxes for owners to choose from. The design has been developed to suit urban society with limited space and to prevent unpleasant smells and images from leaking out. We smell, so do cats. As mentioned earlier, cats’ noses are very sensitive to smells. In addition to the problem of smells that cats don’t like, cats may sneak to sleep in narrow spaces. But that doesn’t work when they have to go to the bathroom because they feel unsafe, like they’re trapped. When they go to the bathroom, cats prefer to be open and in nature because by their original instincts or behavior, cats will defecate in open spaces, on the ground or sand.
4. Putting in too much sand is not to the cat's liking. Some home owners may have little time, so they choose to put in a lot of sand at a time to reduce the frequency of taking care of it. But it may turn out to be something that cats don't like because some types of sand may be light or not very compact. When a cat's feet step into the sand box, the sand sinks into its feet, which is something cats really don't like. The right amount is not too much that it covers its feet, and not too little that it sticks to the bottom of the box. If you're afraid of the smell leaking out, you should increase the frequency of collecting wet sand each day.

5. A cat should have more than one litter box. The appropriate number of litter boxes is still something that owners do not know how much is appropriate. The “N+1 formula” means that if there is 1 cat, there must be at least 2 litter boxes. And these 2 litter boxes should not be placed in the same place. They should be placed far apart so that the cat can choose. In a house with only one cat, it may be easy to manage. But for a house with many cats, it may be very difficult.

As you can see, a cat needs quite a bit of space to keep. So before you adopt a new cat, don't forget to check the area where you will set up the litter box for good urinary health and your cat's happiness when using the bathroom.

Article by Dr. Nirachara Chomthamae (Neurology Clinic, Muang Ek Animal Hospital)