Did you know that your cat’s litter boxes provide major clues about possible health issues that they may face? Cats that are developing or have diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or kidney disease may produce more urine and you might see a trend for larger or more urine clumps in the box or more visitation. Older cats are also more likely to experience urinary tract infections or bladder and kidney stones, and you may see more frequent urination, vocalization in the box, blood, or urine outside of the box. Stool volume or texture may also change as cats age. Less stool in the box, less frequent visits, smaller and harder stools, vocalization in the box, or stool outside of the box may indicate constipation or dehydration. More stool in the box, softer stools, or stools outside of the box may be an indication of pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism, or other primary or secondary gastrointestinal issues.
Remember to try scoop litter boxes at least once daily. Scooping once daily allows you to see if there have been any changes in urinary or defecation habits, which can alert you and your veterinarians that there may be something to check on. Besides all the medical clues we can gain from a litter box, older cats are more likely to continue to use their boxes if the boxes are scooped at least once daily. They are also more likely to use their litter boxes if they are in locations that are easy for them to get to—perhaps the stairs going down to the basement are more difficult for them in older age and they need at least one box to be on the floor where they primarily spend their time. Litter type? Clumping litter continues to be the top preferred type of litter for cats in veterinary behavioral studies. Make sure the boxes in use are large enough for your cat to move around in them with ease (if they are having issues with mobility, navigating a small box may be more difficult) and that there is a lower side for them to comfortably get in and out of the box. Last but not least, the general rule of thumb for number of litter boxes in a household is one box per cat + one extra box.
