ResearchLitterbox size preference in domestic cats (Felis catus)
Introduction
Inappropriate elimination, or failure to use a litterbox, is often reported to be the most common behavior problem in cats (Neilson, 2004, Overall et al., 2005, Bamberger and Houpt, 2006). Failure to consistently use a litterbox is a frequent reason for relinquishment of cats to shelters, abandonment of cats, and euthanasia (Patronek et al., 1996, New et al., 2000, Marder et al., 2007; Prince Edward Island Humane Society, unpublished data). The most common reason for a cat to fail to use a litterbox is hypothesized to be that the box is in some way considered to be inadequate by the cat (Borchelt, 1991, Amat et al., 2009). The importance of the level of litterbox cleanliness is well recognized (Neilson, 2004). The most common form of inappropriate elimination is simple urination or defecation outside the box, as opposed to marking that involves spraying urine, which may be because of factors unrelated to litterbox management (Beaver, 1989, Bamberger and Houpt, 2006). Standard methods of treating inappropriate elimination include increasing the cleanliness and number of boxes provided, removing box covers, and providing an optimal substrate or choice of substrates. In some cases, antianxiety medications are recommended in treatment (Neilson, 2004). Despite these changes, many cats still fail to use the litterbox.
Observations of outdoor (farm) cats, which are presumably able to freely choose areas for elimination, have indicated that cats normally urinate an average of 2.3 times per day and defecate 3.2 times daily (Panaman, 1981). Clinical experience suggests that defecation may be less frequent in many indoor cats that are restricted to using a litterbox and are consuming a commercial diet (Overall et al., 2005). Although it is known that cats tend to have a preference for clumping or fine-grain litter over other commercially available types (Borchelt, 1991), little is known about the space preference of cats when they eliminate. The size of currently available litterboxes appears to be based on tradition or convenience. It is our experience, with cases presented to the Clinical Behavior Service at the Atlantic Veterinary College, that an approximate doubling of the size of the litterbox can have a dramatic, immediate, and positive effect on the frequency and reliability of its use. Only 1 recently published text on companion animal behavior highlights litterbox size as being a critical factor (Overall, 2013, p. 371), although some authors mention that a larger box may be helpful (Crowell-Davis, 2001, Beaver, 2003, p. 260; Landsberg et al., 2003, p. 367; Horwitz and Neilson, 2007, p. 333). Neilson (2008) reported a trend toward larger litterbox use during a 24-hour trial with cats in a shelter environment.
Failure to use litterboxes is common and has significant implications for cats and their owners; therefore, it is important to properly establish whether cats prefer a larger litter surface area. The primary objective of this trial was to determine whether domestic cats living indoors would demonstrate a preference for a litterbox that is larger than is traditionally provided. Secondary objectives included determining the average number of times per day the cats eliminated and any preferences related to box location.
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Recruitment and eligibility
Students and staff members at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, were invited to enroll their cats in the study after receiving a brief presentation on the topic. Eligible households had to have no more than 4 cats, and all cats had to be kept completely indoors. Cats had to be 6 months of age or older. Exclusion criteria included any disorder that would be expected to influence the volume of urine produced or the frequency of urination or defecation, including
Study population data
A total of 73 cats were enrolled in the study. One household (1 cat) withdrew from the trial by day 7 because the owner believed she was having an allergic reaction to the litter. All other participants remained in the study for the full 28 days. There were 43 households: 19 single-cat households, 20 two-cat households, 3 households with 3 cats, and 1 household with 4 cats. All cats were neutered, 36 were male and 36 were female, a purely chance event. Only 1 cat was purebred (Himalayan, male),
Discussion
The population of cats used in this study should be fairly representative of most indoor cats in Canada and the United States. At the time of the study, the cats were all living in the same city, but because they belonged to veterinary students who had moved to the area to attend school, the cats were originally adopted from many locations, including farms, pet stores, shelters, and as strays, from across eastern Canada and the United States. Although the participants were selected by
Conclusions
The results of this study indicate that many cats have preferences that go beyond the availability of a clean suitable substrate for elimination and that they may require access to a larger litterbox. The intensity of preferences in the selection of an elimination area appears to vary greatly among cats and may be genetically or experientially determined. Cats that are unresponsive to standard management changes are likely to be those with the least behavioral flexibility in their selection of
Acknowledgments
Funding for this project was generously provided by the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, Atlantic Veterinary College. The authors thank all the students and staff members who enrolled their cats in this study and gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Ian Dohoo and Javier Sanchez for their input on project design and analysis. They also thank David Eisenbart for his assistance with project management.
Conflict of interest: There were no known conflicts of interest.
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Current address: c/o Dr Alice Crook, Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE, Canada C1A 4P3.