Spunky and his bowl. (COURTESY PAT BRODY SHELTER FOR CATS)
DEAR PET TALK: After my cat eats his breakfast, he pushes his bowl away after which pees round it. Never after I’m watching. His meals dish is within the again hallway. Sometimes he poops too. He’s six months old. Help! P.S. We even have a big canine. -Sam S., Fitchburg
DEAR SAM: Ah, the mysteries of feline toileting. Why on earth would a kitty (expletive deleted) the place he eats? However, a clue is supplied in your P.S.: having a big canine roommate would positively make a cat nervous about “what’s his” versus “what belongs to someone else.” By relieving himself, he could also be “protecting” his consuming area. Why would anybody, not to mention a big canine, need to go to another person’s food-bowls after they should step by way of that?
It is uncommon, although not unparalleled for cats to make use of an area aside from the standard “sand box” for toileting. Their most well-liked technique goes again many 1000’s of years, to the origin of the home cat. Our beloved felinus sylvestris cattus traces its origin to North Africa, a terrain stuffed with sandy deserts. As “house” cats advanced alongside their human keepers, they retained that must cowl their feces, and sand or free soil was the popular medium.
For some cats, simply scratching on the space the place they relieve themselves can stand in for the total “covering of feces” choreography. But to return to your dilemma – which certainly, should be maddening – put your self into the cat’s thoughts. He’s not feeling comfy within the again corridor – and should shield his turf!
What when you supplied him a feeding choice – maybe put him in a extra protected area – equivalent to on the counter? His roommate won’t be able to pattern his meals, and he can be at eye degree with you. I can guarantee you – 100% – no cat needs to (expletive deleted) the place he dines. Making his eating space actually particular, protected, and his alone, ought to assist with a troublesome state of affairs.
Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Send inquiries to [email protected]
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