The Fastidious Feline: How to Prevent and Treat Litter Box Problems

by Patricia B. McConnell

Litter box problems are one of the most common complaints in households with cats. This booklet explains how to design a proper "restroom" from a cat s point of view, how to prevent problems from beginning or correct mistakes if they happen.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cats, Animals

28 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, (CAAB) has made a lifelong commitment to improving the relationship between people and animals. She is known worldwide as an expert on canine and feline behavior and dog training, and for her engaging and knowledgeable dog training books, DVDs and seminars. Patricia has seen clients for serious behavioral problems since 1988, and is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teaching "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships." For fourteen years she dispensed advice about behavior problems, and information about animal behavior research, on Wisconsin Public Radio's Calling All Pets, which was heard in over 90 cities around the country.

Patricia received her Ph.D. in Zoology in 1988 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison researching dog behavior and communication between professional trainers and working domestic animals.

Reviews

[Jupiter394 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent little 30 page book on pet ownership. Gives step by step plan on how to diagnose and solve your cats litter box issue.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview for prevention and proper step by step guide of what to work on with your vet when you have a problem.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I'd had this book for two of my previous cats.
Highly recommended for cat owners.

[Charty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, sensible advice with step by step, concrete ideas to address litter box problem prevention and treatment of problems. McConnell is best known for her work behavioral work with dogs, but she has good insights into cats as well. A lot of the preventive advice I’ve seen articulated on the internet but if you don’t know who to trust or where to start looking, you can’t go too wrong with expert advice. I feel like her steps and plans to treat problems goes more in-depth than I’ve seen elsewhere so if you are having issues that you haven’t been able to resolve, this would be beneficial.

The best part? All this advice is condensed into one, easily digestible pamphlet. Nothing daunting or over involved explanation, just the basics. A good resource for new and continuing cat owners.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have cats, this book will guide you well into their litter-box care! The author has lots of experience with clients who have cats who use the toilet outside the box. This is a structured way to solve litter-box problems with cats!

[Nicole Bunge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so this is great if you just got a kitten and need advice, or have a MAJOR 'peeing outside the box' problem cat.
A lot of what she says is common sense, if you speak cat. (Or have been listening to her Wisconsin Public Radio show as long as I have, and have taken intro animal behavior classes... so, um, take that 'common sense' thing with a grain of salt.)

It didn't do much for me, and I got bored with it. But my cat's problem stems from stupid-other-cat-roaming-the-neighborhood-and-taunting-him-outside-the-window. Can't do much about that, other than get a raccoon trap. Which I might do. But that is not the book's fault. (You can laugh at me now.)

[Natalia Joneva · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure.