WHEN KITTY MEOWS `NO'

One of the biggest problems cat owners face is when kitty refuses to use the litter box.

Local veterinarian Jill Henning of Skyview Animal Clinic shared these tips about what to do once it has been established that there is no physical reason for the problem.

-- Evaluate the litter box, make sure it is scrupulously clean. Plus, some cats prefer certain types of litter.

-- If the cat is soiling in one location, consider putting a litter box in that area and gradually moving it to the preferred spot.

-- Provide one litter box for each cat. "Cats can get territorial, they can be very particular. Sometimes they need their own space," Henning noted.

-- If the cat urinates out of the litter box, do not clean with ammonia or ammonia-based products. The scent is confusing to both cats and dogs, Henning said. "If you use ammonia, you're basically telling the animal it's OK to urinate there."