Q. My cat is about 18 months old and whenever she uses the litterbox she doesn't cover up what she leaves behind, which can be smelly at times. I'm not sure if she's doing this on purpose or if she doesn't know. What can I do to get her back in the habit of covering things up?

A. Often this behavior is a sign of illness. The malodorous feces may be the result of the carbohydrate type in your kitty's diet, so trying a different diet, particularly a diet low in carbohydrates and high in protein might help. I'm thinking that because she doesn't cover her stool it could be an indication that she has some sort of colonic problem. Please take her to your veterinarian for an examination.