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#1
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Older cat not using litter box all the time
I'm having trouble with my 18 year old female cat only using the
litter box about 99% of the time. That last 1% is getting very unpleasant! This has been developing for several years, so I don't think it's a health problem such as a UTI. She sees the vet regularly and is displaying no other signs of problems. Her kidneys were ok at her last checkup 3 months ago. It started when she would occasionally urinate on the bathroom rug instead of in her litter box which is in the same bathroom. Eventually, I got tired of washing the rug and just removed it and the problem was solved for a while. Then she took a liking to any clothes on the floor, so I stopped leaving clothes on the floor. Any time I do slip up and leave even something as small as a sock on the floor, I can just about be guaranteed it will have been urinated on within a matter of hours. This is particularly true of anything left on the bathroom floor where her litter box is. Now she occasionally goes on the carpet, or sometimes furniture. It's mostly a problem upstairs which is also where her litter box is. It's particularly annoying when I have guest over because they can't leave bags on the floor, or open suitcases. I've tried adding a second litter box downstairs, changing to an unscented scoopable litter from a scented scoopable litter. Thoroughly washing the litter box doesn't seem to help. I scoop it any time I see anything in it, usually 4 or 5 times a day. It also doesn't seem to be that she just doesn't make it to the box. Often when it happens, she will go farther to go on the carpet than to her litter box. The few times I've seen her squat somewhere, she goes straight to her box after I yell at her to stop. It seems like she just doesn't understand that the litter boxes are the only place that's acceptable. She's VERY active for her age and still hunts successfully. She practically lives outside in the summer. I think this might be part of the problem because she's used to being able to go anywhere she wants when she's outside. My carpet also looks like dirt. I'm going to also ask my vet about it, but I would appreciate hearing any other suggestions. Andy Cuffe |
#2
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She should be checked for a UTI firstly without assuming that it is not one.
Are the sides to the litter box low?? They should be. I would try adding another litter box upstairs amd also keep the one downstairs. As cats age, they need more litter boxes and they need them very accessible to them (on every level of the house). You can also try putting an article of clothing or the rug where she urinated (don't wash it) in the litter box instead of litter and see if she uses it. I would do this to the second box in the bathroom. Gail "Andy Cuffe" wrote in message ... I'm having trouble with my 18 year old female cat only using the litter box about 99% of the time. That last 1% is getting very unpleasant! This has been developing for several years, so I don't think it's a health problem such as a UTI. She sees the vet regularly and is displaying no other signs of problems. Her kidneys were ok at her last checkup 3 months ago. It started when she would occasionally urinate on the bathroom rug instead of in her litter box which is in the same bathroom. Eventually, I got tired of washing the rug and just removed it and the problem was solved for a while. Then she took a liking to any clothes on the floor, so I stopped leaving clothes on the floor. Any time I do slip up and leave even something as small as a sock on the floor, I can just about be guaranteed it will have been urinated on within a matter of hours. This is particularly true of anything left on the bathroom floor where her litter box is. Now she occasionally goes on the carpet, or sometimes furniture. It's mostly a problem upstairs which is also where her litter box is. It's particularly annoying when I have guest over because they can't leave bags on the floor, or open suitcases. I've tried adding a second litter box downstairs, changing to an unscented scoopable litter from a scented scoopable litter. Thoroughly washing the litter box doesn't seem to help. I scoop it any time I see anything in it, usually 4 or 5 times a day. It also doesn't seem to be that she just doesn't make it to the box. Often when it happens, she will go farther to go on the carpet than to her litter box. The few times I've seen her squat somewhere, she goes straight to her box after I yell at her to stop. It seems like she just doesn't understand that the litter boxes are the only place that's acceptable. She's VERY active for her age and still hunts successfully. She practically lives outside in the summer. I think this might be part of the problem because she's used to being able to go anywhere she wants when she's outside. My carpet also looks like dirt. I'm going to also ask my vet about it, but I would appreciate hearing any other suggestions. Andy Cuffe |
#3
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She should be checked for a UTI firstly without assuming that it is not one.
Are the sides to the litter box low?? They should be. I would try adding another litter box upstairs amd also keep the one downstairs. As cats age, they need more litter boxes and they need them very accessible to them (on every level of the house). You can also try putting an article of clothing or the rug where she urinated (don't wash it) in the litter box instead of litter and see if she uses it. I would do this to the second box in the bathroom. Gail "Andy Cuffe" wrote in message ... I'm having trouble with my 18 year old female cat only using the litter box about 99% of the time. That last 1% is getting very unpleasant! This has been developing for several years, so I don't think it's a health problem such as a UTI. She sees the vet regularly and is displaying no other signs of problems. Her kidneys were ok at her last checkup 3 months ago. It started when she would occasionally urinate on the bathroom rug instead of in her litter box which is in the same bathroom. Eventually, I got tired of washing the rug and just removed it and the problem was solved for a while. Then she took a liking to any clothes on the floor, so I stopped leaving clothes on the floor. Any time I do slip up and leave even something as small as a sock on the floor, I can just about be guaranteed it will have been urinated on within a matter of hours. This is particularly true of anything left on the bathroom floor where her litter box is. Now she occasionally goes on the carpet, or sometimes furniture. It's mostly a problem upstairs which is also where her litter box is. It's particularly annoying when I have guest over because they can't leave bags on the floor, or open suitcases. I've tried adding a second litter box downstairs, changing to an unscented scoopable litter from a scented scoopable litter. Thoroughly washing the litter box doesn't seem to help. I scoop it any time I see anything in it, usually 4 or 5 times a day. It also doesn't seem to be that she just doesn't make it to the box. Often when it happens, she will go farther to go on the carpet than to her litter box. The few times I've seen her squat somewhere, she goes straight to her box after I yell at her to stop. It seems like she just doesn't understand that the litter boxes are the only place that's acceptable. She's VERY active for her age and still hunts successfully. She practically lives outside in the summer. I think this might be part of the problem because she's used to being able to go anywhere she wants when she's outside. My carpet also looks like dirt. I'm going to also ask my vet about it, but I would appreciate hearing any other suggestions. Andy Cuffe |
#4
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Andy Cuffe wrote in message . ..
I'm having trouble with my 18 year old female cat only using the litter box about 99% of the time. That last 1% is getting very unpleasant! This has been developing for several years, so I don't think it's a health problem such as a UTI. She sees the vet regularly and is displaying no other signs of problems. Her kidneys were ok at her last checkup 3 months ago. It started when she would occasionally urinate on the bathroom rug instead of in her litter box which is in the same bathroom. Eventually, I got tired of washing the rug and just removed it and the problem was solved for a while. Then she took a liking to any clothes on the floor, so I stopped leaving clothes on the floor. Any time I do slip up and leave even something as small as a sock on the floor, I can just about be guaranteed it will have been urinated on within a matter of hours. This is particularly true of anything left on the bathroom floor where her litter box is. Now she occasionally goes on the carpet, or sometimes furniture. It's mostly a problem upstairs which is also where her litter box is. It's particularly annoying when I have guest over because they can't leave bags on the floor, or open suitcases. I've tried adding a second litter box downstairs, changing to an unscented scoopable litter from a scented scoopable litter. Thoroughly washing the litter box doesn't seem to help. I scoop it any time I see anything in it, usually 4 or 5 times a day. It also doesn't seem to be that she just doesn't make it to the box. Often when it happens, she will go farther to go on the carpet than to her litter box. The few times I've seen her squat somewhere, she goes straight to her box after I yell at her to stop. It seems like she just doesn't understand that the litter boxes are the only place that's acceptable. She's VERY active for her age and still hunts successfully. She practically lives outside in the summer. I think this might be part of the problem because she's used to being able to go anywhere she wants when she's outside. My carpet also looks like dirt. I'm going to also ask my vet about it, but I would appreciate hearing any other suggestions. Andy Cuffe Andy I hear ya! My almost 18 year old cat is doing something similar. Urinating on the carpet that is 3 feet away from the litterboxes. He checked out fine, no UTI. I keep cleaning it up and he keeps peeing! I have no ideas for you now, but you have my sympathy. Anyone? Beth |
#5
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Andy Cuffe wrote in message . ..
I'm having trouble with my 18 year old female cat only using the litter box about 99% of the time. That last 1% is getting very unpleasant! This has been developing for several years, so I don't think it's a health problem such as a UTI. She sees the vet regularly and is displaying no other signs of problems. Her kidneys were ok at her last checkup 3 months ago. It started when she would occasionally urinate on the bathroom rug instead of in her litter box which is in the same bathroom. Eventually, I got tired of washing the rug and just removed it and the problem was solved for a while. Then she took a liking to any clothes on the floor, so I stopped leaving clothes on the floor. Any time I do slip up and leave even something as small as a sock on the floor, I can just about be guaranteed it will have been urinated on within a matter of hours. This is particularly true of anything left on the bathroom floor where her litter box is. Now she occasionally goes on the carpet, or sometimes furniture. It's mostly a problem upstairs which is also where her litter box is. It's particularly annoying when I have guest over because they can't leave bags on the floor, or open suitcases. I've tried adding a second litter box downstairs, changing to an unscented scoopable litter from a scented scoopable litter. Thoroughly washing the litter box doesn't seem to help. I scoop it any time I see anything in it, usually 4 or 5 times a day. It also doesn't seem to be that she just doesn't make it to the box. Often when it happens, she will go farther to go on the carpet than to her litter box. The few times I've seen her squat somewhere, she goes straight to her box after I yell at her to stop. It seems like she just doesn't understand that the litter boxes are the only place that's acceptable. She's VERY active for her age and still hunts successfully. She practically lives outside in the summer. I think this might be part of the problem because she's used to being able to go anywhere she wants when she's outside. My carpet also looks like dirt. I'm going to also ask my vet about it, but I would appreciate hearing any other suggestions. Andy Cuffe Andy I hear ya! My almost 18 year old cat is doing something similar. Urinating on the carpet that is 3 feet away from the litterboxes. He checked out fine, no UTI. I keep cleaning it up and he keeps peeing! I have no ideas for you now, but you have my sympathy. Anyone? Beth |
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