I have 2 cats (actually 4, but only 2 causing problems). I have 2 litter boxes, 2 cats use each one and they are kept clean.
Cat #1 is 17 and skin and bones. I've taken her to several vets and none seem to be able to find out why. She will use the downstairs litter box to poop, but pees everywhere else. She will use the litter box, then get out and pee on the floor next to it or somewhere on the carpet. She's been doing this for a couple of years now.
Cat #2 is about 11 and seems to have difficulty seeing. She pees in her litter box upstairs. BUT, she poops on the floor next to the box. She's been doing this for about 6 mos now. This isn't really too much of an issue because the litter box is in the laundryroom and it's easy to pick up and sanitize.
Any suggestions on how to get #1 to pee in the litter box or a designated spot?
I would not put up with that sort of behavior. Take the two offending cats to the vet and have them put down. I am not trying to be crass. But as animals get near the end of their lives behavior changes. They are probably suffering and the humane thing is to put them out of their misery.
Donn,Lorri,Max (The Rescued Lab)
Resident Know It All
The animal planet channel has a series called "My cat from Hell". It deals with problem cats. I see it on Saturday aftertnoon a lot. Also I am pretty sure there is a blog / forum associated with it on the internet. Do a Google I am sure you will find it. Some of the series deals with your problem. As I remember the main answer was more litter boxes.
Lampooner
Remember you are only young once,
but you can be immature forever!
How often are you cleaning the boxes? We had an issue with one of our 4 pooping outside and just in front of the box. More frequent cleanings seemed to remedy that.
Have you had your 'skin and bones' pet's thyroid checked. 2 of our older ones were losing a lot of weight. Both had thyroids issues. The take pills now and both put meat back on their bones.
I had two cats that were like that. First off are they "fixed"? If no then that is step one as apparently that helps -Edit: read 17 years old.. it's likely too late.
* This post was
edited 05/09/12 08:28am by five'er *
You need to get the kitties to the vet; my advice is an internal medicine specialist. There are many tests that can be run on an advanced level. #1 may have a chronic urinary tract or bladder infection, or some other advanced problem. For example, I have seen many elderly dogs and cats develop a type of dementia. I know that there are drugs for dogs for this, however, I am not sure about cats. Now that the cats have used that area outside the litter boxes, you will need to either have the carpets specially cleaned or possibly removed, or scrub the floors with special cleaners. The odor may be triggering continued incidents. This is a tough problem. Keep looking for solutions. One of our clients solved similar problems by keeping her kitty in a small room, vinyl floor, and not rearranging furniture. Thank you for caring for your elderly friends. Good luck.
Me, 1 Great hubby (Tim), Cole the Standard Poodle,
Magic the tiny Bengal Cat
2012 Skyline Koala 21CS
2007 Ford Explorer
I'd add at least one more litter box, and preferably several more. The standard advice for cats and litter boxes is one for each cat plus one more. Some cats really want one box for peeing and one for pooping. If possible, put a box over the spots where the 17-yo likes to pee.
You also might try placing disposable puppy pads around the litter boxes. It won't help stop the cats from not using the boxes, but it'll make clean-up a lot easier. I've heard of quite a few cats with litterbox issues who will use puppy pads.
And make sure you clean all areas well with an enzyme-based pet stain/odor remover. Don't waste your time and effort with vinegar or anything like that.
Me and the DH
Two boys and two dogs (and two cats who prefer to stay home)
2008 Forest River Georgetown 350DS (bunkhouse model)
2001 Honda CR-V
kmbernstein wrote: You need to get the kitties to the vet; my advice is an internal medicine specialist. There are many tests that can be run on an advanced level. #1 may have a chronic urinary tract or bladder infection, or some other advanced problem. For example, I have seen many elderly dogs and cats develop a type of dementia. I know that there are drugs for dogs for this, however, I am not sure about cats. Now that the cats have used that area outside the litter boxes, you will need to either have the carpets specially cleaned or possibly removed, or scrub the floors with special cleaners. The odor may be triggering continued incidents. This is a tough problem. Keep looking for solutions. One of our clients solved similar problems by keeping her kitty in a small room, vinyl floor, and not rearranging furniture. Thank you for caring for your elderly friends. Good luck.
Good advice.
Regarding litter box problems, recommendations I've heard say 1 litter box for each cat plus 1. That means 5 in your case. In cats with disabilities you may need to provide easier access to the litter boxes keeping at least 1 near areas they frequent.
Number one thing though, is to find out if there is a physical reason for this.
Doug, DVM
Doug & Sandy
Jill (11yr old Golden)& Charmin (16 yr old something)
Henry NOW a camping cat
2008 Southwind
2009 Honda CRV
Yes, it is a hassle to deal with. Nothing like walking down the stairs in the morning to step in cat pee, but neither one seems to be in any pain or distress so I won't put them down. I've taken cat #1 to 2 different vets, had all sorts of blood and urine tests done.
I will try the puppy pee pads and try one more vet.
As our dearly-departed Fang aged, she became very particular about her litter box. She graduated to having two ... one for poo and one for pee -- that's just how she chose to have them. She was also skin & bones, just 5 lbs in her senior years. Spiteful and energetic though.
Both litter boxes needed to be cleaned several times a day, or she would go on the floor beside the box. So we cleaned them each morning before we left for work, then when we came home from work, then at bedtime. The litter needed to be changed frequently too.
One day we didn't do it so well though, and she peed on the concrete floor beside the downstairs litter box. There was blood in her urine. A trip to the vet detected nothing. She was 19 years old then.
A few months later she had problems going pee ... she would squat and nothing would come out. Another trip to the vet determined her body had failed her just a few weeks short of her 20th birthday.
BTW, we camped with Fang too ... her last big trip was when she was 19. She travelled for a couple of months with us to Yukon. We needed two litter boxes then too ... one in the truck and one in the fifth wheel. She needed to go pee every hour so the one in the truck got regular use while we drove.
sue t.
Pictures from our manyRV Adventures to Yukon & Alaska
Travelling with either the 25' fifth wheel or the 8' truck camper.
Offline
Online
