Litterbox avoidance, advice needed!

[pawprints1986]

So there's a bit of a story here.

I have a cat who is getting older now, he's 12. He's never been a skinny guy.

The last... I'll say year or so, he was having issues with peeing in the box, but would poop in the box. This led to our idea to try pee pads since we had already added feliway and tried different litters and boxes. He's taking to peeing on the pads full time the past few months. They're not totally ideal, but they work.

But now he's having an issue pooping in the box too. Aka won't. He's been going at random, once the other day directly beside his food bowl. No dangler, this was intentional.

But the poop looks and smells normal, and he's already on miralax so I know it's not cuz he can't go.

I bought him a joint supplement treat but only started yesterday so those are not effective yet

In an effort to see how he would react, I brought a box close to where he was. He checked it out for a good 3 minutes, but then proceeded to go to his pad and pee. So he had to go but purposely avoided this new box.

Any one have any ideas to help the pops return to the box, or at least his pads? I've tried treats after each box use but he's too dumb to put that together.

Nothing has changed. Food, house, feliway use, people in the house... Nothing it's all the same.

But medically he's fine other than chubby.

Anyone have any ideas would be great. I've already tried a pad in a box too. No go.

Help?

 

[missmimz]

When was the last time he had a full blood panel done at the vet including kidneys and thyroid test? Was a UTI ruled out? What did the urinalysis show? 

 

[Kieka]

When you say you tried different boxes, was one low or no sided? Maybe he is having trouble physically getting in and out. Keep in mind that it may not look like it to you but it could be for him still.

But that its progressively gotten worse makes me think more physical than behavorial. I'd second blood work and possibly add xrays to make sure it isn't something medical. I lean more towards arthritis or hip problems just because of a similar problem a friend of mine had. She ended up cutting the side of her litter box down to an inch on one side and problem went away.

 

[pawprints1986]

We do have a modified litter box for him already. But it's downstairs. Which I know may be the issue. With the layout of our house upstairs we have nowhere quiet to put actual litter. The pee pads let us allow him somewhere to go, but without tracking litter. Even with daily sweeps, with both of them likely using it we would be walking in litter crumbs constantly...

But yesterday, I brought a box up for a few minutes to see what he would do. He checked it out for a good while, then proceeded to go over to his pad and go there instead, even though a litter was available and within a foot of him.

We would be okay with him using the pads, if he would use them for both things.

I've also tried in the past a litter box, though higher sided, with a pee pad in it. But he showed no interest in those ones. Even with cat attract sprinkled on top (which i also did with the litter yesterday).

He seems to be attracted enough to peeing on the pads, touching wood as I type, as pee is impossible to remove... But how can we tell him it's okay if he poops on there too?

In the recent past he's gone deliberately beside his food... And had we not caught him, on my mom's bed. Which, if that happens he wouldn't be living here anymore.

I'm just not sure what he could be trying to tell us, or how to tell him that pooping on the pads is okay too?

If he did got to the vet, can they feel arthritis? Is there any thing that can provide more of an immediate relief other than letting glucosamjne slowly build up in his body?

 

[missmimz]

We do have a modified litter box for him already. But it's downstairs. Which I know may be the issue. With the layout of our house upstairs we have nowhere quiet to put actual litter. The pee pads let us allow him somewhere to go, but without tracking litter. Even with daily sweeps, with both of them likely using it we would be walking in litter crumbs constantly...

But yesterday, I brought a box up for a few minutes to see what he would do. He checked it out for a good while, then proceeded to go over to his pad and go there instead, even though a litter was available and within a foot of him.

We would be okay with him using the pads, if he would use them for both things.

I've also tried in the past a litter box, though higher sided, with a pee pad in it. But he showed no interest in those ones. Even with cat attract sprinkled on top (which i also did with the litter yesterday).

He seems to be attracted enough to peeing on the pads, touching wood as I type, as pee is impossible to remove... But how can we tell him it's okay if he poops on there too?

In the recent past he's gone deliberately beside his food... And had we not caught him, on my mom's bed. Which, if that happens he wouldn't be living here anymore.

I'm just not sure what he could be trying to tell us, or how to tell him that pooping on the pads is okay too?

If he did got to the vet, can they feel arthritis? Is there any thing that can provide more of an immediate relief other than letting glucosamjne slowly build up in his body?

Have you ruled out a UTI? If he's over 10, have you bad both his kidneys and T4 tested recently? Yes your vet can also do xrays to diagnose arthritis. There are medications to help with that as well. 

 

[pawprints1986]

Nope haven't had any tests done yet... But would he not be deathly ill by now if he had an untreated uti for longer than 6 months? (Which is about how long the pee pads have been a routine thing). I've seen no blood or even strain for pees. The poops are what he's leaving in an inconsistent location.

Arthritis is my best guess that would make the most sense. Poop squats take longer and so would hurt more than peeing, I'm thinking.

Will call tomorrow though, our vet isn't in until Tuesday.

 

[missmimz]

Nope haven't had any tests done yet... But would he not be deathly ill by now if he had an untreated uti for longer than 6 months? (Which is about how long the pee pads have been a routine thing). I've seen no blood or even strain for pees. The poops are what he's leaving in an inconsistent location.

Arthritis is my best guess that would make the most sense. Poop squats take longer and so would hurt more than peeing, I'm thinking.

Will call tomorrow though, our vet isn't in until Tuesday.

You need to get him to the vet ASAP! The number one reason cats urinate outside the litter box is NOT behavioral, it's medical. He could have a high pH, or mild crystals. Just because it hasn't advanced to a place you cannot recover from does NOT mean it's not medical. Please, get him to the vet ASAP. 

 

[pawprints1986]

The new problem is the pooping though...

He's been *touching wood* consistent with the pads. He doesn't seem afraid they'll hurt him or trying not to go until the last minute or anything. Or, going often like humans with infection do.

Going to call tomorrow though and describe what's been happening recently ... See what they say. I do have a really good vet

 

[missmimz]

The new problem is the pooping though...

He's been *touching wood* consistent with the pads. He doesn't seem afraid they'll hurt him or trying not to go until the last minute or anything. Or, going often like humans with infection do.

Going to call tomorrow though and describe what's been happening recently ... See what they say. I do have a really good vet

They can easily all be related to a medical issue. You really need to discuss with your vet and obtain proper diagnostic testing before you can pinpoint the issue.