Help!

My cat Tahiti has used her litterbox for ever but we have another one and she won't use it. She has pooed on my rug and on the floor and she won't go into the basement. My other cat who was Tahiti's brother had a kidney infection and had to be put down but while he was sick he wouldn't use the litterbox or anything either. I'm afraid the same thing is happening to Tahiti please help me!

alf, you need to get Tahiti to a vet ASAP for at least standard blood tests. Do you know what caused the kidney infection (and I assume resulted in kidney failure?) in your other cat? how long ago was it that your other cat was put down? i'm so sorry you lost your cat, but please take the steps to make sure it doesn't happen to Tahiti too.

The vet told us the infection could've been caused by him eating some anti-freeze or it could've been from the mother. And our other cat was put down in October.

if tahiti is allowed outside the possibilities are endless. anti-freeze, lawn treatments/pesticides, eating a dead rodent that was intentionally poisoned, etc., can a lead to kidney failure if a cat ingests any of those. i'm sure you've read about the recent cat food problems as well. i hate to give the standard advice, but "something" is likely wrong in your neighborhood and the only way to protect the cat is to keep him in until you know what it is. best of luck to you and tahiti! first thing, check underneath your car though. anti-freeze is one of the most common causes. it only takes a very small amount of anti-freeze to kill a small animal like a cat. it apparently tastes very "sweet", and they are actually attracted to it...

Well Tahiti isn't allowed outside so I don't know what it could be. But the thing is if she had the same thing as our other cat she is acting more active than he did. Because when our other cat started acting strangely he was very lathargic and wouldn't do anything and if you picked him up he meowed in pain but Tahiti is only a little bit lathargic and he doesn't meow in pain.

Originally Posted by ALF

My cat Tahiti has used her litterbox for ever but we have another one and she won't use it. She has pooed on my rug and on the floor and she won't go into the basement.

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I'm not sure I understand...there *was* a litterbox that Tahiti would use reliably and now you don't have that box anymore? Is that right?

Is the only litterbox in the basement?

in that case, try changing foods and clean the litter box (not just the litter, but the box itself) with a disinfecting spray. a "foaming bathroom cleaner" works well and makes it fairly easy. refill the litter box after with a high quality "clumping" litter. clean the box daily. this is to help get your cat back into using his litter box. also, change food. use dry food, either chicken or turkey flavor only (easier for them to digest). last, look around your house and make sure there is nothing potentially dangerous that he could be getting into. for example, my cats are quite capable of opening "cabinet doors" and have on occasion opened the cabinets in my bathroom where i store a variety of potentially poisonous products. all this advice is meant *only* after you take the cat to the vet though. since you've already lost one cat to kidney failure, i would be running to the vet now that another one is showing some symptoms that are of concern to you....

Originally Posted by laureen227

whenever a previously reliable cat stops using her box, a vet visit is in order to rule out any health reasons.

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I agree completely...however in this case if I'm reading the OP correctly, the only litterbox is NOW in the basement and kitty is reluctant to go down there and use it. That's they way I read it, anyway. Maybe I misunderstood.

Originally Posted by beandip

I agree completely...however in this case if I'm reading the OP correctly, the only litterbox is NOW in the basement and kitty is reluctant to go down there and use it. That's they way I read it, anyway. Maybe I misunderstood.

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I thought perhaps it was the box that changed, not the location, or maybe a combination of both? If that's the case and there's no indication of any sort other than not using the box, and if it started at the same time the box was changed/moved.. then I'm thinking it's due to the box change/move.

Certainly, though, if they're having any trouble pottying, or you see diarrhea... actually, it's a good plan to take them just to be safe, but I'd try moving the box back to where it was or buying a new box that's like the old one...or if the same box is available, put it back into play. In other words, recreate the exact scenario you had when she was using the box properly... same litter, same box, same location?

Its also confusing though because she is acting normally but the other day she had pooed on my floor and then that night she kept running around and meowing but I woke up and she went down and used the litterbox but this morning I found she had pooed again on my floor. I am really confused. But we haven't done anything to the litterbox so I don't quite understand. I am going to clean up the area where she has been going so maybe she won't go there again because she has gone in the exact same place twice now. Hopefully she doesn't have anything wrong with her and hopefully this works.

Okay, so let me make sure I have this right:

This is the same litter box in the same place as it used to be. It was never moved, and it's not a new box. She just suddenly started not using it, for no apparent reason?

Originally Posted by CatsAreBetter

Okay, so let me make sure I have this right:

This is the same litter box in the same place as it used to be. It was never moved, and it's not a new box. She just suddenly started not using it, for no apparent reason?

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Ya just suddenly out of the blue she started to not use it

If she is the sister of the cat who died of a kidney infection, and your vet said it being from the mother is a possibility, you HAVE to get her in for blood work. Whether she is lethargic and in pain or not, it doesnt' matter. The fact that you said she is a little lethargic is s sign you need to do something...

Originally Posted by ALF

Ya just suddenly out of the blue she started to not use it

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I can't quite tell from your original post...did you recently add another cat to the family?

Originally Posted by beandip

I can't quite tell from your original post...did you recently add another cat to the family?

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No we haven't added any other cats but I think she is afraid to go into the basement for some odd reason. Because the other day she went down into the basement and went to the litterbox but then came running back out without even covering her poo so I am still really confused. And she isn't acting strange anymore she had been but isn't anymore.

I think you're probably right. Could you put a box upstairs for her, even if it's temporary...see if that helps?

I'm thinking Jen is right though, just be certain I'd have her looked at by the vet, especially since it's hereditary, especially since she's exhibiting signs. I'm also superparanoid though, and won't take risks with my little demons, I mean darlings.. Sometimes that puts me in the hole deeper than I care to be, but.. I'd rather have the peace of mind knowing they're safe, I guess.

I'd also still put a litter box upstairs. Sometimes the death of another animal they're close to really does just freak them out.

Let us know how she's doing!

ya we have a temporary litterbox upstairs now to see if that helps. I will let everyone know if it works

Okay, good luck!