Ok, I have been struggling with my cat for quite a while now... so please bear with me while I explain the situation fully. AND PLEASE OFFER ADVISE! Thanks!
I have had my cat since she was a newborn. Her mother was killed in an accident and I had to bottle feed her and raise her from the beginning. I also have a second cat and two dogs, all living inside with me.
Every once in a while she has been known to poop or pee outside of her box (on bath mats or carpet, etc). But it has never been often and not much of a problem. I would clean up the mess and go about my day.
About 4 months ago we moved into a new house and her problem exploded. She started peeing and pooping on the floor all over the room that her litter box was in. Including just outside the box. I immediately took her in to get a full blood scan and urinalysis and everything came back clean and clear. She is healthy as can be in every way (except perhaps mentally). Since then I have gone through SEVERAL attempts to fix the problem as follows:
1) Lots of love and attention to be sure she was content with life. Cleaning any accidents as soon as I find them with Nature's miracle, or Resolve. Keeping the box spotless and encouraging her to use it.
2) Step 1 didn't help, so I progress to step 2 about 3 weeks later: Behavior modification prescription prescribed by my veterinarian. Just a couple drops of tuna flavored meds each night.
3) Step 2 didn't help, so I progress to step 3 about 2 weeks later: Carpet is thoroughly steam cleaned to remove any odor she might be sensing. The majority of the room is covered with aluminum foil to deter her. Directly outside the box is surrounded with soft puppy pads instead of foil.
4) Damn. Now she can't go in her litter box/dining room unless she goes in the litter box (gasp!). She moves her favored place of soiling into my downstairs den. Still very little luck with the actual box. However my other cat is just an angel and will use the box no matter what.
----AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, ONE OF MY DOGS NOTICED THE URINE IN THE DEN AND NOW THINKS THAT SHE TOO CAN URINATE THERE!--- Now I have to retrain my dog as well!
5) Confinement in the aluminum foiled room with the litter box and a small area to eat and sleep comfortably. No luck. I have two angry-to-be-cooped-up cats and the troublesome one still fails to use the box every time. However she does use it more than before, as there is really little option.
6) Trouble kitty is placed in a "cat condo" crate that has three levels and enough room to have a litter box, food and water, and a couple comfy perches to sleep on. She is here now and VERY unhappy about it. She IS however, using the box exclusively! Hoorah! I let her our supervised for a coupe hours a day as I can. The problem is that I can not keep her in the crate forever. She is a cat that likes space to roam and bask in the sun. I have tried letting her out and she goes right back to soiling outside the box.
Dear God, or anyone who might be able to guide me... I need help! I have spent countless nights with little to no sleep fretting over my sweet kitty. I LOVE this cat and the only additional step I can think of is euthanasia. She is fully declawed and can not go outside. I WILL CONSIDER ANY AND ALL ALTERNATIVES FIRST! I LOVE MY CAT! PLEASE HELP ME!
I have had my cat since she was a newborn. Her mother was killed in an accident and I had to bottle feed her and raise her from the beginning. I also have a second cat and two dogs, all living inside with me.
Every once in a while she has been known to poop or pee outside of her box (on bath mats or carpet, etc). But it has never been often and not much of a problem. I would clean up the mess and go about my day.
About 4 months ago we moved into a new house and her problem exploded. She started peeing and pooping on the floor all over the room that her litter box was in. Including just outside the box. I immediately took her in to get a full blood scan and urinalysis and everything came back clean and clear. She is healthy as can be in every way (except perhaps mentally). Since then I have gone through SEVERAL attempts to fix the problem as follows:
1) Lots of love and attention to be sure she was content with life. Cleaning any accidents as soon as I find them with Nature's miracle, or Resolve. Keeping the box spotless and encouraging her to use it.
2) Step 1 didn't help, so I progress to step 2 about 3 weeks later: Behavior modification prescription prescribed by my veterinarian. Just a couple drops of tuna flavored meds each night.
3) Step 2 didn't help, so I progress to step 3 about 2 weeks later: Carpet is thoroughly steam cleaned to remove any odor she might be sensing. The majority of the room is covered with aluminum foil to deter her. Directly outside the box is surrounded with soft puppy pads instead of foil.
4) Damn. Now she can't go in her litter box/dining room unless she goes in the litter box (gasp!). She moves her favored place of soiling into my downstairs den. Still very little luck with the actual box. However my other cat is just an angel and will use the box no matter what.
----AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, ONE OF MY DOGS NOTICED THE URINE IN THE DEN AND NOW THINKS THAT SHE TOO CAN URINATE THERE!--- Now I have to retrain my dog as well!
5) Confinement in the aluminum foiled room with the litter box and a small area to eat and sleep comfortably. No luck. I have two angry-to-be-cooped-up cats and the troublesome one still fails to use the box every time. However she does use it more than before, as there is really little option.
6) Trouble kitty is placed in a "cat condo" crate that has three levels and enough room to have a litter box, food and water, and a couple comfy perches to sleep on. She is here now and VERY unhappy about it. She IS however, using the box exclusively! Hoorah! I let her our supervised for a coupe hours a day as I can. The problem is that I can not keep her in the crate forever. She is a cat that likes space to roam and bask in the sun. I have tried letting her out and she goes right back to soiling outside the box.
Dear God, or anyone who might be able to guide me... I need help! I have spent countless nights with little to no sleep fretting over my sweet kitty. I LOVE this cat and the only additional step I can think of is euthanasia. She is fully declawed and can not go outside. I WILL CONSIDER ANY AND ALL ALTERNATIVES FIRST! I LOVE MY CAT! PLEASE HELP ME!
