Hi everyone,
I joined this forum because I need some help. I have an approx. 10yo male cat who in the last 6 months or so, has all but refused to use the litter box to defecate. As far as I know, he still urinates in the boxes. I have had him to the vet on more than one occasion and has recieved a clean bill of health every time (checked his urine, did bloodwork, fecal samples, etc). I have 4 cats and 4 boxes right now. I added another box for about 2 mos, but it made NO difference at all...I didn't really have room for the extra so I removed it. He has 3 kinds of litter to choose from (Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract, which worked for a while, cheap clumping litter, and a corn based litter), and I clean the boxes once or twice daily. I have been making sure I give him attention, thinking that may have been part of the problem, but no changes. No changes in the household, food, etc in a long time. He is epileptic, but hasn't had seizures in a few years. He had been doing excellent with his health lately. Food location is not real close to litter boxes, it's where it has been for over 4 years, and I really have no where else to move either to keep dogs out of them. But again, this is not anything that is new. He goes right NEXT to the litter box. If I move the box out to where he is going to, he picks another spot nearby. Boxes are relatively new, bought when we started running into this problem. I will occasionally find piles near a door or by the water dish (in the kitchen, boxes are in bathroom), but very rare. I'm at my wits end here, and considering euthanizing him if I can't find a solution. I know not the best thing, but I have a 4yo child too, and I can't have him finding and playing in cat poop! And I would never consider passing it off to someone else. He gets along well with the other kitties, they all play together, sleep together, etc. Same as with the dogs. He even likes to play w/ the rabbit. Does anyone have any other suggestions for me? I really don't want to put him down, but I can't take these cat piles. I'm sick of stepping in them in the dark when I can't see them!!! Thanks in advance! Also, let me know if you have any other questions about the situation.
Chris
I joined this forum because I need some help. I have an approx. 10yo male cat who in the last 6 months or so, has all but refused to use the litter box to defecate. As far as I know, he still urinates in the boxes. I have had him to the vet on more than one occasion and has recieved a clean bill of health every time (checked his urine, did bloodwork, fecal samples, etc). I have 4 cats and 4 boxes right now. I added another box for about 2 mos, but it made NO difference at all...I didn't really have room for the extra so I removed it. He has 3 kinds of litter to choose from (Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract, which worked for a while, cheap clumping litter, and a corn based litter), and I clean the boxes once or twice daily. I have been making sure I give him attention, thinking that may have been part of the problem, but no changes. No changes in the household, food, etc in a long time. He is epileptic, but hasn't had seizures in a few years. He had been doing excellent with his health lately. Food location is not real close to litter boxes, it's where it has been for over 4 years, and I really have no where else to move either to keep dogs out of them. But again, this is not anything that is new. He goes right NEXT to the litter box. If I move the box out to where he is going to, he picks another spot nearby. Boxes are relatively new, bought when we started running into this problem. I will occasionally find piles near a door or by the water dish (in the kitchen, boxes are in bathroom), but very rare. I'm at my wits end here, and considering euthanizing him if I can't find a solution. I know not the best thing, but I have a 4yo child too, and I can't have him finding and playing in cat poop! And I would never consider passing it off to someone else. He gets along well with the other kitties, they all play together, sleep together, etc. Same as with the dogs. He even likes to play w/ the rabbit. Does anyone have any other suggestions for me? I really don't want to put him down, but I can't take these cat piles. I'm sick of stepping in them in the dark when I can't see them!!! Thanks in advance! Also, let me know if you have any other questions about the situation.
Chris
