Hello! Im sure there are dozens of posts just like mine, so Im sorry to add another! Im having issues with my kitty not using a litterbox all of a sudden.... here's the story:
I have 2 kitties about a year old, Peach and Daisy. I got them both when they were just a couple months old- and they both took to using the litter box right away. We even moved and that didnt phase them. A couple months ago I got them fixed. This is where the trouble starts.... Right after that Daisy decided she no longer wanted to use a litterbox. She started peeing on clothes, the bed and on the couch and started pooping in the bathtub. Well, my first two thoughts were 1) She's upset from the surgery or 2) she has a UTI (which was very possible from the surgery, despite the fact that pooping outside isnt normally a side effect- just the peeing). So, in addition to playing with her and giving her as much positive attention as possible I also went out and bought VERY expensive litter to test her urine to check for infections because SURELY my precious kitty can do no wrong and must just be sick. Litter checked out fine, no infection. And despite my efforts to make her happy still no change. So, I took the dog approach next- bringing her to the bad spot, tapping her on the nose and loudly saying NO. That made absolutely no difference either. The last bit of advice I had from friends and the internet was to isolate her to 'retrain' her to use a litter box. The only problem being that I have no full size cage and the only place to isolate her away from things she will mess on is the bathoom. So for a week I kept her in there (lined the bathtub with foil because I also read that will deter them from going to the bathroom on things). Just her, a litterbox and food/water. I did let her out in the evenings after work just to visit and put her back before bed. She did just fine except the one day I forgot to put the foil back in she took that chance to go in the tub. I decided a week was enough and let her out. She was out for a day before she started going to the bathroom on things again.
Basically, I have tried everything that I have heard/read about to fix this behavior. She obviously knows how to use a litterbox because the things she likes to mess on are taken away she will use it. Ive gone out of my way to help- multiple litterboxes, making sure there is no clothing out for her to go on, being nice, being mean, checking for infections, making sure the litterboxes are cleaned every day. I am out of ideas and clueless. I am much more patient then my fiance who would have gotten rid of her the first time she went on anything, but Im beyond frustrated and losing hope. The thought of getting rid of a pet absolutely kills me, but this cant go on anymore. Its disgusting. And unfortunately I can not just let her be an outdoor cat.
Is there any advice anyone can offer that I have not tried yet? Possibly keeping her in the bathroom (or getting a real cage) with a litterbox for longer then just a week with no evening play time?
I have 2 kitties about a year old, Peach and Daisy. I got them both when they were just a couple months old- and they both took to using the litter box right away. We even moved and that didnt phase them. A couple months ago I got them fixed. This is where the trouble starts.... Right after that Daisy decided she no longer wanted to use a litterbox. She started peeing on clothes, the bed and on the couch and started pooping in the bathtub. Well, my first two thoughts were 1) She's upset from the surgery or 2) she has a UTI (which was very possible from the surgery, despite the fact that pooping outside isnt normally a side effect- just the peeing). So, in addition to playing with her and giving her as much positive attention as possible I also went out and bought VERY expensive litter to test her urine to check for infections because SURELY my precious kitty can do no wrong and must just be sick. Litter checked out fine, no infection. And despite my efforts to make her happy still no change. So, I took the dog approach next- bringing her to the bad spot, tapping her on the nose and loudly saying NO. That made absolutely no difference either. The last bit of advice I had from friends and the internet was to isolate her to 'retrain' her to use a litter box. The only problem being that I have no full size cage and the only place to isolate her away from things she will mess on is the bathoom. So for a week I kept her in there (lined the bathtub with foil because I also read that will deter them from going to the bathroom on things). Just her, a litterbox and food/water. I did let her out in the evenings after work just to visit and put her back before bed. She did just fine except the one day I forgot to put the foil back in she took that chance to go in the tub. I decided a week was enough and let her out. She was out for a day before she started going to the bathroom on things again.
Basically, I have tried everything that I have heard/read about to fix this behavior. She obviously knows how to use a litterbox because the things she likes to mess on are taken away she will use it. Ive gone out of my way to help- multiple litterboxes, making sure there is no clothing out for her to go on, being nice, being mean, checking for infections, making sure the litterboxes are cleaned every day. I am out of ideas and clueless. I am much more patient then my fiance who would have gotten rid of her the first time she went on anything, but Im beyond frustrated and losing hope. The thought of getting rid of a pet absolutely kills me, but this cant go on anymore. Its disgusting. And unfortunately I can not just let her be an outdoor cat.
Is there any advice anyone can offer that I have not tried yet? Possibly keeping her in the bathroom (or getting a real cage) with a litterbox for longer then just a week with no evening play time?
The appt fee + the ridiculous cost of the test is going to be at least $150. Which is I am trying everything else first. I did a lot of research on this litter and it was recommended by vets, but of course you're right- it is not 100%. Also, I know that urinating outside of a litter box is a sign of UTI's but she is also pooping outside of the litter box. The combination of that, the litter testing okay, her not appearning to have any discomfort and the fact that she uses the litterbox just as often as she doesnt leads me to believe that its not a UTI. It was suggested to me to just buy the antibotics for her (without a vet visit). This thought has also crossed my mind being that is very a very affordable route. The issue of course being that she may not have an infection- however, the antibiotics should not harm her in any way if that is the case.
