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oneandahalfcats

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Awake at 3am this morning.

Basement check revealed a urine/marking with a dab of diarrhea against the inside back of the open-air tub.  NOTHING additional.

However, as of 10 min. ago (7:05a), she dropped a small, soft stool on the floor outside the covered box; thankfully no urine product.  Striker had urinated in the open-top tub, then left a covered stool in the covered box.

Is it even conceivable to have a "private, girls-only" box for Sassy, considering if we would add a 3rd box? 

Striker goes indiscriminately, and I don't think that's a bad thing.  I'm starting to think, though, he is using both boxes as an assertion mechanism.  When we tried to move the one box into a different room and only show it to Sassy, Striker still found it out and used it.  Sassy never did, so we moved it back to the original room.

I should know this, but what is the best practice to introduce a cat to a new box?  I was always under the impression if you simply place them in it for a few seconds, let them move their paws, that was sufficient.

Thanks to any who still have the patience to read this post/journal and offer insights and ideas.
More encouraging news I'd say, but it sounds definitely possible that there may be some conflict/competition between Striker and Sassy over the litter boxes. It definitely would be a great idea to provide Sassy with her own box, for two reasons. One, she will have the exclusive use of it which may make her feel more comfortable and secure, and two, you will be able to separate her output from Strikers and know that what you are seeing at any given time, is hers.

As far as introducing a new litter box, it is basically as you have suggested. Place the new box in the desired location but perhaps place Sassy in front of the box rather than right in it to allow her to get accustomed to it at her own speed. Wait a moment or two and she may step right into it out of curiosity. If not, place her in the box and then back away. She may just sniff around and give the litter a stir, or step right out of it, which is fine. You will want to try again in a hour or so, so she gets the idea that this is her box to use. Its obviously really important that Striker not have access to this box, and that the new location is quiet and away from the fray such as a laundry room, or downstairs bathroom. Keep in mind that Sassy may still try and use the older litter boxes from time to time.

One more thing .. I think someone asked about whether you use Feliway diffusers, which are plug-ins of a liquid product that contains feline pheromones. If there is an outlet in the new litter box location, this might be a good thing to introduce to help make things more inviting for Sassy.

Best of luck with this and let us know how things go.
 
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sarah ann

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Just so you know a shelter is going to put her down. Most shelters do not deal with medically expensive animals.

You do not mention if a stool sample or urinalysis were done. I would want both. She could have a lower urinary tract infection, she could have giardia or coccidiosis which both cause diarrhea.  I would even do repeat samples. I have had urinary crystals missed on the urinalysis before, and I have had coccidia missed on the fecal sample before. Sometimes it takes multiple samples to get a diagnosis. 

I would want a fecal culture done to check for bacterial infections of the gi tract- possibly a urine culture as well.

Your cat is not being bad. She is not doing this to frustrate you. Cats will always use the litter box until something hurts them. If she is going outside the box than she is painful- It sounds VERY suspicious of urinary crystals or a urinary tract infection.

  I would switch brands of cat food immediately. I tried Taste of the Wild for 2 of my cats. It was a new bag and both cats and vomiting and diarrhea while on it. I tossed the bag and was just thankful I only put 2 of my 6 cats on it.

This is very clearly a physical problem. You need to find a better vet to get to the bottom of this.

All these things you are trying- changing litter, adding boxes, scrubbing the boxes are not going to help. You need to find the physical problem your cat has.  In the meantime, buy a large kennel/cat cage from petsmart and lock kitty in there. Make sure to get the extra large ones that will fit a tall sided litter box.  Your cat needs room to be able to lay down comfortable, and use the litter box, with some additional room for food and water.  This is a very good investment- as anytime your cat is sick in the future you will want to use it.   I get how expensive it is- but really it is money well spent. You can line the entire thing in puppy pads, and be sure to line the area surrounding the kennel with puppy pads in case she sprays outside. IT will drastically cut down on your cleaning.

If her originally symptoms were peeing outside the box= than definitely get a urinalysis, and urine culture.  If the diarrhea is from the antibiotic, it should resolve once the antibiotic is out of her system. The first 2 week injection is probably an antibiotic called convenia and lasts much longer than 2 weeks or it could be a steriod shot.  You should call your vet and find out exactly what was given to your cat. If it was the antibiotic causing diarrhea than adding flagyl is not going to help, as she probably needs probiotics.  Amitryptline is probably not going to help either- it does work for urinary issues as long as no crystals are present.  It only should be used if the problem is behavioral and not physical.

Between the diarrhea and the urinary issues, I'm convinced this is a physical problem. You need a better vet.

How long and how often has your other cat been vomiting or is he healthy?
 

oneandahalfcats

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Just so you know a shelter is going to put her down. Most shelters do not deal with medically expensive animals.

You do not mention if a stool sample or urinalysis were done. I would want both. She could have a lower urinary tract infection, she could have giardia or coccidiosis which both cause diarrhea.  I would even do repeat samples. I have had urinary crystals missed on the urinalysis before, and I have had coccidia missed on the fecal sample before. Sometimes it takes multiple samples to get a diagnosis. 

I would want a fecal culture done to check for bacterial infections of the gi tract- possibly a urine culture as well.

Your cat is not being bad. She is not doing this to frustrate you. Cats will always use the litter box until something hurts them. If she is going outside the box than she is painful- It sounds VERY suspicious of urinary crystals or a urinary tract infection.

  I would switch brands of cat food immediately. I tried Taste of the Wild for 2 of my cats. It was a new bag and both cats and vomiting and diarrhea while on it. I tossed the bag and was just thankful I only put 2 of my 6 cats on it.

This is very clearly a physical problem. You need to find a better vet to get to the bottom of this.

All these things you are trying- changing litter, adding boxes, scrubbing the boxes are not going to help. You need to find the physical problem your cat has.  In the meantime, buy a large kennel/cat cage from petsmart and lock kitty in there. Make sure to get the extra large ones that will fit a tall sided litter box.  Your cat needs room to be able to lay down comfortable, and use the litter box, with some additional room for food and water.  This is a very good investment- as anytime your cat is sick in the future you will want to use it.   I get how expensive it is- but really it is money well spent. You can line the entire thing in puppy pads, and be sure to line the area surrounding the kennel with puppy pads in case she sprays outside. IT will drastically cut down on your cleaning.

If her originally symptoms were peeing outside the box= than definitely get a urinalysis, and urine culture.  If the diarrhea is from the antibiotic, it should resolve once the antibiotic is out of her system. The first 2 week injection is probably an antibiotic called convenia and lasts much longer than 2 weeks or it could be a steriod shot.  You should call your vet and find out exactly what was given to your cat. If it was the antibiotic causing diarrhea than adding flagyl is not going to help, as she probably needs probiotics.  Amitryptline is probably not going to help either- it does work for urinary issues as long as no crystals are present.  It only should be used if the problem is behavioral and not physical.

Between the diarrhea and the urinary issues, I'm convinced this is a physical problem. You need a better vet.

How long and how often has your other cat been vomiting or is he healthy?
I don't think the poster wants to or is planning to give his cat to a shelter, but it is reasonable for him to feel frustrated after trying so many different things. Not ALL shelters put animals down!

Diarrhea and eliminating outside a litter box is sometimes the result of a medical condition but can also be as the result of stress. As Sassy has been alternating between using the floor AND the litter box, this would suggest that there is something else going on. If fecal samples and urinalysis have not been, then yes it is necessary to get these things done, however the poster did mention that his cat has been seen by two different vets and medical causes were ruled out. There hasn't been any mention of vomiting.

The Amitryp has been prescribed to address stress and possible behavioral issues. Putting this cat in a large cage is only going to make her feel more stressed.
 
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Some positive developments, along with ideas on Striker to maybe influence things further.  Sounds like progress.  Is there any way your home can be split in  some way for a while so Striker has access to and use of litter boxes in one area and Sassy in the other.  If your theory is right then Striker is likely to move in on any new box he can get to in order to maintain his territorial hold.
 
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billchamb

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Made it through ALMOST an entire day.

Yesterday morning, she peed/marked on a box in the basement room for the first time.  BUT, there was a stranger (moving estimator) in the house yesterday.

Amytrip is still making her kinda mopey.

Between last night and about 20 min. ago, there had been nothing but litter box activity from both cats.  This was hopeful.  Then, tonight, evidence of her activity in BOTH boxes, yet another flood around and under the covered box.

Meds seem to be making her really hungry.

We are seeing less and less diarrhea, and that, too, is positive.  Sometimes, she barely passes anything at all.

Side note #1:  Bumping Striker's Prednisolone to daily dose seems to have inhibited the spew activity for 6 consecutive days.

Side note #2:  The house deal for relocation is not going smoothly.  We are trying very hard (but not always succeeding) at keeping our stress levels down for the well-being of the household.
 
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billchamb

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 There hasn't been any mention of vomiting.
Clarification:  References to vomiting are related to our other cat, Striker, who was presenting with a flare-up of his own issues as the Sassy/litterbox thing was peaking.

Sorry for any confusion.
 

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I had a cat that started to use the concrete floor in the basement. We put new litter boxes litter on each floor of the house. The uniqueness of all these options solved the problem.
 
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billchamb

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Mrs. had cleaned up last night's puddle at approx. 10p.

This morning, at 5:30a, I found some Sassy stool in the open-air tub, and Striker clump in the covered box.  I nearly missed the mostly dry urine spot on the floor, behind the open-air and in front of the foil.

I began to clean it, sprayed Nature's Miracle and, while waiting to blot it up, went to take care of some other stuff.  When I returned to finish the cleaning job, Sassy had VERY STEALTHILY got in the open-air tub and PEED, while the other spot was still waiting to be blotted (?!).  No doubt it was her.  I was not in the room, and did not see or hear her come/go.

What the heck does THAT tell me?!  Seriously, I don't know!
 

oneandahalfcats

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Made it through ALMOST an entire day.





Yesterday morning, she peed/marked on a box in the basement room for the first time.  BUT, there was a stranger (moving estimator) in the house yesterday.





Amytrip is still making her kinda mopey.





Between last night and about 20 min. ago, there had been nothing but litter box activity from both cats.  This was hopeful.  Then, tonight, evidence of her activity in BOTH boxes, yet another flood around and under the covered box.





Meds seem to be making her really hungry.





We are seeing less and less diarrhea, and that, too, is positive.  Sometimes, she barely passes anything at all.





Side note #1:  Bumping Striker's Prednisolone to daily dose seems to have inhibited the spew activity for 6 consecutive days.





Side note #2:  The house deal for relocation is not going smoothly.  We are trying very hard (but not always succeeding) at keeping our stress levels down for the well-being of the household.
Was wondering how things were going with Sassy (and Striker). Pleased to read that some very good progress has been made in the last 24 hours, especially the change in stool! Something is responsible for this positive change for the better, perhaps the Amytrip, but also the time and ongoing efforts that you and your wife are making. Just something to be mindful of, and that is some of the side effects with Amytrip include constipation. Hopefully the Amytrip will help to balance out the diarrhea and nothing more in this respect.

Thank you for the clarification re. the vomiting with Striker. I must have missed this in the details. Glad to hear that this situation is improving as well.
 

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At least the litter boxes seem to be getting used  by both cats, all be it not 100% of the time. Is it worth adding yet another open box?

If Sassy remains mopey but things have a chance to stabilise a little is it worth talking with the vet about adjusting her medication slightly to see if her mood improves without going back to sqaure one on the 'box' behaviour?
 
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billchamb

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MServant,

That would be my hope.  She is on such a small dose for her small size.  We are giving her 2.5mg/2x day (She's approx. 6 lbs.)  Vet wrote Rx for 1/2 tablet (5mg) 1x daily.  We thought that would overwhelm her.

Certainly glad we are seeing more "hits" than "misses" lately, but still not completely solved.

Hadn't thought about creating another open-air tub, but...MAYBE.

Thanks for walking through this with us!
 
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billchamb

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Ugh!  So defeated.

Cleaned pans last night at bedtime, all was well.

Now awake at 6:40a, and discover Sassy peed in the open-air tub, peed a stream on the floor (mostly dry, so it must have happened within the past hour or so), AND left a huge pile of diarrhea on the floor!  She had been doing SO well, and we hadn't really seen diarrhea (definitely not that much) for several days.

Last night, we added an extra little nightlight (#3 in the space), wondering if she was having difficulty seeing or was frightened by the darkness.  Yes, a change, but, c'mon!  That couldn't really have triggered this, could it?!

Just can't seem to win this battle.  Really sad and unhappy.
 

mservant

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Ugh!  So defeated.

Cleaned pans last night at bedtime, all was well.

Now awake at 6:40a, and discover Sassy peed in the open-air tub, peed a stream on the floor (mostly dry, so it must have happened within the past hour or so), AND left a huge pile of diarrhea on the floor!  She had been doing SO well, and we hadn't really seen diarrhea (definitely not that much) for several days.

Last night, we added an extra little nightlight (#3 in the space), wondering if she was having difficulty seeing or was frightened by the darkness.  Yes, a change, but, c'mon!  That couldn't really have triggered this, could it?!

Just can't seem to win this battle.  Really sad and unhappy.
Not defeated yet, feeling it yes, but not flat out given up I hope. I can feel your sadness, it must be so hard not being able to help them and get this behaviour resloved.  You had a good day after a period of improvment.  Perhaps the nightlights were confusing and perhaps it was something else. It could also have been the diarrhoea.   Worth going back to the darkness and checking what happens next?  Generally cats have poor vision in daylight, it improves in the dark, but they do not rely significantly on their sight for navigation like people do.  Their senses of touch, smell, and sound are far more accute than ours and even very elderly cats can cope incredibly well without any sight if the sight is lost gradually.  I had one blind cat and one partially sighted before I knew about either loosing their sight as it had been gradual: one was still running and jumping about and aquainted herself with new layouts of furniture and things on the floor almost instantly. No clues as to why the diarrhoea might have resurfaced?
 
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billchamb

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No clue on the resurgence of diarrhea, and she had another bout later in the day today.  That one, at least, made it into the box.

Tonight, she left a very small stool and some urine in the box again.  We had left an overhead light on before we went out to dinner because we knew it would be dark before we got home.

I think by Monday I might follow-up with the vet and ask about the duration of the Probiotic and Amytrip, and catch them up on the past week's observances.

At least we are sleeping through the night again, without Striker waking us with his stomach antics.

BTW, MServant, you have been so patient and caring to pay attention to this ongoing saga.  Thanks a whole lot!
 
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mservant

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Human carers getting sleep is good for everyone as if you have some time less stressed then so will your cats.  I'm glad Sassy has managed to make some use of the box again, I just wish I could help figure out what is happening for her so your home could feel relaxed and comfortable for you all again.  I agree another follow-up with the vet is in order: if you're anything like me write your questions and information down first so nothing you feel is important gets left out.  I always forget something. 

Thank you for your compliment: I don't see anything as being patient, I just love cats and I know how I feel when something isn't going well with mine.  My boy's a bit less playful (and less accident prone) these days and I can read and post on here while I throw his biscuits and toys for him or watch him snooze.  Anyone would think he's an old man he's getting so lazy these days, but he'll only hit his 3rd birthday next week. 
   Right now he has a sulky look on his face that's to tell me I should be asleap in bed, so I guess I'd better do what I'm told. 


Hope things go alright in your house over the weekend.  I'll be looking out as usual once I get in from work.
 
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billchamb

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After a clean and clear overnight, all was well.

Then, we gave Sassy the morning dose of Amytrip.  Sometime not long after that, as Mrs. & I were sitting and discussing packing strategies, we discovered Sassy had made her way down to the basement room, urinated all over the front outside corner of the open-air tub (which of course flowed generously UNDER the tub), and had left a few pitiable bits of stool in the box.

Got that cleaned up, and as it was finishing drying (having cleaned pans and added some fresh litter), I watched her slink back downstairs and go into the room.

When she returned to the main floor, I went down and...TA-DA!  She had marked/urinated IN the open-air tub on the inside back wall, AND had left another pool of diarrhea IN the tub.

So fabulously inconsistent (including the stool that had been doing better)!

I think I will call the vet AGAIN on Monday and provide an update.

ALSO:  want to give a shout-out and props to @oneandahalfcats for adding to this thread/journey!
 
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oneandahalfcats

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After a clean and clear overnight, all was well.

Then, we gave Sassy the morning dose of Amytrip.  Sometime not long after that, as Mrs. & I were sitting and discussing packing strategies, we discovered Sassy had made her way down to the basement room, urinated all over the front outside corner of the open-air tub (which of course flowed generously UNDER the tub), and had left a few pitiable bits of stool in the box.

Got that cleaned up, and as it was finishing drying (having cleaned pans and added some fresh litter), I watched her slink back downstairs and go into the room.

When she returned to the main floor, I went down and...TA-DA!  She had marked/urinated IN the open-air tub on the inside back wall, AND had left another pool of diarrhea IN the tub.

So fabulously inconsistent (including the stool that had been doing better)!

I think I will call the vet AGAIN on Monday and provide an update.

ALSO:  want to give a shout-out and props to @oneandahalfcats for adding to this thread/journey!
Glad to read that there is continued progress, albeit inconsistent.

There seems to be more hits now then misses which is really good. It is a blessing that these incidents are taking place on your concrete floor which can be more easily cleaned up, versus a carpet, which would retain some of the odor and the possibility of having to replace before you move.
 
 
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This journey is a rollercoaster, but at least there are some ups at this point.  While waiting for further discussions with your vet it is worth while thinking about those puppy pads.  If nothing else they soak up a lot of pee that otherwise goes under the box. If you put a pad down that is about 4" beyond the front, back and 3" at sides of the tray,  (buy larger and cut them to size if you want), it should catch an awful lot of mess and significantly reduce cleaning time without encouraging Sassy to use the pad rather than the tray.
 
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billchamb

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Made it 24 hrs, maybe a little more without a mess.

We have stopped the Probiotic for the time being because of the continued diarrhea.

This morning, though, there was another urine mess drying on the floor to be cleaned.  She had still gone in the open-air tub, but it is unclear whether before or after the "accident."

Might have been scared by horrendous wind noise, but might not have been.  Anybody's guess.

Seems like progress, still, but...
 
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This morning just took another turn.

Waiting for a callback from the vet to discuss Probiotic and continued diarrhea.

Tried to locate Sassy to administer morning dose of Amytrip.  Mrs. scooped her up and noticed immediately her backside felt wet and stinky.  Quickly gave her the med, then grabbed the pet wipes we had recently purchased.  Her backside was definitely messy and, while she didn't like it, we managed to get her cleaned up.

I went to the basement room and found that she had urinated in the open-air tub AND had diarrhea in the covered pan.  However, the diarrhea was against the inside front of the box, literally running down the side, but at least all contained.

I feel very badly for her, and this just adds to her stress, as before December, she hadn't ever had diarrhea like this.
 
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