Hi, I have a cat about 12 to 13 years old (not sure of the age she was a stray). I had her to the vet and no underlining health issues. She did have a phase about 4 years ago where she quit eating and we force fed her all summer. The vet said she might have some brain issues related to that. She is sometimes using the litter box and sometimes not. She will have a bowl movement and lay next to it. Today she layed in her BM. I have five litter boxes scattered through out my house because I know she is old and can't get around. She is very loving and loves petted, but I am at my wits end. Any ideas on how to help would be appreciated.
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Old cat bathroom issues
- Thread starter steelewolsey
- Start Date
We have an elder kitty--he's 18+--who has litter box problems too. I found that Dr. Elsey's attract litter helps somewhat to get him to the box, but I've also resigned myself to the fact that he will have accidents. We put puppy pads down around the litter boxes and he uses those for peeing on and sometimes to poop on.
I haven't had a problem with him lying in the poop, though. Hopefully someone will come along who can give you some thoughts or advice on that.
I haven't had a problem with him lying in the poop, though. Hopefully someone will come along who can give you some thoughts or advice on that.
If she has a hard time getting around, try using low sided pans for litter boxes...not sure if they make actual litter boxes that are low sided, but you could even use something homemade....even cut down cardboard boxes and line them with plastic or use a 9 x 13 cake pan. That, along with the Cat Attract Litter mentioned above, might work.
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Get a sweater box or under-the-bed storage box from BigLots. It's plastic, has low sides and is probably larger than most litter boxes and costs a whole lot less. They are really good for cats who do not like to poop and pee close to each action, and for kittens or elderly cats who who do not climb very well anymore. .
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Thanks for the ideas. Will be buying the Dr. Elsey attract tomorrow and look for a lower box to use. By not getting around I mean she just seems very lazy nowadays. She just enjoys sitting around more than she used to. I can deal with some accidents (comes with having an older pet), it just concerns me that she will lay right next to it and today on it. That doesn't seem right to me. I think I need to talk to her vet about it.
The lazy behaviour you see may be caused by a difficulty to walk or move properly. I can see this in my 19 year old cat who has arthritis which he is taking Buprenophine to help control. It used to be really hard for him to lie down before he was getting the meds and now he can do it a lot quicker. He is not as agile as he once was and walks much stiffer even with the pain meds. He doesn't really have a problem getting into the box but he does when he is trying to get into position to go. He doesn't go on the floor often and when he does I know it must have been some kind of accident.
Body pain is one thing, other things like constipation or pain while going can change the way they do things. I have read that some cats relate the box to the pain and will avoid it. I could be some medical issue or it could be some kind of old age because 12 - 13 is old for a cat. You have to assess how she moves around and lies down and see if she is being guarded in her movements or in obvious discomfort. Watch her when she goes to the bathroom and see if she is having any issues leaving stools and urinating. This would include getting into position and going. It is funny, sometimes my guy wants me to go in with him so he will make noise until I go into the bathroom with him. He usually is pretty good but he does have IBD so things can vary with him.
Hydration can make a difference too, how do her stools look? Do they look really dry or more on the wet side like they were extruded from one of those play-do pump toys? If you put your pinky in her cheek pouch does it seem dry or do you get moisture on your finger? It should be moist and if it is dry then she may be dehydrated which can make going to the bathroom hard. I can't imagine why she would be lying next to it unless it was really hard to leave it and she was resting after the work.
Body pain is one thing, other things like constipation or pain while going can change the way they do things. I have read that some cats relate the box to the pain and will avoid it. I could be some medical issue or it could be some kind of old age because 12 - 13 is old for a cat. You have to assess how she moves around and lies down and see if she is being guarded in her movements or in obvious discomfort. Watch her when she goes to the bathroom and see if she is having any issues leaving stools and urinating. This would include getting into position and going. It is funny, sometimes my guy wants me to go in with him so he will make noise until I go into the bathroom with him. He usually is pretty good but he does have IBD so things can vary with him.
Hydration can make a difference too, how do her stools look? Do they look really dry or more on the wet side like they were extruded from one of those play-do pump toys? If you put your pinky in her cheek pouch does it seem dry or do you get moisture on your finger? It should be moist and if it is dry then she may be dehydrated which can make going to the bathroom hard. I can't imagine why she would be lying next to it unless it was really hard to leave it and she was resting after the work.
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My boy Travis does that too. He will meow at the bathroom door where his litter box is until I get up and say, "What is it, do you need to go potty...." etc. and go in with him. The things we do for these guys.
You made a good point about checking hydration.
