Cat becoming picky with litter box- parents want to get rid of her

lovemygraytabby

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Mar 9, 2015
Messages
7
Purraise
1
So my Tabby girl is 13 years old and has recently become picky with her liter box. If it is even remotely dirty she will go on the floor instead. 

My problem is that I recently moved out of my parents house and could not take her with me (Studio apartment and a baby on the way). My parents hate liter boxes and the only reason they were okay with it was because we have a "self-cleaning" box that you only have to change once a month. My cat never had a problem with this until now. Now, the hardwood floor is starting to warp from her going outside the box so much, and the self-cleaning boxes are very expensive.

My parents want to get rid of her or make her an outdoor cat. Any suggestions?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #2

lovemygraytabby

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Mar 9, 2015
Messages
7
Purraise
1
Just want to add that she has no health problems, and has been to the vet. (Besides being a bit overweight and is now on a diet).
 

margd

Chula and Paul's roommate
Veteran
Joined
Feb 24, 2015
Messages
15,669
Purraise
7,838
Location
Maryland USA
I've never had a self-cleaning litter box but thought the whole point was they were always clean so I'm not sure why Tabby doesn't find it clean enough. It would be very hard for Tabby to be adopted at her age and, if she's always been an indoors cat, putting her outside at this point is cruel. I can understand why your parents are frustrated, however, especially if Tabby is damaging the floor.

I don't know if this would be a help or not but I found it much easier to keep a conventional litter box clean when I switched to flushable litter. I never had any problem with plumbing although I know a lot of people do worry about this. Still, if there is something about the self cleaning box that isn't working for Tabby, this might be something to consider.

Another point is that the floor needs to be cleaned thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle. Otherwise Tabby will still be able to smell urine and think it is an okay place to go.

If your parents really don't want to deal with this problem, do you have any friends who might be willing to take Tabby in if you pay for her care? It doesn't sound like her problem is that serious at this point so if someone was willing to work with her, it could probably be resolved.
 

LTS3

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
19,209
Purraise
19,695
Location
USA
 
My problem is that I recently moved out of my parents house and could not take her with me (Studio apartment and a baby on the way).
I think that might be the problem. Your cat is upset about your moving out and not taking her with you. Were you here main caregiver? Some cats do get attached to their owners so if something happens, like the owner moves out, they get get upset and pee on the floor. A calming pheremone like Feliway may help.

Is there any way you can have the cat live with you in a studio? Cats don't need much horizontal space as long as they have plenty of vertical space such as a cat tree.

You might be able to find a used but still working self cleaning box on eBay or Craigslist or FreeCyclce for pretty cheap. Scooping a regular litter box is not a big deal at all and takes less than minute to do at least once a day. What is it about cleaning regular litter boxes are your parents averse to? Looking at (and smelling) pieces of poop and clumps of litter is kind of disgusting but so is changing a baby's diaper and most parents get over that pretty quickly. I'm sure your parent's didn't balk at changing your diaper when you were a baby
If your parents don't want or can't kneel on the floor to scoop a box, elevate the box onto something sturdy.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

lovemygraytabby

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Mar 9, 2015
Messages
7
Purraise
1
My dad doesnt really do anything to help around the house, so that is out lol. My mom still brings up the fact that she "didnt even want the cat" and makes me feel guilty about pressuring her for a kitten when I was 7-years old. And she just hates liter boxes in general and doesnt like scooping them. I dont really see the big deal, but it is to her. 

I had considered two options with the liter box: 1. Its broken or something wasnt installed correctly (because it is a new one -- and she starting going outside after the first one broke and then continued even after we replaced it) but I cant find any problems....or 2. She is urinating more than usual, causing it to get dirty fast. The vet took a look at her and said she looks fine, urine and blood were okay but could do an x-ray which we cant afford. She said she thinks its just an old age thing though, and she is getting picky. 

As for my parents, I know the solutions they are considering is bad for her and that is why I am desperatly searching for a new option. GRR too stressful!
 

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,730
Purraise
28,024
Location
In the kitchen
Does your apartment complex not allow pets? If they do, go get her. You can work it out. Yes, you can. I know that studio apartments are small. It will still be OK. I know you have a baby on the way. It will be OK....you shouldn't handle used cat litter while you're pregnant, but your husband can scoop/clean while you're pregnant, then you take over again after Baby is here. 

It really sounds like your cat is missing you. Take her home. Your parents cannot throw a 13-year old cat outside. I'm sorry....that's not right. 
 

Kat0121

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Messages
15,036
Purraise
20,363
Location
Sunny Florida
 
I think that might be the problem. Your cat is upset about your moving out and not taking her with you. Were you here main caregiver? Some cats do get attached to their owners so if something happens, like the owner moves out, they get get upset and pee on the floor. A calming pheremone like Feliway may help.

Is there any way you can have the cat live with you in a studio? Cats don't need much horizontal space as long as they have plenty of vertical space such as a cat tree.

You might be able to find a used but still working self cleaning box on eBay or Craigslist or FreeCyclce for pretty cheap. Scooping a regular litter box is not a big deal at all and takes less than minute to do at least once a day. What is it about cleaning regular litter boxes are your parents averse to? Looking at (and smelling) pieces of poop and clumps of litter is kind of disgusting but so is changing a baby's diaper and most parents get over that pretty quickly. I'm sure your parent's didn't balk at changing your diaper when you were a baby
If your parents don't want or can't kneel on the floor to scoop a box, elevate the box onto something sturdy.
That was the first thing I thought of as well. The cat's upset that you left. I agree that Feliway could help.

Nobody LIKES scooping litter boxes but it comes with the territory. When I got the girls, I bought the Omega Paw litter box that you roll and the waste gets separated from the clean litter in a tray and you pull that out and dump it but I found that it wasted a lot of litter so now I just scoop it like the rest of the boxes. If I had the money, I'd get a few Litter Robots. They do sell them refurbished on occasion but they are very expensive. Is the self cleaning box not there anymore?

I'd rather scoop 10 boxes than change a baby's diaper..


I really think that the cat is more upset about you being gone than anything else. I do agree that cleaning the floor with an enzymatic cleaning solution like Nature's Miracle would help.  If you are able to take the cat with you and get her a cat tree or something like that so she has her own space, that would help.
 

crazy4strays

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 4, 2015
Messages
1,468
Purraise
306
Location
East Tennesee
How many square feet is your new apartment?

I have two cats and live in an 858 square foot house. (along with my 3 children and my husband) It's not much space, but we manage.

The cat will not be very likely to be considered adoptable at a shelter. 

I ran into a similar situation this spring. My mother-in-law passed away a few months ago and her elderly kitty (approx. 14 years old) started having increasing problems with litterbox use and health. My husband used to live in the house with the kitty, when he still lived at home, so the kitty wasn't a stranger to us at all.

My FIL was at his wit's end and was about ready to abandon the cat, take him to a shelter, or put him outside full time. We took the kitty and with some patience, diet changes, and veterinary attention, he's doing so much better.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

lovemygraytabby

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Mar 9, 2015
Messages
7
Purraise
1
Unfortunately, I cannot take her with me. But I am only a block away and visit nearly every day.

I am becoming more suspicious that I bought a faulty self-cleaning box. It seems to be scooping up all the clean liter along with the dirty, and making her box almost empty and she is basically peeing in a empty box (no liter) after only a few days. 

Very frustrated though because these things are so expensive, but I think I will have to try to buy another one. Will get a different brand this time and see how it works. WISH ME LUCK!
 

crazy4strays

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 4, 2015
Messages
1,468
Purraise
306
Location
East Tennesee
I think that the best bet is to get a regular cheap litter box, put the Cat Attract litter in it, and scoop it 2x a day. That's hard, though, if the cat guardians aren't willing to scoop it, though.
 

momto3cats

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
1,143
Purraise
131
Location
TX
Did it come with a warranty? You might be able to get a replacement if it's faulty.
 
Top