On temporary visit - won't potty

We just learned that the cause of some long-standing symptoms I've been experiencing and likely the respiratory issues my two 12-year-old littermate cats have been exhibiting are due to a horrible mold problem in our apartment. The mold remediation process happened today, but some residual chemical odors (as well as my nervousness to return) have caused my husband and I to leave this afternoon to stay with the cats in a small room across town at my grandmother's. (Yes, the mold fiasco alarms me. Yes, I'm extremely concerned for all of us. I've barely slept all week. But my primary concern tonight is the immediate.)

Both cats are 100% indoors and very frightened of new places. We've been away from the apartment (and regular litterbox) for almost 11 hours. We had a vet appointment this morning (we're frequent flyers there with L's lupus-y condition and G's asthma and polycystic organ syndrome.) G received some sub-q fluids for his polycystic issues and, much to their disappointment, we went to my grandmother's, not home.

Obviously they're unsettled and confused.The room is small, but moving out of it scares them, so that's fine. I'm even just sitting here with them since me leaving the small room seems to upset them more.

The issue is that neither of them has gone to the litterbox (different design, same litter brand) I have over here. They go multiple times a day at home, so they're way overdue. I'm especially concerned for G who had the sub-q earlier this morning. All that hydration kicking around in him this long and moving through only to be held in can't be good.

They know the box is there, but no one's going. They'll eat, snuggle, (look at me as if I've horribly betrayed them), but no tinkles.

At what point should I be worried? What else should I do? If I leave the room to give them privacy, they get upset, and if I stay...more nothing.

(Can you tell it's been a stressful week for us all?)

Hello @HoosierCatLady.  I'm so sorry it's take a while for an answer to your problem.  I'm wondering whether things are better?

Thanks for the reply. It was a long weekend. Wow. Yes, finally, they both started using the box -- and using it, and using it... We did have to move to the larger, less cat-friendly guest bedroom though as that kitty litter dust kicking up was sticking in my throat and watering my eyes.

While we did make our way back to our apartment yesterday, it appears we may end up back there on a more ongoing basis as the mold remediation didn't seem to correct the problem. 

We'll likely be looking for another living situation, and I'm so grateful we can keep them at my grandmother's in the meantime (who bless her heart, allergic though she is, is allowing this more or less carte blanche, as long as they stay out of her main living space), but there are some nuances that are going to add some complications to it.

Actually, I think I'm going to open up an inquiry about this in another thread. I'd love some brainstorming input on managing special needs (one asthmatic, one lupus, both highly-emotionally-sensitive/bonded to us and our current mold-incubating apartment) senior cats in a semi-permanent new environment. This whole situation is a series of considering lesser evils...

Would that post be something best suited for the Behavior or Health boards?

 
Actually, I think I'm going to open up an inquiry about this in another thread. I'd love some brainstorming input on managing special needs (one asthmatic, one lupus, both highly-emotionally-sensitive/bonded to us and our current mold-incubating apartment) senior cats in a semi-permanent new environment. This whole situation is a series of considering lesser evils...

Would that post be something best suited for the Behavior or Health boards?

Click to expand...

I think I'd go for health on that one, @HoosierCatLady but it's difficult as the two so often go together.