New cat litter box problems!!!

echeloncake

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I'm desperate for help and don't know what to do! We recently took in a cat that has been hanging around for quite a few months. Took him to the vet and found he was fixed and front declawed. He's estimated to be around 5 or 7 years old. So we're assuming he used to be someone's pet. However, we are the owners of two other cats and at first we kept him isolated until we brought him back to health, but now he stays isolated when we're not home because he WILL NOT take to the boxes! In his room, we have two separate boxes. One unscented, the other scented. Now, he will usually pee in the boxes. But if we try to introduce something new in the room, he will ALWAYS pee on it. And he NEVER poops in the boxes! It's always on the floor! And we have tried EVERYTHING! He has the two boxes, we've put foil down on problem areas and HES PEED ON THE FOIL, we've tried moving his food and water bowls over areas, no luck. We have now put a plastic shower curtain on the bed in the room cause he keeps trying to pee on it and he now will occasionally pee on the shower curtain. We've done litter attract stuff, and we had his anal glands squeezed at the vet. We don't know what else to do and clearly can't just cast him back out since he's declawed. I just need to get him litter box trained so he can be free to roam with our other two cats!
 

Mamanyt1953

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That "declawed" may be the whole, entire issue.  Try going to something that has a very fine, soft texture.  I'll bet he has chronic pain in those paws, and a "sandy," cushy litter might make the difference.  People just have no clue what declawing does to a cat.  I imagine they did it and suddenly he wouldn't use the box, and instead of figuring out that it HURT him, they just dumped him.  Bless you for taking this guy in.
 
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echeloncake

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That "declawed" may be the whole, entire issue.  Try going to something that has a very fine, soft texture.  I'll bet he has chronic pain in those paws, and a "sandy," cushy litter might make the difference.  People just have no clue what declawing does to a cat.  I imagine they did it and suddenly he wouldn't use the box, and instead of figuring out that it HURT him, they just dumped him.  Bless you for taking this guy in.
I will definitely try that! Any suggestions on brands? Would bedding that people usually get for rabbits and what not work as a liter? I have wondered about the pain in his paws cause he's ALWAYS kneading! When the vet told us he was declawed I got really emotional and angry cause he was outside with no defense!
 

Mamanyt1953

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Actually, if you google "what litter is best for declawed cats" you will get a BUNCH of ideas, and links to at least three threads and articles here on TCS!  I did it right after I answered you, then lost my connection and couldn't get back online for two hours.
 
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