Crated cat not using tray post-surgery

[Cosmic76]

Hi guys! My poor little lad has had surgery to pin his pelvis and his put his leg in an external fixator after an RTA. He's 5 days post-surgery and doing very well, all things considered. He is not very mobile but manages to wobble over to his food and he can just about squat for his toileting.

I expect I'm expecting too much too soon, but he doesn't appear to want to use his litter tray. I have provided him with a normal dinner tray (height is less than 2cm) with a layer of litter to use as a toilet, but he is finding spots on his bed to wee/poo. The cleaning up is not an issue at all, but I will have to go back to work soon with people checking in on him and I don't want him to be sitting in his wee/poo for very long, I'm here for the next few days and watch him constantly so can do a quick change whenever he goes, but I don't want him to be uncomfortable while I'm gone. I do have a vet blanket which they gave me to borrow and it's very good at wicking away wee, but the poo is going to be an issue... does anyone have any advice?

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

I might recommend using puppy pee pads within the litterbox itself. He is probably feeling like the "shifting sands" of the litter is hard to manage with his legs and pelvis -- something more stable, like pee pad or even a cut-up blanket or towel, within the box might serve well for a week or so, until his leg &C are stronger. If he has that more stable feeling in the low-cut box you have for him, he might reserve his bedding just for sleeping and recovery, and not pee/poo.

 

[Cosmic76]

I can't believe that didn't occur to me, of course you are right! He's rickety at best! I think that's a great idea, thank you, I'm going to lay some kitchen roll down, the pee pads are a bit slidey as well and he still wants to "dig" and the pee pads just end up flinging off.. thank you so much for that flash of brilliance! Fingers crossed...

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

C Cosmic76
Maybe you could use a few medium-to-large binder clips to hold a pee pad in place, so it doesn't slide when he "digs"? (Just a few clips only, or they'll get in his way.) They might just fit over the height of your temporary litterbox.

I'm wishing all the best for your cat (and you!) -- hope he has a good recovery! A handful of years ago, I had to crate my cat post- knee surgeries. Eight weeks for each knee; the two surgeries were one year apart! She did okay with her litterbox, no need for pee pads or the like. But we were always cleaning her litterbox!

 

[fionasmom]

Definitely give the pee pads, or an alternative disposable product, a try. I did this long term with a diabetic cat who had neuropathy and could not even start to use any litter box. I kept the pee pads on top of her beds (she had two in the same room), so they were easily removed. It became very routine with her; anyone taking care of your boy for you can certainly remove and dispose of a pad of some kind. I hope there is a quick recovery.