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May 30, 2007 at 9:27 pm #20128imported_LUCY9762Participant
I HAVE READ ALL THE POSTINGS ABOUT THIS SUBJECT BUT IT ALL TALKS ABOUT IF U HAVE MORE THAN ONE CAT. WHAT DO U DO IF U ONLY HAVE ONE CAT WITH NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT REFUSES TO USE THE LITTER BOX ANYMORE???
June 15, 2007 at 10:17 pm #21510AnonymousI am going to say that it may be due to the health issue…have you had a urine test done?
July 27, 2007 at 1:30 pm #21560AnonymousI have had this problem, too. I chalked it up to old age… we used to kid about her having ‘kitty alzheimer’s’, but I’m not sure that was too far off. It seemed like she simply forgot where the box was or that she was supposed to use it. But she’d also look at her food dish the same way sometimes. It was pretty hard for her last 8 or 9 months.
Sorry, can’t be more helpful… but I do understand how hard it is!
August 30, 2008 at 3:44 pm #21702imported_annalitchkaParticipantOlder cats very often have urinary problems. I used to think my old cat was “forgetting” as you said. Now I have learned that when a cat uses the litterbox and it HURTS, as it would for a bladder infection, urinary obstruction, etc., the cat associates the litterbox with the hurting, so avoids it. Makes sense, no?
MOST older cats get kidney failure. They drink a lot and pee a lot…. it means the kidneys are only partly functioning, not doing their full job. The cat gets dehydrated, because the kidneys aren't returning enough fluid back to the tissues. Subcutaneous fluids — which sound difficult and scary — are really lifesavers for these cats. And really, REALLY, it's not that hard and not that big of a deal. I've been doing subQ every day since last November, and my 16-year-old Jake is very used to it now. His kidneys don't work well, but the subQ fluids really help him feel better. To me, if he is purring every day, eats well, and can sleep hard and happily, that means he is feeling pretty well — so far!
September 4, 2008 at 3:42 am #21709imported_refuge821ParticipantThere's a website of a girl I know that is excellent with behavior problems in pets. She writes a local newspaper column. Check out her website for info on this topic:
November 4, 2008 at 5:11 am #21754imported_hknisleyParticipantI'm having a similar problem with my elderly cat. She hangs out within about a 12 foot radius of what she considers “her spot.” So I moved the cat box closer to her domain. lol I've taken the lid off because I don't think she likes it. I try to keep the box cleaned out, because she doesn't like it dirty either. But she STILL keeps peeing on the floor in front of the box. Sometimes when I watch her, I notice her backing up to the side of the box. Now if she were doing this on a cold surface I would think she probably had an infection, but the plastic box? It's so frustrating and she's ruining the hardwood floor that's been just fine without her for 90 years!
Oh yeah, and I tried puting newspaper down, but the pee just ran off it. I could by puppy pads, but I really can't afford them.
By the way, I had another cat the same age who went to live under a dresser and started going to the bathroom there. It turned out that her nervous system was deteriorating. I didn't realize, but my vet noticed it eventually.
Heather
November 4, 2008 at 11:28 am #21755imported_RobinSParticipantI have an elderly dog and I got puppy pads for dirt cheap on ebay….I got 300 of them for 35 dollars. How about giving her a deeper litter box?
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