The problem with Frissy.
We've had an ongoing battle with my eldest cat Iris over improper elimination. She likes to go on the floor, instead of in a litter box. I've tried everything I can think of- cleaning the messed area with enzymatic cleansers, trying differently sized litter boxes, different litter types, automatic litter boxes, boxes with just papertowels (That smell like her "spot) in them, boxes in different areas. I'm running out of ideas. Mike is running out of patience. She has now ruined 4 floor boards of our new laminate kitchen floor. It isn't a very sanitary situation either, as dookie ends up in weird places and I don't always see it to pick it up right away.  (Pip manages to find it before me some days... BLECK!  ) We have at least managed to contain it to the kitchen and bathtub room areas now.
I NEED to stop this behavior, RIGHT NOW. She's an old girl, over 10 now. The problem has been going on for several years. I've been trying and trying to think of something to fix it forever. I just can't seem to come up with something that works. each kitty girl has their own litter box, in their own spot. Iris' gets used SOMETIMES. Not always though, and not just by her. Please help me with my diva girl! |
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| When my friend was having this problem, every website said it was the the things you have already tried to change or it's a common way of a cat telling you its sick.
If it's been ongoing for a few years though, maybe not. Sounds like it's an age thing??? Can you just lock Iris in a room? Chloe, my oldest cat, lived with my in a very time room for over a year, and she is fine. She will spend the next 6 days locked up with KoKo (there will be tons of fights!) because I have to babysit someone's dog (the german shepard mix I recently posted about). I seem to be able to trust KoKo now to do her business in her litterbox, but she spent a lot of her time here (since June) in the bedroom or locked in the bathroom. She may have hated it, but it fixed the problem! |
The last time I locked her in a room all day she FREAKED. She clawed up the flooring, clawed up the door, knocked stuff over, soiled herself. It was so traumatic, I REALLY don't want to have to do that. She does stay in the kitchen (and open bathrooms in that area) all day. She only really ventures out of that area when Pip goes to bed. So she is "restrained" in that one area of the house. It isn't the same as being locked in one small area though, I know. We have had this problem since we adopted a shelter cat that had an elimination issue many years ago. It was very traumatic for Iris, as the feline personalities didn't mesh at all, and that cat made Iris miserable every day. We ended up giving her to a friend who adored her, and everyone was much happier  I don't think it is a medical issue, so much as it is a behavioral issue. She is SURE the floor is an appropriate potty spot, and I've gotta figure out how to talk her out of it. |
| Check out some of the cat forums.
Usually they will recommend a vet appt to rule out a physical cause. Stress can be a huge factor also. Changes like this are not random, it is a sign there is something going on that you have to figure out. |
| I had the exact same problem a couple years back with our cat. The culprit was hyperthyroid disease & now he gets a pill everyday. Cleared everthing right up. Hyperthyroid effects behavior. Very common in older cats. Definitely get to the vet to get some bloodwork/ or urine anaylsis done. Might also be kidney infection or something. |
Iriskmj wrote: ......She is SURE the floor is an appropriate potty spot, and I've gotta figure out how to talk her out of it.
If its the floor he wants, give it to her. Try putting a piece of wood in the litter box with very little kitty litter. Put some of her potty in it, then her. Let her check "sniff" it out. Try to use her paws to cover it. 
You mentioned her age. Does she still climb? If not, maybe its a matter of pain in her hips getting in and out of the box, so she doesn't??? How's her vision? She's been there long enough to know the paths she takes to get around in the house, but if you move the box around, change the scent, etc.... maybe????? she's confused about where her box is. Does she usually go around the area she went in before you started having the problem? If the other cat you had gave her problems around the litter box, maybe she's attached some sort of connection to that and fear of the box. Maybe it would help to put another kitty's potty scent in the box? Maybe she'd want to go there to cover it with her scent??? Of course, you'd want to make sure there's nothing wrong with the other kitty.
Good luck! Pam |
| Really the only way I've been successful with this problem is to confine the cat to a smaller rom, like a bathroom or small bedroom, for a week or two. It really does work....
You can give her Rescue Remedy during this time to ease her anxiety about being confined. 10 is not that old for a cat really...most cats I've had have lived to be in their late teens and twenties. A low ash cat food might help too if she has any urinary crystals forming. Even just sediment that hasn't quite gotten to the crystals stage can cause irritation, and improper urination. Some cats just do that though... |
| Thanks for all your input. Maybe I haven't been clear. This IS NOT a change in behavior. This behavior has been ongoing for probably 6 years now. The problem is that hubby's patience with the situation after she wrecked the new floor is gone. Her vision and health are fabulous. While she is a little quieter then she was when she was younger, she still runs, jumps, climbs, and plays with the best of them.
I will mention her behavior the next time I go in. Like I said, I beleive this is a set behavior that I have to "reprogram" rather then anything medically wrong that has recently cropped up. Although she has never had a thyroid check, so I will mention that to the vet. Thanks for the idea about flooring in the kitty box- we tried that with carpet once, with only mediocre success. The laminate might work better... I'll discuss the small room idea with Mike. I'm still hesitant, as our bathroom is VERY small, although that flooring is certainly the most disposable. Even with the rescue rememdy, she was so traumatized... I'll have to give that some thought. Marianne, you've worked with a lot of rescue kitties... any ideas? |
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