Pet Lovers

[spot555]

I'm asking for a friend. She is house-bound, & has a cat with issues (long story). Btw, she's good to the kitty. My friend has serious health issues, so she needs the cat to go INSIDE a litter box. 

The cat doesn't like to use her litter box- she goes on the floor. It's been to the vet a few times, has had bladder issues, etc. Even when she feels really good, she still goes outside the box. 

I have cats, know the drill, but it's hard to explain it someone who doesn't know what to do in this situation. I'm not at her house to help, so I'm trying to do it this way.

Talking to her about the litter box type, location, or food the cat eats doesn't seem to sink in. The women thinks the cat prefers certain color litter boxes....ya, no. 

Soooo.....does this litter do a good job at enticing a cat? Btw, she hasn't been declawed. I think she's about 10-12 years old. Supposedly, she doesn't like a covered box, so she just has an open plastic pan (she's had new ones- doesn't matter). She has a favorite spot on a rug, & she pees on it every time. She also goes #2 outside the box. 

[NickNack]

@spot555  I don't know about Cat Attract, but what does your friend clean the litter box with?  Cats often don't like litter boxes cleaned with chemicals.  Soap and water is the best thing to use.

Also, she probably needs to take the cat to the Vet each time this starts happening.  I wouldn't be surprised if she has a UTI each time.  The cat should probably be on a prescription diet.

I'm sorry this is happening.  I'm sure it's very stressful for your friend.

[spot555]

I don't know what the box is cleaned with. As far as the vet goes, the women is disabled, so the cat's condition is usually advanced before she notices. Obviously a specific diet is needed, but I can only explain so much. I've dealt with cat infections, but I can't get it through the womens head how it all works. 

[JeanLouiseFinch]

@spot555  What a coincidence that you're bringing this up now since I was recently looking into it myself.  Our cat, not a year old yet, occasionally decides to deficate in our downstairs shower.  If it has to be anywhere outside the litter box, this is probably the best option but we still don't like it.  I don't know why he's doing it unless he has a really good memory because that was where we had the litter box when we first brought him home.  We kept him separated from the dog for a short period of time so they could ease into getting used to one another.  Then the litter box was moved to another location.  All seemed to be going fine and for the past month we get a surprise now and then.

What I've learned from my reading is that some cats are picky about what's in their litter box - they like it clean and they don't like scented littler.  I'm good about cleaning it everyday but have switched our brand of litter.  In looking at the Cat Attract litter on Amazon, it was over $20 for either a 40 or 45 lb. bag.  That was actually slightly cheaper than getting it a big name pet supply store.  The cheapest store brand clumping litter at the supermarket where I shop is around $10 for a big bucket.  I also found a canister of litter box attractant (mixture of assorted herbs), made by Fresh Step, that gets generously sprinkled over the litter and mixed in - it was around $6.00 and lasts through several complete litter box changes.  I'm not ready to say we're out of the woods yet (just started this about a week and a half ago), but it has helped.

ETA - if your friend's cat is going back to the same spot on the carpet all the time, it's because it hasn't been cleaned well and she can still smell it.  That's communicating to her that it's an OK place to pee.  The carpet needs thorough cleaning with an ezymatic type cleaner.  After it's dry, I'd also give it a good dousing of baking soda and let it sit there for awhile before vacuuming it it up, to get all the odor out.  

[Peaches McPhee]

Yes, it does help.  There was another thread about this just earlier today, and I recommended Cat Attract there as well.  

Our kitty had this very problem.  Once a cat goes someplace outside the box, it is very difficullt if not impossible to clean away the smell completely.  They have more powerful noses than we do.  We did all sorts of testing at the vets, including mental and physical.  Finally, we just happened to try Cat Attract.  Problem solved.

Not saying your friend will have the same experience, but I am sayiing it is worth a try.

[nomless]

I'm another yes vote for Cat Attract. No guarantees, of course, but worth trying.

[spot555]

JeanLouiseFinch. 

When I worked with a wonderful local rescue (angels!), they recommended this litter as a training tool. As a side note, they also told me a way to get a new cat to use the litter box (if they aren't getting the gist of things). If you have another cat, put a #2 in the new litter box. That worked like a charm!

Anyway, they said this litter helped with issues. As far as cleaning, I totally agree with you. But again, it isn't my cat or my house. The women sees things differently than I do. Not in a negative way, just in her way. 

I'm just trying to help from a distance. 

[spot555]

Peaches.  

I didn't see the other thread (actually I didn't look!)

That's fantastic that it worked for your kitty. I'm so happy to hear that, & I'll tell my friend. 

As far as their urine smell, yes it's ridiculous. But the woman smokes, so I'm not sure she can detect it. 

Thanks for your reply.  

[Annabellethecat66]

I've been a mom to many cats over the years.  Several of the cats just showed up at my door.  I brought some of them inside to be indoor cats.

I've never had a cat go anywhere other than in the litter box.  I agree with those who say if she uses anything with a strong smell that's probably the problem.

Here's what might have happened.  The cat may have had a bladder infection or something like that and accidentally went to the bathroom outside of the box.

Once a cat or dog goes to the bathroom in a place the smell often causes them to go to the bathroom there over and over.  

Also, make sure it is urine and not spray.  We once had a male cat that sprayed an area in the house.  He'd shown up on our back porch and we made him a house cat.  ONE TIME he sprayed inside.  We did everything to keep him from spraying again (we had him neutered) but the Vet said if they are old when you have it done, sometimes they can still spray some (and he did).

We ended up removing the carpeting and going to the subfloor and sealing it with varnish.  That took care of the problem.  It ended up being very expensive.

If it is urine your friend is going to have to make sure she cleans up every bit of the urine and the smell is totally gone.  There are some very good products on the market for this.  It she doesn't get all of it up (not just the wet) the cat will continue to pee or spray.

[NickNack]

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@spot555 wrote:

I don't know what the box is cleaned with. As far as the vet goes, the women is disabled, so the cat's condition is usually advanced before she notices. Obviously a specific diet is needed, but I can only explain so much. I've dealt with cat infections, but I can't get it through the womens head how it all works. 

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I thought maybe the woman's disability was preventing her from getting the cat to the Vet.  Unfortunately, I doubt changing the litter will help when the cat most likely has a UTI.  I'm sure this is very frustrating for you.