So I need some ideas. Little Anakin has been really good about pooping in his
litter box BUT does not pee in it regularly. I would say he pees in it about 50%
of the time. The rest of the time he prefers to pee on his bedding. I took all
the bedding out for a little while just to see if he would go in the litter box.
Instead he peed on his toys & in his box I gave him too. I would say he did
pee in the litter box more without the bedding in there. Probably about 80% of
the time & 20% on the toys. He's making a lot of laundry for me. I've washed
all of his bedding in an enzyme cleaner & let is soak. It makes no
difference. He still wants to pee on it. I've brought in fresh never peed on
bedding & he still pees on them too.... A brand new kitty bed yesterday
& he peed on it last night while his little box is perfectly clean. The
litter box is always clean. I clean it twice a day sometimes more & as soon
as he poops in it I clean it unless I'm a sleep for the night. He does not have
a UTI. So I’m open to suggestions? Any ideas? What has worked for you with your
cats with pee issues?
UPDATE: The litter box Anakin currently has is only his box & it is a shallow box so he can get in & out easily. It is in the hall bathroom where he sleeps at night. He can go in & out of the bathroom all day. We have tried a number of different litters. He does not like the corn litter or anything with a perfume like smell. He had been doing pretty well with what we are using now but has gone backwards a little now. Right now his litter is a scoopable clay unsented mixed with the small pellet Yesterday's News. I try and keep the pellets on the top so the clay litter doesn't stick to him. He won't pee in the box at all without the clay litter in there. I guess the newspaper litter doesn't soak up the pee fast enough for him. Anakin's bedding is away from the littler box but since the bathroom is small they are still within a few feet of each other. There is really nothing I can do to change that right now. I will also go back to not leaving him any bedding for a little while or soft toys and see if he goes back to the box. This did help before but like I said he's gone backwards some now. I really don't want to go the Pee pad route if I can help it but will if I can't get anything else to work. He is not neutered yet but will be as soon as he is of proper age. This has been an ongoing problem since I first rescued Anakin. This is not a new problem. I originally thought it was just inmature kitten behavior. Like waiting to long to go to the litter box or just not knowing any better. But now I feel it is something more since it hasn't resolved or gotten better. I have made a list from everyone's suggestions and will start trying them out. Number on on the list, I just added a second litter box for him just like the first and will see how that goes. No the boxes do not have lids & yes they are both easy for him to get in & out of. Also Ani has been checked for a UTI & doesn't have one. He is getting enough water because I mix water in with his food at each of his meal times. I am trying another box first & will probably try the Cat Attract next. Thank you for all the great suggestions. I'm making a list & will just start trying them all and hopefully something will click! I will keep you all posted. Thank you so much for all of your help! :)
Meet Anakin! Ani is a two legged cat, born without a pelvis or back legs but that doesn't stop him. He is full of love & life! My family and I rescued Anakin and I am caring for him. My family and I are lifelong animal lovers and will give Ani the absolute best possible home, love and care. I post updates, photos and videos of Anakin on his website, Facebook page, Twitter, YouTube and other online sites.
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I wonder if you got another cat to pee in the litter tray, Ani would try and cover the smell with his own? Or maybe changing the litter to another type? It could be that, with no back legs, his bum needs to feel something soft underneath in order to pee.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your suggestions :) I could try getting Trixie to go in there if the second box doesn't help. I'm going to look into finding a soft litter that won;t stick to him. If nothing works I'll try the pee pads.
DeleteWhat about, having no pelvis, perhaps sometimes this is stress incontinence...doesn't realize he is peeing..perhaps has what in people is called a neurogenic bladder, meaning he leaks?
DeleteSomeone experienced with animals suggested this to me:
ReplyDelete"It could be due to having more traction/leverage while balancing on the bedding and toys than in the litter box. Maybe a smaller one would work, or put something in it he can lean against while peeing."
I'm waiting for a vet I know to respond to me as well.
Good luck and please keep us updated. :)
Thank you for your help. I've added a second box and one box is next to the wall so I guess he could lean on the wall if he wanted to. I added an update to the origianl post with more info too.
DeleteIt sounds as if he's become used to using the absorptive pads because he stays cleaner that way. The litter is more messy for him when he urinates which would be esp. true with clumping, cellulose or clay litters. He wants to be held above and out of the urine as he urinates. I can't blame him.
ReplyDeleteMaybe try a grate above the litter or resign to using pads in his pee box.
Thanks for your suggestion. I think he does like the softness, I have the yesterdays news litter over the clay to keep him dryer and to keep the clay litter from sticking but maybe it isn't working well enough for him? He doesn't get much if any litter stuck to heslef so i don't know. I added an update to the origianl post with more info too.
DeleteIt could be that it is a lot of "work" to get up when sleepy, to "walk" to the box..which if I sit in it Mom, it feels rough and uncomfortable compared to a cloth blanket or bed...This may be something that will take adjustment on your part...
ReplyDeleteMaybe :/ He does seem to like soft things much better. If the second box doesn't work and a few other things I'll try the pee pads. I added an update to the origianl post with more info too.
DeleteCarrie,
ReplyDeleteI have 4 cats and at times I've had more (12),I have had cats for over 25 years, my first suggestion is change the type of litter you have in the boxes, some cats prefer the tiny grains and some prefer the larger grains, The best I have found is Fresh Step, it is real fine and feels better on their feet. The other could be get new boxes,(the Dollar Stores have them for $2.50 or so) I get mine at The Family Dollar, much cheaper that Wally world or pet stores.
It could be because hes a male and there are other cats in the house OR the dog could be scareing him, as a ferel he may have had run ins with dogs, and the last thing I can think of is when he was ferel he pee'd anywhere he wanted, and he doesn't understand that inside is not ouside yet.
I know you may not want to scold him, but if you can catch him in the act,give him a light swat with a rolled up newspaper/magazine or hit you hand with it the noise is scary to them,and very sternly say "NO, bad boy" and put him in the litter box.
Thats all I got, maybe someone else has some other ideas...I think its just a learning process, He hasn't got it in his little brain yet. One last suggestion, go to Goodwill and get some old towels for bedding until he understands, you can throw them away, after a couple of accidents.
Last of all it could be somekind of bladder problem, but I don't think so. Good Luck!
deb
Hi Deb :) Thank you for your suggestions. I've tried a bunch of different litters and what I'm using now was working pretty well. He doesn't like anything that has a perfumey smell. His box was a brand new box. I can get new boxes if it may help. Right now, I've added a second box and will see how it goes. He is the only cat using those boxes in that bathroom and the dog doesn't mess with him. I have caught him peeing on his bed & told him no and put him in the litter box. I don't think it made an impression. I may end up with pee pads in a litterbox as a last resort but I've got some thing to try now first. I added an update to the origianl post with more info too.
DeleteMy cats are fond of bleaching water. I guess it is the same for every cats. I have always heard that you mustn't use bleaching water to clean a place where a cat peed or he should come back and pee there again. So why don't you use bleaching water to clean Ani's litter box or just pour a little in it ? Are you sure he hasn't got any renal troubles ? What is a UTI ? Urinary trouble ? Well I am French and I am not used to abbreviations. One of my old cats had renal troubles and peed every where as well as in her litter box. I know it is a lot of work for you and much trouble for Ani too. I hope my suggestion should help you. I also hope you will receive many good suggestions or ideas to help you.
ReplyDeleteAni's French friend
Nareno
Hi Nareno :) Thank you for your suggestions. Right now, I've added a second box and will see how it goes. I will look into bleaching water. I haven't heard of that. Yes a UTI would be Urinary trouble. I added an update to the origianl post with more info too.
DeleteI had the same problem with my cats until I teached them to use the backyard to pee or to poop :)
ReplyDeleteJust put a cat-door on your door so he can go out or sterilized him, that worked on my cats too, because I have 2 males and 2 females, so the Vet told me they were marking territory that way.
Thank you for your help. I can't let Anakin outside. He is strictly an indoor cat. Howevr my other cat George is both indoor/outdoor. He was used to being outside when i rescued him at about 9 months old. He was horrible in the house, peed on & makred everything. he was angry and mean to my other girl cats because he wanted to be outside. So he goes out during the day and is much happier.
DeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteWhite vinegar remove the smell better, perhaps you should try and wash with that. You need to show him regularly where to go (pick him up and put him in his litter).
Also he might not like the type of litter ? You should try different type / style.
Good luck! I know it's not easy. You are doing a great job with Anakin!
Hi Valerie :) Thank you for your suggestions. I've tried a bunch of different litters and what I'm using now was working pretty well. He doesn't like anything that has a perfumey smell. His box was a brand new box. I can get new boxes if it may help. Right now, I've added a second box and will see how it goes. I have caught him peeing on his bed & told him no and put him in the litter box. I don't think it made an impression. I may end up with pee pads in a litterbox as a last resort but I've got some thing to try now first. I added an update to the origianl post with more info too.
DeleteWe have lots of cats and got a little female kitten called MooMoo along with her sister MiMi and Moo went through a phase of peeing on everything, especially OUR bed. I would be sat there on it and Moo would jump up, squat and pee without a care in the world completely ignoring me. She had also been peeing in her little bed and her kitty climber. I think its an anxiety/dominance issue where Anakin is laying claim to those things he loves the most and feels comfortable in. Sadly I have no advice but Moo stopped doing her business on the bed after a few weeks fortunately, I was thinking about trying a product called Feliway, perhaps that may help.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your suggestions. I have used the feliway before and I think I still have some of the spry. I will try that in Ani's bathroom. Right now, I've added a second box and will see how it goes. I may end up with pee pads in a litterbox as a last resort but I've got some thing to try now first. I added an update to the origianl post with more info too.
DeleteI have a male cat that does the same thing. The plug in Feliway dispenser helps. My cat seems to do it more often when he's feeling stressed. I've had to give up fostering kittens, because it got so bad. Males do it to show that this stuff belongs to them. Also, the shape of the litter box or whether it is covered or uncovered can make a distance. They are picky little creatures, God bless them. I also tried "Rescue Remedy" which seemed to help, but you should talk to your vet first. As someone mentioned, I've also heard about the bleach smell attracting them to urinate.
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI think you could try to put the absorptive pads next to bedding. It doesn't have to be right next to it, but close enough. Thus he doesn't have to move so much to the litter box. Once he learns about the absorptive pads, he can pee on it and realizes it's much comfortable. He doesn't wet his bedding and toys, and Mommy doesn't have to wash them so often. One of my cats used to pee outside the boxes (we had enough boxes here and there), and I used the absorptive pads. It seemed that he liked it (he didn't have to dig or cover sand) and he started to pee on them. I wonder if missing the rear leggs would be a little hard for him to balance the weight. Especially when he is getting bigger. It could help him to have something aside so that he could lean on. Anyway please try the pads not too far away. Also for washing, I used to wash them with bleach and sometimes vinegar. I thought Oxygen bleach was better than Chrlorine bleach. Hope you can find out the solution soon. Please keep us informed. I love Anakin very much!
Can't believe some comments about swatting him with a newspaper and putting him outside!Surely all us cat lovers know a two legged cat can never go outside and it would only make him scared swatting him with anything!!
ReplyDeleteHey Sandra, Everyone has their own opinions don't they :/ I got some harsh comments on Ani's Facebook page too O_o I assure you I would never swat him with anything!
ReplyDeleteThat's right Carrie,not everyone thinks the same when it comes to animals and i don't think for one minute you would ever swat him!lol
ReplyDeleteI first saw Ani on facebook but i am not a member so joined his blog instead,i did read the negative comments and thought they were awful but i hope you didn't take much notice of them as these people are not animal lovers and really don't have a clue what they're talking about.
I think you are doing a wonderful job with Ani and he couldn't have found a better home.
I have a cat called Murphy,he's in the photo(not very clear)he's my world!I also keep ferrets,mainly rescues,i have two at the moment,Rosie and Pipa.
Back to Ani's pee issues...i use litter trays for my ferrets as they live in the house,they are corner trays,high at back and low at front so small ferrets can get in easily,maybe be worth trying for Ani till he gets a bit bigger,less hassle for him to climb into.
p.s..love his new kitty tower!!
Good Luck
Sandra from Scotland!
Thank you :) No, I try not to let them get to me. That's awesome that you have ferrets! I've always wants some but have always had too many cats instead LOL :)
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