Pelican Braintrust: Are there any thoughts on re-potty training a cat

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

I have a 14 year old calico who seems to have forgotten how to use the litter box. We also have a 4 year old white short hair male alley cat my Wife saved from the middle of the highway when he was about five or six weeks old.

There are four litter boxes for these two heathens to use, the boxes are cleaned four times a week. Fresh litter is added after old litter is taken away. Boxes are cleaned regularly.

14 year old hates everyone but me.

Younger cat uses all litter boxes, never any issues. He is stinky but seems to favor one box for that option.

starting this year the older cat will urinate in the boxes but will leave manure in front of the washing machine (I do the laundry). She will wait until I am gone for work and leave a "present" for Wife to find.

She has been checked and has nothing medically wrong with her. She has a good diet with grain free kibble and wet cat-food. Pate' does not stay down her, she will donate it back up. Given the option to eat alot of food she will gorge and donate back in short order so we have to keep her available intake down.

Cat is a good weight and is very small framed at about five pounds. She was stunted when found by our old Terrier and has never grown much.

We have stuck her nose in it and have a kennel for her to stay in for days at a time. After a stint in jail she can easily remember to use the litter boxes. Three days in jail, four days of freedom and she starts the cycle over again.

Any thoughts? Wife is voting for a life outdoors but she is declawed and NEVER was predator savvey.

The boy is oblivious to all and only wants to play and snuggle. I think the older cat hates the younger one and does not like have Wife around.

Any good options for us to try? Wife was not happy camper this morning (think German/Scotts/Cherokee redhead on warpath). I'm hoping it is safe to go home tonight

[Rodsrsr]

Sticking her nose in the poop and locking her up for days is something we did back in the 60's and unintentionally cruel. The cat isnt doing this on purpose. He's probably just old, and yes he wont have the survival skills, weapons or savoy to survive outdoors after living 14 years as an indoor cat.

[widebody911]

As our first black president once said, I feel your pain

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

Sticking her nose in the poop and locking her up for days is something we did back in the 60's and unintentionally cruel. The cat isn't doing this on purpose. He's probably just old, and yes he wont have the survival skills, weapons or savoy to survive outdoors after living 14 years as an indoor cat.

What he said times ten thousand...

You cannot force a cat to do anything...

Have you ever seen "my cat from hell" on animal planet? You should, I agree the old cat is probably jealous of the new cat.

My family has always had cats, and I have had cats my whole life and I love them as pets.

There are organizations that take in unwanted cats and find them new homes, you may want to look into that.

I love cats so please don't torture the poor thing by "punishing" it or throwing it outdoors to be eaten by a wild animal... at that point more human to go to the vet and have it put down.

Just my two cents.

[enzo1]

[t-tom]

Something has changed in its day to day life. My cat was 16 when I tried to change his litter to a different brand. He wouldn't use it. the other cat is not the problem if he's been there for 3 to 4 years. Your kitty is trying to tell you something you just have to figure out what it is.

[red-beard]

Cats are instinctive about the bathroom. They normally go to the edge of their territory and do their business. It marks the boundary and they generally do not like to cross it. They are also "uncomfortable" in that area as it is the "edge of the world".

A cat that is litter trained that starts doing it elsewhere, usually has bathroom problem. It may be painful to do what they are doing. So they learn that it hurts if I do this "here". They then avoid the spot and go elsewhere.

Talk to the vet. See if they think the cat may be having "pooping" problems. And if they can't help, I'd get help from the moderators. They're poopy-heads so they know something about this.

[matt f]

In a multiple cat household, dominance may switch as your once dominant cat gets older.
The younger, now dominant cat may be guarding the boxes and not allowing the old cat the time or comfort zone to poop.

[nota]

put the box where the cat goes now

then move it a little to a place you like better

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by t-tom

Your kitty is trying to tell you something you just have to figure out what it is.

^^^ This^^^

You can't go all alpha male and try to bend a cat to your will... they are not... well.. dogs in that respect.

You have to out think them and get them to think what you want them to do is their idea.

I have been raising cats for decades and have had very little potty problems... and when we did have problems it was usually psychological... like when I use to go out of town on business trips my little boy cat who was very well litter trained would leave a little present in my bedroom.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by t-tom

Something has changed in its day to day life. My cat was 16 when I tried to change his litter to a different brand. He wouldn't use it. the other cat is not the problem if he's been there for 3 to 4 years. Your kitty is trying to tell you something you just have to figure out what it is.

I agree with this, try to figure out what's changed. Good luck!

[WolfeMacleod]

We've been having a similar issue with an old cat as well. SHe's about 14, maybe 15 years old, and blind.

One day she stopped using the box for most of her biz. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Now he have some dark stains in hardwood floors that we need to have fixed before we move out.
The entire room is now covered with plastic sheeting.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Same litter as for years. I changed it once before with immediate negative impact. Switched back and things immediately improved.

Medical was ruled out by vet soon after this started. Poop is "normal" in color and consistency. Diet is varied and good quality. Cat drinks adequately but it would be better if she drank more.

Both cats were rescued. Younger cat was, literally, in the middle of the highway when Wife stopped and picked him up. Brought him home so he would at least be confortable until he died. Damaged spine with no movement in his rear end. He has greatly improved but is not as active as a normal 4 year old cat and still has a bump in his spine.

Older cat is alpha but she is not the domineering alpha she once was.

The boxes are in different locations within the house. Male does not stay near the boxes. I have moved one box in front of the washer now. Will see if that helps!

Diet is still the same. Only event I can remember from the time frame where the potty issues started is our older dog REALLY slowed down. She is no longer the driving force of power she was last year. We got a youngish (turning 4 soon) dog (another Belgian) but that was after the potty issues started. New dog ignores the old cat and plays touch and groom with the younger cat.

We have been trying to figure out what has changed in our lives during the timeframe in question. Cannot settle on anything other than the older dog announcing retirement.

We are showing the farm and it is really an issue to have prospective buyers show up and find kitty poop on the floor. This will all likely change soon if I really do get the transfer promised so long ago and move in a few weeks.

[stomachmonkey]

Could be stress related.

You are showing the house for sale. Has there been more activity due to getting the place ready to show/list?

Had a similar long term intermittent issue with one of ours.

Tried everything under the sun.

Then she went deaf and it all stopped.

We figured out she was no longer freaked out by all the noise and activity from the other pets and the children.

[fanaudical]

If you haven't already, try isolating your cat in one room for a few days with a fresh litter box and some extra attention. This should answer the question regarding interference from the younger cat.