I think this would be an adorable story to share! I was wondering if you could send me a picture. I had bought several elsewhere 25 years ago, they are made in Canada couldnt find. Anytime a cat stops using the litter box, a trip to the veterinarian should always be your first step. If getting to the litter box requires climbing stairs, senior cats may avoid using the litter box. She gets low entry, I get high sides!! If cleaning the litter box more often doesnt help, get your cat to the vet ASAP. Please, any ideas? Your email address will not be published. Im constantly cleaning his paws of litter that gets in between his pads and sometimes his fur on his belly. Keep the box scooped out and change the litter more often and see if that helps. My boys didnt seem to mind the paper at all. https://amzn.to/2BVKBOo. Something their senior can literally walk onto. 1. Thank you for providing this information, B. Maplin! I still have the poop every morning on my floor. After an emergency trip to the vet, we found out she had irritated her spine and had arthritis where her spine connects to her hips. It doesnt clump, but I pick up the solid and change the pan every 2-3 days. We keep a pet pee pad under it as she misses sometimes and also slings litter when trying to cover. Could this be the problem? Problem solved! Cleaning up the messes your silly little kitty makes even while shes using the litter box. It worked for her because she quickly realized that she could enter at the low end, turn around and drop her brick and later she could come back and go to the other side of the low end and drop another brick, and her mom made sure to check the box frequently and remove any bricks at the entrance so that Mei Mei always had two dry spots. Great solution, Bridget, thank you for sharing! Use a utility knife to cut an opening on either the long or short end. Older cats occasionally have incontinent issues too. I use a pizza dough box that is 3 inches tall. AntheaMary, Sydney, Oz. I have a 17 year old cat who sometimes misses getting her pee in the litterbox. I place a low sided litter box on a restaurant bun pan which is quite large and can catch any misses. Yes, you do need to change your litter. We have many boxes with a variety of litters and some pee pads down too. Before getting into the best ways to use cat training pads, you should know why your cat may need them. Your email address will not be published. As a result, cat guardians often have to get creative. So for many of the posts that have this outside the box syndrome I am validating their belief that arthritis is a major part of the problem. I tried a washing machine tray that was 1.5 inches tall but it was really hard to scoop without the litter flying out of the box. In my next post Ill provide a few tips on how to train your cat to use a pee pad. While there are litter box best practices every cat owner should keep in mind, not to mention a variety of reasons why your cat may be eliminating outside of the litter box, if youre at your wits end, you may want to consider providing pee pads. Make sure you purchase trays without drain holes. Same here. Hi we have a 6 month old Ch Catwith other possibly neurological problems, Freddy went from being very mild to suddenly being unable to walk at all one day. Lately shes started popping outside the box. All I could think of (the ladies will get it) what it would be like for us if we had to squat to pee in the woods and couldnt hold ourselves up. However, for my own reasons, I will not deal with Amazon so is there another stockist you can recommend. From furniture, scratching posts, beds and toys to food dishes and litter boxes, youll find everything you need for your feline family members.View the Product Guide. I have puppy pads between the box and the tray to make cleanup easy. After that I would move the litter box as close as possible where she wants to go and also try multiple litter boxes along a path to the desired spot. Our older cat was already a senior when we adopted him, so we were aware from the beginning that a lower sided box would be helpful. Mine doesnt have holes. many other reasons for eliminating outside the box, Amazon offers a large variety of sizes and shapes, Review: Petlibro Capsule Automatic Fountain, Product Highlight: RompiCatz Critter Collector Series, https://consciouscat.net/2020/02/25/kittygohere-litter-box-for-senior-cats/, https://consciouscat.net/2017/06/28/litter-box-solutions-senior-cats/, https://consciouscat.net/2015/08/24/litter-box-issues-a-round-up-of-solutions-for-a-frustrating-problem/, https://consciouscat.net/2019/01/08/kitty-box-ramp-make-the-litter-box-more-accessible-for-your-senior-cat/. This prevents then from being torn up and they also stay in place. Ive given up and am happy that I dont have carpet and that at least she goes (mostly) pee in the box! (Which can be used with or without the top!). Along those lines, if your cat starts to spray or mark around your home, you can tape pee pads to your wall (etc.) Ive been using stools so that I can sit down to do it but I was wondering if their is such a thing as an elevated litter box. Ive used the Petmates Booda Dome Cleanstep litter box with my sixteen year olds. Our problem is arthritis mine not theirs. Stove, TVStand, Book Cases, kitchen chairs , Kitchen counter,, Windows. My cat started bleeding from urethra, and then she started peeing outside of her litter box. Yes to help with spill over I chose human bed piddle liners (cheaper than pet piddle pads) and usually bigger. Anti Icky Poo is the only urine cleanup product weve used that seems to actually work not cheap, but you dilute the product to use it. Pee pads, also known as training pads or puppy pads, are disposable, plastic-backed, absorbent pads that are used as a place for pets to eliminate while in the house. We use the bottom half of a porcelain (enameled metal) broasting pan for our elderly, three-legged kitty. Litter box avoidance may be a symptom of arthritis, although there are many other reasons for eliminating outside the box. Getting to the box in time, having immaculate box (scoop out extremely often) helps. One tip I give my clients (who have senior kitties) is to use baking pans or cookie sheets. Potty pads for cats who have trouble with their aim can be a blessing for owners. You could also add an extra litter box or two in different parts of the house. A bead of silicone caulk under the lip might fill in the gap under the rolled edge but we are fine with washing it out often. taking pain meds but the vet and I just started her treatments. When he started going outside the pan, I took a pair of tin snips to the entry side and cut it down to about two inches. My questiondo they have to be totally washed occasionally? Just like having a high side making it difficult for a cat with mobility issues to use the box properly, deep litter also makes it hard as they cant squat properly. I took some shipping / packing cartons, cut off two sides, and put them under and around three sides of the litter boxes to raise the sides. I just want my cats to be comfortable as possible using the litterbox, and I think this will be perfect. Dont put their litter box in a public place. Lastly, if your cat is prone to litter box misses, you may want to consider placing a large pee pad under your cats litter box to catch those misses. If there are no medical reasons for this behavior, I would definitely add a second box. the combo works well, We have 6 neutered cats all rescues ranging in age from roughly 2 months to geriatric. Shes When my baby girl was about 5 she started peering outside of her litter box. use, use it as food and water mats, for kennels, or even when traveling. The disposable baking soda box is rigid but easier to cut than plastic and the cut edges are soft. next. And if you have any tips or suggestions of your own, do let us know in the comments section below! If kitty has a problem climbing in, put a little sturdy ramp by the opening and keep a litter catching matt under the box no rug! Have you tried this litter box? I had a senior cat with kidney failure, so he peed in quantity due to the fluids (although also because of that, the pee was quite dilute) but due to arthritis, he couldnt crouch well enough to keep the pee in the box, so he peed basically right out the end. We use cats desire disposable litter boxes which allow options especially in these instances. We have tried the self cleaning litter boxes with disastrous results, Im not aware of any elevated litter boxes, but have you tried one of the scoops with a long handle? Ive also gotten the large Rubbermaid ribs and cut lower holes, it just depends on what I think their needing. Arthritis is a common condition that affects as many as 3 in 10 cats. Theyre great. Youre a genius w your outside the box ideas. Only 7% of cats with arthritis receive treatment. Thank you for sharing your experience, Tess. We know that the process of housebreaking can be stressful for both of you and your furry friend. My 15 year old cat doesnt squat, dig a hole to pee in or cover up her litter. He was about 7 weeks old and lived in a less than ideal cage set up (mom was feral). But how do you know if a pee pad is right for your cat? Tried the Felway plug-ins the calming collarsnothing works! The only reason we didnt go back to the construction pan was it really was too large for our bathroom but Id consider it again. But that doesnt mean your cat will bother keeping your house clean. A litter box with lower sides will most likely be messier. Our little wobbly ones may not move like a regular cat, but they are just as smart if not smarter! Any suggestion..Also she is a big catnot really overweight just big. Try changing the litter and see if that helps. But pee pads for cats can be really helpful in one more, really important way: If your cat is injured, sick, or even recovering from a surgery of some sort, using the litter box can be literally a pain for him. He gets mad if we dont let him outside when he wants. $20 washable waterproof pads these are the BEST! Bulldogologys Premium Training Pads are good for puppies and cats interchangeably. https://bit.ly/kittygohere. Many love how convenient they are, since they can be easy to clean up: simply fold and throw in the trash. (We do and teach rescue, so have tried everything over decades). I have two questions: Especially not when the reason why your cat is peeing on the floor is a medical problem, or a behavioral one. All Rights Reserved. Ive only been adding litter. So now Im going back to the pee pads. This is the only litter box I was able to find that is specifically designed for senior cats. ? I hid, and found he flips the modified gate flaps up and slips through the side! A ramp would make entrance easy. If you havent already taken your cat to the vet to rule out medical issues, please do so as soon as possible. Plus, if your cat has suddenly decided that her favorite place to go to the bathroom is now behind your favorite plant, consider laying a pee pad down in that spot while you figure out whats going on. Choose spots away from the general living area that your cat is comfortable relieving in for the pet pads. I used a boot tray underneath the box to collect litter and any other spillage. Anyway, I put an extra high bread board next to her box, and kept the litter high so that she only had to step up a couple of inches onto the board, and then only a few inches over the side of the box. Years ago she had the surgery for megacolon. We tried asking the vet for advice but we figured she was just stubborn. She seems to have picked a special spot on the floor that she prefers to squat on. I take a jumbo Natures Miracle Disposable Baking Soda litter box ($2.50 each) and use a box cutter to cut an opening in the front thats 3 off the ground (my husband will use his sawzall). OMG a photo of a poinsettia next to the pee pad??? That said, litter boxes are not always the best option for every cat. My Tabbies have been larger cats so the storage containers worked well. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of followup comments via e-mail, By leaving a comment, you agree with the collection of your data by this website as per our Privacy Policy. I have one old guy here who may need this soon. Could you put a very small amount of litter in the box with the puppy pad so kittys feet might be kept dry? Potting soil is also full of wetting agents that are not meant for consumption. The outside boxes do not need to sit flush to the litter box. If he misses, which is rare, the mat protects the floor and is easily cleaned. Once you know theres nothing wrong with them, you can gradually move the cat pee pad from his preferred spot, inch by inch over days or weeks dont rush to the litter box. This weekend we switched his box for to a small wadding pool (9.99 at Kmart) with a side opening cut for him to enter. We also had success with a combination of clay and paper litter, which was more absorbent than just clay, and didnt stick so much to the plastic. I hope the spraying fixed male cat has gone to the vet as it sounds like a UTI. Without going into great detail the costs for further testing were in the thousands and an answer or solution was not guaranteed. We were using an extra large concrete mixer pan from our local hardware store. We place our litter box in the centre of the tray. My kitty is 21 and arthritic in her hind legs. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Both of my cats are kick and scatter pros. They have little nubs on the bottom where water would drain from boots and such but these nubs give my kitty a little traction to help her keep her balance. I have found the So Phresh x-large litter box at Petco to be a favorite with my senior arthritic cats. Then he gets on the couch or on me. The only thing I would like better would be a higher top, because even though it is a top to a high topped litter pan, the original bottom was much higher, so the top now on top of the much shorter top to a storage container, there is just enough room for kitty to maneuver inside, and she is a small cat. Especially if you have two or more tom cats at home who must share territory and things. Amazon offers a large variety of sizes and shapes, many with free shipping for Prime members. These multi-layered pads with high absorbency and odor-blocking will do the job for your cats business just as well. I use a triangle shaped litterbox to fit into my small bathroom. Our solution was a shower curtain liner from the dollar store, then the litter box with plenty of puppy pads all around it. So then I tried using puppy pee pads which I have to change almost every day. I have seen Tabby go into the box, and the pee comes out all over the floor.