My cat is behaiving weird when it comes to the litter box. help?

Question

she is urinating in the litter box, i clean it out every day. she does share the houe with 3 other cats but they get along ok. she is slightly over weight, but not badly to where shes unhealthy. shes about 14 years old, but shes spunky. She just refused to poo in the litter box. she goes right next to it, within 5 feet of it. every single day i go down there and theres at least 2 more piles of poo there. does she have a problem? a disese? do i need to consult a vet about this? anybody have any insight? if you do please help. much thanks. :)

oh and she is fixed and is not in heat im sure of that.

Answer 1

Hi there...at 14 she may be experiencing a change so it's always a good idea to have her examined to rule out any medical problems. Senior cats develop age-related diseases such as kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, etc. Therefore, it certainly is a benefit to have her evaluated.

Here's an article by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine of Feline Health about inappropriate soiling causes:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html

House soiling is the most common behavior problem reported by cat owners. It includes urination and/or defecation outside the litter box, as well as urine spraying.

Why do cats eliminate outside of the litter box?
One common misconception is that cats soil in inappropriate places for revenge. It is tempting to conclude, "He defecated on the living room carpet to punish me for leaving him for the weekend." But this kind of calculation requires sophisticated cognitive abilities that cats aren't believed to possess. Furthermore, this conclusion assumes that cats view their urine and feces as distasteful, when in fact they do not. It is only we humans who view it that way.

Medical Problems
So why do cats urinate or defecate on your bed or carpet? Medical problems are one possibility. Inflammation of the urinary tract may cause painful or frequent urination, inability to urinate, bloody urine, and crying during urination. An affected cat is likely to eliminate outside the litter box if he comes to associate the box with painful urination, or if he has an increased urgency to urinate. In addition, kidney, liver, and thyroid diseases often lead to increased drinking and urination. Inflammation of the colon or rectum, intestinal tract tumors, intestinal parasites, and other gastrointestinal conditions may cause painful defecation, increased frequency or urgency to defecate, and decreased control of defecation. Age-related diseases that interfere with a cat's mobility (for example, arthritis, nervous system disorders, or muscular diseases), or with his cognitive functions can also influence his ability to get to the litter box in time. In short, any medical condition that interferes with a cat's normal elimination behavior can lead to house soiling.

Litter Box Aversions
Behavioral problems, such as litter box aversions, inappropriate site preferences, or urine spraying can also lead to house soiling. An aversion implies that there is something about the litter box that your cat finds unsavory. It could be the box, the litter, the location of the box, or all three.

...please see website for full details

Answer 2

I would talk to the vet;she might just like to have her own litter box.Maybe one of the other cats has been bossing her around at one time when they both had to use the box at the some time. Good luck

Answer 3

Cats can be picky about where they go.
Some cats just will not share.
Get another box and put it where the piles appear. When she uses the box, slowly move it to where you want it. If you can prevent the other cats from using it, that's better.

Answer 4

It may be age, just being a cat, maybe spite. Ya know how cats are. Cats do suffer from emotional issues and it shows in their behaviors, grooming, and doing their business. Any changes in the household? Any other problems, digestive?

Answer 5

some cats want to have their own litter box, some cats even still miss the box and go around it... she may need to be an "outside cat" if she can't correct her behavior, or you may need to purchase puppy training pads and line the area around the little box with them to make the cleanup easier, if you want her to continue to stay inside.

Answer 6

for every cat in the house should have their own litter box plus extra box might be she thinks the other cats are dirty

Answer 7

You might talk to the vet she can probably help.