My 3-year-old female cat won't use the litter box anymore after a bad bout of diarrhea. What's wrong with her?

Question

We have 3 cats, and our youngest (3 y/o) had a terrible bout of diarrhea 2 months ago. She had it all over the house. We took her to the vet, and he gave us meds and her problem cleared up. Unfortunately, she stopped using the litter box (both poop and and pee). She was doing her business in our bed, on the carpeting, and in window sills. Took her back to the vet, and he gave us special food and more anitbiotics. Same problem. We changed her litter, as well as the box. Now we just keep her locked up in our bathroom. We don't know what to do with her. She's apparently completely healthy. Her poop goes between hard and soft, but not diarrhea. What now? We can't lock her up forever :(

Answer 1

In the bathroom, I'm assuming there is a litter box in there? if so, is she using it in there? If she is then keep her in the room wi/ the box. Then take her into another room and leaver her in there with the box (keep doing this in diff rooms, assuming she uses the litter box when confined into a room with it) then eventually she may stop and realize that the box is the best place to go. Also clean out the litter box every day because some cats just won't go unless it's clean. This is a strange situation. I've never heard of it before but that's the only answer I can think of. If nothing works, then see if there are other alternatives to litter boxes. Maybe your local petstore or vet could have some ideas.

Answer 2

In her mind she is probably still thinking that she has no control over it. Cats are quick to learn and highly adaptable. As well, they do not understand the concept of "sick" and thus have no idea what "getting well" is. While ill she may have adapted to the idea that she no longer has control over her bodily functions, and probably has no idea that she is cured of her illness and therefore can resume her normal control. She knows she is feeling better, of course, but for a cat to connect diarrhea with illness and feeling better with wellness and a return of control..well that just isn't within their realm of understanding. She has accepted the fact that she has no control and so acts accordingly. As well, because of the nature of her illness, there is always the possibility that she is connecting the litterbox with feeling sick and is thus avoiding it.
My best suggestion is to retrain her just as you did when you were training her for the litter box the first time. There are many helpful suggestions online, at the library, and through people who work with animals - not just veterinarians - people who work at pet stores and animal shelters learn all kinds of helpful tricks and could probably be really helpful to you when it comes to your pet and it's behavior.
You might also want to get a second opinion from another veterinarian. Animal doctors can make mistakes just as the rest of us do. They can overlook things unwittingly, no matter how attentive or experienced. We all make mistakes. Yet when the health and well-being of our pets are concerned I believe it's worth being absolutely sure that there isn't something else physical going on. If nothing else it will reassure you that your cat is healthy and simply in need of some behavioral reconditioning.
Lastly, I do find it a little sad that you have been locking her up, though I understand that you do not want feces all over your house. I just wanted to caution you though, and hope you think about it.
1. Illness is hard enough on humans, but since cats don't understand the concept of sick they also don't understand the concept of getting well. To her it must have been terrifying. That and the visits to the veterinarian, which we all know cats hate and fear in equal measures.
2. She can no longer control her own bodily functions (or at least thinks she can't), not a great thing for a sensitive prideful animal such as a cat. (And in front of other cats too! How embarassing!) You know that dream we have all had wherein we find ourselves naked in a public place and are completely mortified? ...something like that, in catspeak. (-:
3. She now either thinks she has been bad because she is locked up while the people and the other cats in the house run free or she believes that she is not longer welcome as part of the family.
While I can see from your question that you do care very much and want to help her, I am worried that locking her up after she has already been through so much could lead to even worse behavioral problems (chewing or scratching furniture, fighting with the other animals in the house, excessive self-cleaning that will leave her bald and her skin raw and infected, etc.) Cats display stress in many ways, just as humans do, and again like humans those effects can be long lasting or even lifelong reactions.
Is there any way you can put down some plastic in the house while you are retraining her, or until you get a second opinion? You can purchase cheap rolls of plastic that would protect your floor at any hardware store. Even if it's just a couple of the busier rooms so that she can be around people and not be so isolated.
I can see from your letter that you love her and are doing your best to help her. It's important to make sure she knows it too. Especially now with all she has been through.
I really hope this helps you. All the best. She's lucky to have you.

Answer 3

really odd. Does she use the litter box when she is alone in the bathroom? If so you could put a cat door on the bathroom which only allows one cat through (special magnetic collar). Watch the other cats behavior, as they may not be allowing her to use their litter (especially if she had diarrhea for a time.

Also, you could get a second opinion on her health, maybe a blood panel to check for organ pain etc. Sometimes they act crazy if they are hurting and need your attention, although this seems unlikely given her age.

Answer 4

A couple years ago, I had a cat with a similar problem. She developed colitis, which causes diarrhea, and stopped using her litter box. As you have experienced, after most of her symptoms stopped, she still refused the litter box. I tried everything I could think of, including locking her in one room with a box, but she still wouldn't use the box (she would even go beside it). I decided to take her to a veterinary teaching hospital. I found out that if a cat uses the bathroom in inappropriate places, for no apparent reason, she is trying to tell you that she is sick. My cat still had intestinal sores, hence pain. After another round of antibiotics, she resumed her normal litter box habits. I suggest you have your cat re-examined to make sure that she is not in pain or even in discomfort. I think she is trying to tell you that there is still a problem.

Answer 5

The smell could still be lingering in the litter box she had.

Cats are very clean...you might want to get a new litter box..with 3 cats, you should have more than one box anywasy.

make sure you are proerply cleaning the litter box once a week..not just scooping out the droppings. daily , But actually cleaning and disifincting it.once a week.

Answer 6

After all of that trauma with the diarrhea and all, she might have developed an association of the litter box with discomfort or pain and so now she is avoiding it. She is going to somehow have to be reconditioned to use the box. That's my two cents. And I also found a link for you that talks about how to resolve litter box issues. Good luck with all that.

Answer 7

Keep the box fresh and she will get the idea eventually but if you want to discourage her from using your bed. Peel some oranges and leave the peels on the bed.. it freshens your room but the cat will hate it and leave it alone.