Can I teach my cat to be less messy when using the litter box?

Question

She's 15 years old. She doesn't crouch when she pees, and I had to put a lid over the box or she'd wet the wall. Now she wets the back of the lid and it runs down onto the floor. I put newspaper under the box, but it smells. It's disgustiing to change the box and wash the lid all the time. I have had many cats in my life, and none of them did this.

She's been doing this all her life. Is she too old to teach better habits? How would I teach her, anyway?

Answer 1

You are likely to be unable to teach her new tricks. My one cat was basically an aim and shoot type of cat, so a covered litter pan saved many a clean up. Mine never ran onto the floor though. You might want to consider a litter box with a high back portion, and I have posted a link.

Answer 2

At 15 years old I think she is beyond teaching if she has been doing this all her life, it's just the way she pees...have you tried a different litter box and lid, maybe a different type would have a better seal so it wouldn't run out on the floor? Or putting a litter box liner in but having it pulled up the back of the box to stop the pee from running out, you would probably have to tape it at the top to keep it from sliding down.

Answer 3

I'm afraid you're about 14 years too late- to teach your cat better hygene. In fact, at her age- she's less & LESS likely to clean up after herself...-It's a "sign of the times", I'm afraid.

Answer 4

I use a very tall storage bin for my messy cats' litter box now!

Answer 5

yeah right. i wish