Animal experts?

FubbaMoozer

I tried googling this problem, and I can't find anything that sounds accurate for my situation, and I seriously mistrust yahoo answers... I know that a few of you are pet-pros, so maybe you can help me out?

I think I'll wait for someone to respond that they can help before I bombard you with an impertinent question, lol.

katiewhompus

Go!

Dog, cat, rat, chinchilla person here

AllAboutTheBenjamin

Haha... I just wanted to add - KW know what she's talking about Fire away!

FubbaMoozer

Awesome! I was thinking you specifically might help me out

Sooo one of my cats will pee in the litter box but will not poop in it.  It's scooped and changed regularly, we've tried getting a better quality litter, the area is clean and quiet, the box is large enough for her, and I can't figure it out.  We do have another cat, and I've heard that you may need to have two different boxes-- we tried that, and the younger cat (not the problem one) just goes in both, so it sort of defeats the purpose.

Zoey (older problem cat in question) is about 11 years old.  She didn't have this problem in the past, and she has lived with another cat before.  It's just all sorts of confusing.  Any insight?

FubbaMoozer

P.S. Omg I've wanted a chinchilla for, like, ever.

I also desperately need a fennec fox.  And a red panda.

katiewhompus

Hmm I've heard that story before, so don't worry, you aren't the first to have to deal with this! I'm assuming she's pooping ok in other places to rule out a medical issue?

Here are some things to try
- disposable litter box (aka cheap) and place it in the areas where she is pooping. Maybe there is something about those spots that she wants.
- try the opposite of what you have. If both are uncovered try getting a covered litter box, if it is covered already try uncovered. You can also just place a box with a hole in it over a regular litter box as a temporary to see if that works before paying for a real one.
- Everytime she poops outside the box pick it up and put it in the box. Sometimes they start to lose their memory after age 9 and this might remind her that she can poop there too.

Can you think of anything else that might have changed? New carpet, new carpet cleaner, paint, air freshener, etc might all confuse her.

I love my chinchilla. She's definitely not the most affectionate animal but she's really freaking cute so it's worth it.

FubbaMoozer

Thanks so much.  She's actually pooping NEAR the litter box, but not so close as to think she's trying to get it in the box and just missing.  It's like she knows that's the right area, but she prefers to not be in the box.  I always find it about a foot from the box. 

Also, reading that part about her forgetting is sad but in a cute way.  It makes me think she'll see her poo in the box and think, "Oh yeah! That's where it goes."

We did just move... got a new apartment about two months ago.  She did have this problem in the last place too, though.  I'll try out your suggestions, though, thank you!!!

katiewhompus

Hmm maybe try getting a lower litter box too. In a pinch you could go to a PSmart and grab an empty friskies box (that all the cans come in).  Just try everything until something clicks.

Yeah, I was reading about a condition that is basically Alzheimers for cats and it's sad. I'm pretty sure my parent's cat has it since she is about 13 years old and looks like she's forgetting things.

FubbaMoozer

She's not making weird noises and the poop isn't hard... but maybe I'll have her checked out just in case.  When your cat did that, was she still peeing in the box?  That's what confuses me most, I guess, since it means she still knows where the litter box is and what it's used for.

tesskerr

Cats are clean animals, maybe your litter box is too clean? I read that you should always leave a tiny bit of dirty (poo) litter so they know if smells like a toilet, not like clean box and clean litter.

amclausen

Just jumping in here - I had a cat with litterbox problems that developed later in life.  One thing that might be worth trying is getting another kind of litter.  If you use clumping litter in the normal box, try getting another box and putting clay litter in it, or something like Yesterday's News or Feline Pine.  It might be a texture thing.

My cats always seem to do things just to bug me, so that's always a possibility too.

thesuninherhead

I second the other suggestion- go to the vet. That should always be the first point of call when issues like this commence in an otherwise healthy and normally well trained cat. 

If there's no medical reason, Katie's given you some great suggestions... but please do check the medical side first.

 

PS: There is a great, helpful cat forum on about.com which I've used to get lots of good advice from in the past- maybe could help you if you get stuck.