At my wits' end here. Please bear with any scattered thoughts. I've been a cat carer for the last 27 years. I've dealt with kidney failure, allergies, mites, cancer, hyperthyroid, and idiopathic FLUTD. I've never dealt with this exhausting chronic problem before. My 7 year old boy (altered at about 12 weeks just before I adopted him, let's call him LongBoy) is driving me crazy with this vertical peeing thing he started not too long ago. I have a 12 year old girl I already had when I got him, another 12 year old girl who came to live with us about 5.5 years ago, and another 6-7 year old boy who came to live with us about 4.5 years ago when he almost died from urinary blockage. So, like I said, generally familiar with urinary stuff already.
For some reason, LB seems to have "forgotten" how to squat to pee. I've tried every conceivable permutation of litter box I can think of, and of course I have 5 litter boxes throughout the house so they stay clean and nobody has territory issues.
I have an ancient hooded litter box that literally came as a hand-me-down with that first cat 27 years ago (long may it reign) that I adore because it is made so sturdily. He'll walk right in and pee out the front.
I've tried the Arm & Hammer box with the white half-top (high sides, just not enclosed on top). Pee either goes over the edge or runs down to the rim where the lid joins the pan, runs down the sides and then onto the floor.
I've bought three of those Van Ness translucent enclosed XL boxes with the swinging doors. Same results as above. Plus they're made like crap and the two I bought three months ago already cracked and broke.
I've tried the long low storage tote without a lid. He pees at the very edge and it'll splash off the side.
I've gotten a giant tote and left the lid off and tried to encourage him to use that one, including giving him little "steps" to facilitate getting in and out. He used it well for a few days and then went back to using the other ones incorrectly. I can't just replace all of them with the totes because the one girl came to me weighing 23 pounds and she still has arthritis in her back and legs even though she's skinny now. So we need options with lower entry. Which leads to all of the above problems.
I finally caved and ordered a Kat Kave last week. Dang, it's a nice box! I thought all my problems would be solved. The reviews on Amazon mentioned that the cat would have to squat to pee out of the opening, so I didn't think I'd have that problem since he won't do that. I left the lid off because I don't think they want to be in that enclosed space with the lid. He used it right at first. Today, he managed to pee right out the front. A. gain. I just don't know what to do to teach him to turn his butt around when he goes in. It's maddening. He never did this before.
Any ideas you have would be totally appreciated!
For some reason, LB seems to have "forgotten" how to squat to pee. I've tried every conceivable permutation of litter box I can think of, and of course I have 5 litter boxes throughout the house so they stay clean and nobody has territory issues.
I have an ancient hooded litter box that literally came as a hand-me-down with that first cat 27 years ago (long may it reign) that I adore because it is made so sturdily. He'll walk right in and pee out the front.
I've tried the Arm & Hammer box with the white half-top (high sides, just not enclosed on top). Pee either goes over the edge or runs down to the rim where the lid joins the pan, runs down the sides and then onto the floor.
I've bought three of those Van Ness translucent enclosed XL boxes with the swinging doors. Same results as above. Plus they're made like crap and the two I bought three months ago already cracked and broke.
I've tried the long low storage tote without a lid. He pees at the very edge and it'll splash off the side.
I've gotten a giant tote and left the lid off and tried to encourage him to use that one, including giving him little "steps" to facilitate getting in and out. He used it well for a few days and then went back to using the other ones incorrectly. I can't just replace all of them with the totes because the one girl came to me weighing 23 pounds and she still has arthritis in her back and legs even though she's skinny now. So we need options with lower entry. Which leads to all of the above problems.
I finally caved and ordered a Kat Kave last week. Dang, it's a nice box! I thought all my problems would be solved. The reviews on Amazon mentioned that the cat would have to squat to pee out of the opening, so I didn't think I'd have that problem since he won't do that. I left the lid off because I don't think they want to be in that enclosed space with the lid. He used it right at first. Today, he managed to pee right out the front. A. gain. I just don't know what to do to teach him to turn his butt around when he goes in. It's maddening. He never did this before.
Any ideas you have would be totally appreciated!
He regurgitated his breakfast today, threw up bile on Sunday, and Thursday had been lethargic, squinty-eyed, and generally ADR. He was totally bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the next morning though, and apart from the vomits and still peeing over the side of the box, fine in every way, playful and energetic.
