One of my cats (~ 8 months old) was sick with diarrhea a few weeks ago and has since stopped using the litter box to poop but still uses it to pee. I feel like I have tried everything and nothing is working so am desperate for advice.
She is no longer sick and has consistently been having solid stools. I tried keeping her just in the bathroom with the box (and food etc) for almost 2 weeks after she was sick. I added a 2nd box with a different type of litter so she has options. One box has fine clumping litter (Natural Cat) with "cat attract" on top. The other has a natural pine litter with "rainforest cedar and moss" on top. Both are uncovered. I've tried different levels of litter in the boxes (1-2 inches vs 3-4 inches). I moved the box over where she was pooping. When the bathroom didn't work I moved one of the boxes to the living room to see if she just needed a new location. Her food is far away from the boxes. I put her poops in the litter from the floor to try to show her where they are supposed to go. I have tried repeatably placing her in the box (not making her stay in it though) and then giving her a treat. I am very diligent about keeping the boxes clean - I clean them twice a day and have completely washed them out and replaced the litter. Still no luck!! I've read that if they are going on carpet to put carpet in the box - but she is going on hard surfaces.
The only thing I haven't tried (but plan to) is using an enzyme cleaner to clean where she has gone on the floor. However, she hasn't been going in the same spot consistently so I'm not confident that this will be the solution.
My other cat is her mom (~1.5 yrs old) and so I don't think she is "guarding" the boxes so that her kitty doesn't feel comfortable using them. Especially since kitty will still use both to pee.
My apartment is small and quiet so is not a stressful environment. I only got these guys about 6 weeks ago so she could still be adjusting, but I did keep them in the bathroom only for the first week to help with the adjustment. She is very happy otherwise.
Any tips are very much appreciated!!!!! Thanks!!
She is no longer sick and has consistently been having solid stools. I tried keeping her just in the bathroom with the box (and food etc) for almost 2 weeks after she was sick. I added a 2nd box with a different type of litter so she has options. One box has fine clumping litter (Natural Cat) with "cat attract" on top. The other has a natural pine litter with "rainforest cedar and moss" on top. Both are uncovered. I've tried different levels of litter in the boxes (1-2 inches vs 3-4 inches). I moved the box over where she was pooping. When the bathroom didn't work I moved one of the boxes to the living room to see if she just needed a new location. Her food is far away from the boxes. I put her poops in the litter from the floor to try to show her where they are supposed to go. I have tried repeatably placing her in the box (not making her stay in it though) and then giving her a treat. I am very diligent about keeping the boxes clean - I clean them twice a day and have completely washed them out and replaced the litter. Still no luck!! I've read that if they are going on carpet to put carpet in the box - but she is going on hard surfaces.
The only thing I haven't tried (but plan to) is using an enzyme cleaner to clean where she has gone on the floor. However, she hasn't been going in the same spot consistently so I'm not confident that this will be the solution.
My other cat is her mom (~1.5 yrs old) and so I don't think she is "guarding" the boxes so that her kitty doesn't feel comfortable using them. Especially since kitty will still use both to pee.
My apartment is small and quiet so is not a stressful environment. I only got these guys about 6 weeks ago so she could still be adjusting, but I did keep them in the bathroom only for the first week to help with the adjustment. She is very happy otherwise.
Any tips are very much appreciated!!!!! Thanks!!
