I wanted to update on Merlin situation, since I think I have found a solution, and maybe it could be helpful for some of us.
Short recap:
Some months ago, my cat started to pee outside the litterbox, mainly on the couch, but also on clothes and carpets. He still used the box for pooping. He wasn't neutered yet, but the vet said it wasn't marking related, since he tried to cover everytime (anyway we had to wait for surgery for other health issues). He was fine, no UTIs. We tried everything: added TWO more boxes, changed the sand, tried feliway. Nothing. Most of days he would totally ignore the box and pee somewhere else.
Then we realized that when he poops, he stands, instead while peeing, he crouches and touches the sand. Could he be in pain, or just uncomfortable?
So I started to put inside the litter box a absorbent pad, the one you usually use for dogs. They are pretty soft. And puff, worked like a charm: he is using the litter box again. All of them, actually. We've had a couple of accidents, but now he is regularly peeing in the right spot, with some exception, and not the other way around!
I am planning to try to gradually add sand over the mat during next weeks. Finger crossed.
Short recap:
Some months ago, my cat started to pee outside the litterbox, mainly on the couch, but also on clothes and carpets. He still used the box for pooping. He wasn't neutered yet, but the vet said it wasn't marking related, since he tried to cover everytime (anyway we had to wait for surgery for other health issues). He was fine, no UTIs. We tried everything: added TWO more boxes, changed the sand, tried feliway. Nothing. Most of days he would totally ignore the box and pee somewhere else.
Then we realized that when he poops, he stands, instead while peeing, he crouches and touches the sand. Could he be in pain, or just uncomfortable?
So I started to put inside the litter box a absorbent pad, the one you usually use for dogs. They are pretty soft. And puff, worked like a charm: he is using the litter box again. All of them, actually. We've had a couple of accidents, but now he is regularly peeing in the right spot, with some exception, and not the other way around!
I am planning to try to gradually add sand over the mat during next weeks. Finger crossed.