- Joined
- Feb 27, 2014
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Long story I know but I am at my wits end with worry.
My poor cat. A few weeks ago my cat age 6, fixed, started to not use her litter box. I had her to the vet so that is all good. The cat had her own room/area. The two dogs (small dogs) were not allowed in the room and had not even tried to enter. About a week ago as I was in her room with her to encourage her to eat since this all started (she likes eating while I am with her) . While I was in there one of the dogs came barreling through the small gate into the room. I was shocked because I had no idea the dog was going into the room. So what I think had happened is back when I got the cat, (had her since a kitten) I put some foam tubing around the small gate to make it just more small to prevent the dogs going in. I had this wild hair one day that I would change out that foam tubing with pool tube things. Not realizing that now the opening was just a little bit larger than it had been. As I can figure out that was just enough larger that one of the dogs thought she would enter . So I assume that this had been happening for about two weeks or so that the dog had been going in there and the cat is totally traumatized by this.
Since I realized what was happening, I have been trying to resolve this. I have been reading a lot and I have been trying to implement what Jackson Galaxy advises. I got a totally different type of litter and replaced it in the box but still she would not use it. On to plan B. I got a couple of cheap boxes and put them in the areas that she had been peeing in with the new type litter. I even put them up on a maybe 7 inch pedestal so it would not be ground level . At this point now the litter boxes are in the common area where the dogs can be and that is why I raised them up from the floor.
So she has started using the new boxes in the common area but still seems hesitant to use them. But she is using them. I still feed her in her room. She is clearly still agitated though because her tail swishes back and forth like she is unsettled. I have also put a new litter box with new type litter in the room. The old box is still there. Jackson Galaxy said do not remove the old box. ? She does use the new box some also but is not easy about it.
I guess I could just use some ideas or thoughts as is there anything else I can do. ? Or should do? Am I on the right track. Will it just take time?
My poor cat. A few weeks ago my cat age 6, fixed, started to not use her litter box. I had her to the vet so that is all good. The cat had her own room/area. The two dogs (small dogs) were not allowed in the room and had not even tried to enter. About a week ago as I was in her room with her to encourage her to eat since this all started (she likes eating while I am with her) . While I was in there one of the dogs came barreling through the small gate into the room. I was shocked because I had no idea the dog was going into the room. So what I think had happened is back when I got the cat, (had her since a kitten) I put some foam tubing around the small gate to make it just more small to prevent the dogs going in. I had this wild hair one day that I would change out that foam tubing with pool tube things. Not realizing that now the opening was just a little bit larger than it had been. As I can figure out that was just enough larger that one of the dogs thought she would enter . So I assume that this had been happening for about two weeks or so that the dog had been going in there and the cat is totally traumatized by this.
Since I realized what was happening, I have been trying to resolve this. I have been reading a lot and I have been trying to implement what Jackson Galaxy advises. I got a totally different type of litter and replaced it in the box but still she would not use it. On to plan B. I got a couple of cheap boxes and put them in the areas that she had been peeing in with the new type litter. I even put them up on a maybe 7 inch pedestal so it would not be ground level . At this point now the litter boxes are in the common area where the dogs can be and that is why I raised them up from the floor.
So she has started using the new boxes in the common area but still seems hesitant to use them. But she is using them. I still feed her in her room. She is clearly still agitated though because her tail swishes back and forth like she is unsettled. I have also put a new litter box with new type litter in the room. The old box is still there. Jackson Galaxy said do not remove the old box. ? She does use the new box some also but is not easy about it.
I guess I could just use some ideas or thoughts as is there anything else I can do. ? Or should do? Am I on the right track. Will it just take time?
