My cat has "elevator butt" after purchasing a new litter box

[mrpepper]

If you've seen my long thread from last year about my cat Pepper you would know that I have been struggling with him pooping on the couch or on my bed. When I took him to the vet they said he was constipated and ever since then he would do it every 2 months or so - I assume he just gets re-constipated? Well recently I consulted a cat behaviorist to see what she had to say and one of the things she had me do was replace his litter box with one she recommended (it was slightly wider/longer but had much lower sides than the one he's used to using from KittyPoo club. Pepper did not have any problems using it but unfortunately his brother Nico did. I saw him go into the box and bend down like he was going to pee and then while he was peeing he slowly lifted his butt higher into the air until the stream of pee was hitting the wall. Is it possible he learned this from using the small sided box or is it likely something else? I recently changed the box back to the original one but now he elevates his butt in that box as well. Just to be clear he gets into the box but he just raises his butt and hits the wall with his front paws hanging out the front of the box. Why did he do this and how can I get him back to not raising his butt like that? He only seems to miss part of the time - specifically when his butt faces the wall - other times he hits his target but usually gets his pee pretty close to the corners of the box. Hes never done this in the 8 years I've lived with him and its strange he acts that way as soon as I changed his box. Worst part is I paid the behaviorist $400 for her to fix my other cat but she seems to have made Nico learn a terrible behavior.

 

[Cat McCannon]

I would try a litter box with high sides to catch the pee and cut one side down for easy access

 

[GranolaLouise]

This has a back of about 10 1/2 inchs high..can't pee over that!
Amazon.com

But the one I have is a bit more sturdy and the finish is non stick.. However, it is only around 8 inches tall.But my large cat has never needed taller sides. It is also longer.I like this pricey one because it is truly JUMBO, the sides are even and good for my female cat who sometimes uses the front corners as well. Litter never gets kicked over the sides. It seems like your boy pees at the back, so the lower lip in front wouldn't matter.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M31ZFKY/?tag=thecatsite

 

[mrpepper]

This has a back of about 10 1/2 inchs high..can't pee over that!
Amazon.com

But the one I have is a bit more sturdy and the finish is non stick.. However, it is only around 8 inches tall.But my large cat has never needed taller sides. It is also longer.I like this pricey one because it is truly JUMBO, the sides are even and good for my female cat who sometimes uses the front corners as well. Litter never gets kicked over the sides. It seems like your boy pees at the back, so the lower lip in front wouldn't matter.
Amazon.com

The box he currently uses is 10 inches high and he clears it pretty easily. The box the behviorist told me to use was only 6 inches high but now he is doing it in the high box and I literally think he learned it from using the smaller box because that was the first time hes done that and its hard for me to believe its coincidence.

 

[GranolaLouise]

The box he currently uses is 10 inches high and he clears it pretty easily. The box the behviorist told me to use was only 6 inches high but now he is doing it in the high box and I literally think he learned it from using the smaller box because that was the first time hes done that and its hard for me to believe its coincidence.

Yikes! That is high! What if you cut a piece of poly as a screen and stand it up in the back of the box. It could be wiped down and it would save your wall!..unless he does i in other areas w/o the box.

 

[mrpepper]

Yikes! That is high! What if you cut a piece of poly as a screen and stand it up in the back of the box. It could be wiped down and it would save your wall!..unless he does i in other areas w/o the box.

He hasn't done it in other areas before as far as I am aware of, only the wall next to his box, albeit he is inside the box when he does this. I moved it more away from the wall and he pee'd in the box just fine this morning, although he seems to not do it consistently every time even when the box was next to the wall (the same spot is has been for years). Again, it was only when I replaced his box with the smaller sided one did he do this behavior - changed it back to the original but the behavior remains. If he only does it 30% of the time and 70% of the time he gets it in the box, would that tell you hes got a medical issue or lean towards behavior?

 

[GranolaLouise]

He hasn't done it in other areas before as far as I am aware of, only the wall next to his box, albeit he is inside the box when he does this. I moved it more away from the wall and he pee'd in the box just fine this morning, although he seems to not do it consistently every time even when the box was next to the wall (the same spot is has been for years). Again, it was only when I replaced his box with the smaller sided one did he do this behavior - changed it back to the original but the behavior remains. If he only does it 30% of the time and 70% of the time he gets it in the box, would that tell you hes got a medical issue or lean towards behavior?

Typical male behavior no matter the species LOL, although it is not a laughing matter. But,alas, I cannot answer your question .

 

[heatherwillard0614]

Is he neutered?

 

[arr]

I have an elevator butt cat and I’ve noticed it’s worse when I refill the boxes. It appears that she doesn’t want her butt to touch the litter. I’m in the process of keeping less litter in the box to see if it makes a difference. Perhaps this is playing a part with your cat?

 

[Alldara]

arr makes a good point of amount of litter.

What about an enclosed box. Do your cats like that?

How many boxes do you have? Is it only happening in one spot?

 

[heatherwillard0614]

Gave you tried or do you have any enclosed types of liter box?
If not maybe that would work in confining the elevator butt pee because he will be completely inside
I would skip a raised sides box because he is spraying over the raised sides..
Have you tried different litter?

 

[cmshap]

Just to add my two cents worth of experience (have only ever had one cat, but for about 9 years).

I had to switch to a covered litter box to get all of his business inside the box. He *always* used the litter box 100% of the time over all these years, but in his early life, he constantly peed/pooped partially outside of the box, by squatting on top of the edge. I don't think he was even aware he was doing it.

A covered box was a fantastic solution in my case.

 

[Kwik]

Did you mention your using a jumbo box,if not I would suspect the box is too small.... in any event may I ask how many boxes you have in the home?Might be trying to avoid contact with other cats elimination and the amount of litter in the box would make a difference,you could play around with less and more....

With something like this you might what to try a round box,cats naturally circle to pick a spot and you reduce the risk of them going over edges- funny that the majority of boxes are rectangular when cats "circle" ...... I've seen this often and round boxes seemed to always do the trick.... they also have potted plant closed boxes that look like big round pots that the top lifts off- if he'll go in an enclosed litter box this would be very comfortable for him and zero possibility to mess your walls

Good Pet Stuff Hidden Cat Litter Box Planter, Tan - Walmart.com

 

[danteshuman]

There is a reason I recommend large storage tubs. It helps with elevator but or in my cat’s case extreme litter kicking. You can always try a litter box with a lid like a Buddha dome.

 

[GranolaLouise]

I use a jumbo size. Not as large as your containers,but when I viewed the photos I groaned. It reminded me of the heroic strength required when it comes time to dump the litter! I must say that as that time nears,I let the level in the box go down a bit before summoning up the courage to lift the load!

There is a reason I recommend large storage tubs. It helps with elevator but or in my cat’s case extreme litter kicking. You can always try a litter box with a lid like a Buddha dome.

 

[maggie101]

Mine are dyi storage bins
26 long 17inch high. My 7pd female cat hits the 13 inch marker

 

[heatherwillard0614]

Mine are dyi storage bins
26 long 17inch high. My 7pd female cat hits the 13 inch marker

Can I ask what you mean by her hitting the 13 inch marker?

 

[maggie101]

Can I ask what you mean by her hitting the 13 inch marker?

She pees standing up and the highest she has peed is 13 inches

 

[heatherwillard0614]

She pees standing up and the highest she has peed is 13 inches

I didn't know female would/could do that thank you for clearing that up for me I was so confused. I really had no idea..

 

[maggie101]

This has a back of about 10 1/2 inchs high..can't pee over that!
Amazon.com

But the one I have is a bit more sturdy and the finish is non stick.. However, it is only around 8 inches tall.But my large cat has never needed taller sides. It is also longer.I like this pricey one because it is truly JUMBO, the sides are even and good for my female cat who sometimes uses the front corners as well. Litter never gets kicked over the sides. It seems like your boy pees at the back, so the lower lip in front wouldn't matter.
Amazon.com

My oldd cat used that one. After she passed peaches started peeing standing up. I cleaned it and it's sitting in my closet up high incase my cats need it in the future