Older cat now pooping outside litter box

[cspressler]

Background:

Two years ago we adopted an older cat from the Humane Society who was 14 years old. He had been adopted 3 times and then returned. Once we got home and they sent the paperwork, it turns out he was returned all 3 times for not being litter box trained. But, he was. Other than pooping just in front of the litter box twice in the first few days, he used the litter box every time for almost 2 years. Also, for more information, we have another cat and 3 litter boxes. Also, he was super thin when we got him. All blood tests showed no thyroid issues.

Fast forward to April/May of this year (2024) and I took him back to the vet and they discovered his thyroid levels were elevated. They started him on methimazole and he seemed to do better. However, we noticed his weight dropping fast, and I took him back to the vet for another blood test. This time they found his platelet level had dropped to almost nothing. They told me he probably had cancer, to expect these were his final days. They put him on a steroid which gave him diarreha non stop. As I was searching information online, I discovered methimazole can cause low platelets in 10% of cats. Called the vet, told them I was taking him off the medication, but they called back and didn't think that was the cause. Took him off it, and guess what? His platelets returned to normal.

At this point, his thyroid issues seemed to be going non-stop and constant loose stool/diarrhea. Finally, one time, he pooped in the corner of the living room. So I bought a fourth litter box and put in cat attract and he started using that.

Last week, we went on a 4 day (3 night vacation) and hired a cat sitter to visit the cats once each day. She did an excellent job, but when we got back we found a poop on the rug in the living room and a poop on the rug by the back door. Since then, he has started pooping outside the litter box at least once each day. Twice it has been by the back door to the garage (when we've both been gone), once in the office in the corner, once in the loft in the corner, and this morning in the spare bedroom behind the door.

We need help! Was it the vacation which triggered this? Any ideas on what we can do. This isn't a tolerable situation.

Lastly, we have an appointment for Sept 30th for him to get I-131 for his thyroid, which should cure him of this thyroid disease. This could also stop him going outside the box.

We just don't know why he's doing this.

 

[Kris107]

Is it all still diarrhea? I had some cats who, if they had diarrhea, would only go outside their box. Like to show me "My poop is wrong! I'm sick! Help!". What about more of a shallow tray box or some puppy pee pads? I hope the appt on the 30th helps him overall and maybe things resolve. Also, if still diarrhea, you can get an anti-diarrhea l from your vet until the 30th. Living with constant diarrhea is no fun for anyone.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. As suggested above, I am guessing that the loose stool is what started it, and then the vacation just added to, or resurrected, the problem. Does he still have loose stools? S. boulardii might help with that (see link below for it - the link is from a raw feeding site, but the information applies to all cats regardless of what they eat). If it works to help with his loose stool, that could stop the inappropriate pooping - of course, after some time for him to get over you leaving him for that vacation. Ideally, the latter will pass once he resettles himself that you are not leaving him again.

Does he always use the litter boxes to pee? Is there any blood in the poop? If so, his lower digestive tract is likely irritated from the loose stools.

The randomness of where he is going will be your biggest issue. It is possible that he goes in different places to avoid going in the same ones because he isn't all that thrilled about the fact that he is not using his litter box. Cleaning those places with an enzymatic cleaner might help some. But, it is also possible that he feels an urgency to go and can't/won't wait long enough to reach a litter box. For now, I'd place a litter box in each room to see if that might work. You can buy disposable ones so that when this issue is resolved, you can just toss them.

Does he have any pattern to when he goes? If so, placing him in the litter box around those times might help to reinforce to him that the litter box is the correct location. Also, closing the doors to rooms that he doesn't necessarily need to be in can help to narrow down the locations where he goes outside the boxes.

I don't know much about whether hyperthyroidism would attribute to his behavior - frankly, I have never heard of that, but that doesn't mean there isn't a correlation. I guess you will find out soon enough.

Try the above ideas, including the s. boulardii and see if anything helps, before moving to more extreme measures, like making him stay in a single room with multiple litter boxes, day and night.
How to Use S boulardii for diarrhea - Raw Feeding for IBD Cats

 

[rubysmama]

If he's still having diarrhea, that could be why he's going outside the litter box, just because he feels uncomfortable. Could even be he can't get to the litter box quick enough.

Lastly, we have an appointment for Sept 30th for him to get I-131 for his thyroid, which should cure him of this thyroid disease. This could also stop him going outside the box.

Per Hyperthyroidism in Cats "Hyperthyroidism may also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and hyperactivity", so hopefully the I-131 will solve both the hyperthyroidism, and the diarrhea / pooping outside the box.

 

[tarasgirl06]

The previous posters' suggestions are all excellent and informative. Cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy would suggest the single-room idea, too (you can find his videos under his name or "Cat Daddy" on YouTube and his wonderful series, "MY CAT FROM HELL" on the Animal Planet app. He also has several books out.)
I rely on Nature's Miracle-Just For Cats enzymatic cleaner to remove any trace of "accidents" -- not just the superficial aspects, but enzymatically, so it is really clean. I also rely on the Bissell SpotBot robotic carpet spot cleaner and accompanying cleaners. I got mine at Target. There is nothing a cat can do that can't be cleaned up and/or remedied. Thank you for adopting an older cat! and *Prayers* and hope for him to receive effective relief and help. Treasure every moment with him!!!

 

[FriendofFerals]

I have one that has IBD, hyperthyroidism, and certain sensitivities to food additives. Question: what are you feeding? It can make a huge impact. I just got my diarrhea monster under control after a year+ of battling it. From 20x a day, outside the box and everywhere to 1-2 times a day and almost normal. He's around 18-20 yr old too.

 

[tarasgirl06]

I have one that has IBD, hyperthyroidism, and certain sensitivities to food additives. Question: what are you feeding? It can make a huge impact. I just got my diarrhea monster under control after a year+ of battling it. From 20x a day, outside the box and everywhere to 1-2 times a day and almost normal. He's around 18-20 yr old too.

That's absolutely amazing, FriendofFerals and you are a true warrior for your beloved cats! Maybe C cspressler would benefit from knowing what you are feeding that has helped your sweet cat?

 

[FriendofFerals]

That's absolutely amazing, FriendofFerals and you are a true warrior for your beloved cats! Maybe C cspressler would benefit from knowing what you are feeding that has helped your sweet cat?

It's been quite a trial and error adventure with him because once he was diagnosed with IBD, the vet wanted to put him on a hydrolyzed protein diet. We were not sure if he was allergic specifically to one or more proteins, but I found problems began after his whipworm re-infection (he was feral and recently transitioned indoors in 2020, then had a full mouth extraction because of severe stomatitis and the stress triggered latent whipworm eggs from a previous infection when he was outside).

After that, the IBD was in full force, long after the parasites were resolved and it seemed that latest bout triggered it, despite several rounds of metronidazole to bring down the inflammation. So a hydrolyzed diet was prescribed but with no teeth (and a diabetic cat in the house, in remission with diet who CANNOT have carbs or it spikes his glucose through the roof)....it had to be hydrolyzed wet food in case one got into the others' bowls. And I have microchip feeder bowls and they can still steal each others' food, even in "intruder mode" and whatever.

No carbs in the house.

Hydrolized wet prescription food did not work at all because he wouldn't touch it. (Blue prescription hydrolyzed salmon pate). He threw up the Hills hydrolyzed within minutes of eating it each time so that was out. There just aren't many hydrolyzed wet foods out there.

It occurred to me that everyone was on some version of "Blu Buffalo" or "Blue Wilderness"...two were on a 50/50 mix of the mature chicken pate, and Dave's Low Phosphorous chicken pate. he IBD cat "Squeaky" then switched from Blue Wilderness Chicken to Duck. He improved in the poo department for a few weeks only to go back downhill. He refused the salmon and turkey. We tried Natural Instinct Rabbit. He loved that! For 2 whole days and then wouldn't touch it. But in those two days he improved in the poo consistency.

I read on TheCatSite about the additive carrageenan which is in all of the Blue products ( but not in the Natural Instinct) and that it can worsen bowel issues or even cause IBD like symptoms. I took him off the Blue products. Within around 2 months he began to improve significantly. He is on prednisolone every other day for the IBD, allergies, and asthma but even that wasn't helping.

Current diet:

Koha chicken pate - limited ingredient. 3oz cans, hopefully 2 a day but sometimes less.
Topper: Weyruva WX Phos Focused chicken in a hydrating puree (he's stage II CKD like my other cat)
Occasional topper to keep him interested: Weruva BFF OMG Gravy spooned on top like spaghetti sauce.

Low phos, low carb, decent calories, no carrageenan, no grain, no irritants in general

Dry food: We do have a dry food addict (Romeo) who will spike 400 on the glucose if he gets 20 pieces of real dry food. He and my IBD cat Squeaky both get a sprinkle (on the side or like croutons on top) of the Young Again Mature Zero LID dry food. It has no digestible carbs and is made of hydrolyzed pork protein. It's condensed meat protein, not starch, so while starch can constipate a cat, protein will give them loose stools if too much is eaten. The company said a full nutritional day feeding for a 12lb cat is 1/3 cup. Mine can't eat that much or they get muddy poo.

The happy medium is a sprinkle on top or next to their food AM and PM, equalling around 1/4 cup for each cat daily. Keeps the weight on the CKD cats too.

So, it's complicated with the diet he has but it's mainly the Koha chicken pate with toppers and carb free croutons with the Young Again kibble.

The vet insisted my cat had to be allergic to chicken and ALL proteins (with no actual test other than me trying several different proteins over 6-8 weeks with no change). The thing was, I was changing proteins within the same brand (until the Rabbit with Basic Instinct) and the real sensitivity setting off the IBD or making it worse was a thickening additive, not the protein itself.

Based on the fact all he eats is chicken (and hydrolyzed pork in the dry food), he is definitely not sensitive to chicken protein. He's had 6 good litterbox days out of 7 this last week. Some days we take a step backward but the trend is improving.

 

[tarasgirl06]

It's been quite a trial and error adventure with him because once he was diagnosed with IBD, the vet wanted to put him on a hydrolyzed protein diet. We were not sure if he was allergic specifically to one or more proteins, but I found problems began after his whipworm re-infection (he was feral and recently transitioned indoors in 2020, then had a full mouth extraction because of severe stomatitis and the stress triggered latent whipworm eggs from a previous infection when he was outside).

After that, the IBD was in full force, long after the parasites were resolved and it seemed that latest bout triggered it, despite several rounds of metronidazole to bring down the inflammation. So a hydrolyzed diet was prescribed but with no teeth (and a diabetic cat in the house, in remission with diet who CANNOT have carbs or it spikes his glucose through the roof)....it had to be hydrolyzed wet food in case one got into the others' bowls. And I have microchip feeder bowls and they can still steal each others' food, even in "intruder mode" and whatever.

No carbs in the house.

Hydrolized wet prescription food did not work at all because he wouldn't touch it. (Blue prescription hydrolyzed salmon pate). He threw up the Hills hydrolyzed within minutes of eating it each time so that was out. There just aren't many hydrolyzed wet foods out there.

It occurred to me that everyone was on some version of "Blu Buffalo" or "Blue Wilderness"...two were on a 50/50 mix of the mature chicken pate, and Dave's Low Phosphorous chicken pate. he IBD cat "Squeaky" then switched from Blue Wilderness Chicken to Duck. He improved in the poo department for a few weeks only to go back downhill. He refused the salmon and turkey. We tried Natural Instinct Rabbit. He loved that! For 2 whole days and then wouldn't touch it. But in those two days he improved in the poo consistency.

I read on TheCatSite about the additive carrageenan which is in all of the Blue products ( but not in the Natural Instinct) and that it can worsen bowel issues or even cause IBD like symptoms. I took him off the Blue products. Within around 2 months he began to improve significantly. He is on prednisolone every other day for the IBD, allergies, and asthma but even that wasn't helping.

Current diet:

Koha chicken pate - limited ingredient. 3oz cans, hopefully 2 a day but sometimes less.
Topper: Weyruva WX Phos Focused chicken in a hydrating puree (he's stage II CKD like my other cat)
Occasional topper to keep him interested: Weruva BFF OMG Gravy spooned on top like spaghetti sauce.

Low phos, low carb, decent calories, no carrageenan, no grain, no irritants in general

Dry food: We do have a dry food addict (Romeo) who will spike 400 on the glucose if he gets 20 pieces of real dry food. He and my IBD cat Squeaky both get a sprinkle (on the side or like croutons on top) of the Young Again Mature Zero LID dry food. It has no digestible carbs and is made of hydrolyzed pork protein. It's condensed meat protein, not starch, so while starch can constipate a cat, protein will give them loose stools if too much is eaten. The company said a full nutritional day feeding for a 12lb cat is 1/3 cup. Mine can't eat that much or they get muddy poo.

The happy medium is a sprinkle on top or next to their food AM and PM, equalling around 1/4 cup for each cat daily. Keeps the weight on the CKD cats too.

So, it's complicated with the diet he has but it's mainly the Koha chicken pate with toppers and carb free croutons with the Young Again kibble.

The vet insisted my cat had to be allergic to chicken and ALL proteins (with no actual test other than me trying several different proteins over 6-8 weeks with no change). The thing was, I was changing proteins within the same brand (until the Rabbit with Basic Instinct) and the real sensitivity setting off the IBD or making it worse was a thickening additive, not the protein itself.

Based on the fact all he eats is chicken (and hydrolyzed pork in the dry food), he is definitely not sensitive to chicken protein. He's had 6 good litterbox days out of 7 this last week. Some days we take a step backward but the trend is improving.

TYSM for posting this info, FriendofFerals -- it may help C cspressler and/or someone else. Yes, each cat, like each person, is unique and so are our individual needs. Blue Buffalo and Blue Buffalo Wilderness have always been favorites here, with no bad effects whatsover. I'm so glad you have been able to trial-and-error and find some good foods that don't cause bad effects. Cats are so sensitive, I know.

 

[FriendofFerals]

TYSM for posting this info, FriendofFerals -- it may help C cspressler and/or someone else. Yes, each cat, like each person, is unique and so are our individual needs. Blue Buffalo and Blue Buffalo Wilderness have always been favorites here, with no bad effects whatsover. I'm so glad you have been able to trial-and-error and find some good foods that don't cause bad effects. Cats are so sensitive, I know.

Thank you!

I swore by Blue Buffalo and Wilderness products for many years and I still give the Mature Chicken Pate to my 11 yr old with only a few teeth left and he has no problems with it at all. The other two, Romeo with the CKD and Squeaky with IBD, CDK and allergies to everything including himself and me, are both sensitive to the carrageenan it seems. They are fine on chicken with any other brand. I wish Blue Buffalo would switch to agar agar or something for the thickener because it seems to have far fewer sensitivities than carrageenan on kitty tummies, and I like the low carbs, protein and general appeal of all their wet food products.

 

[cspressler]

Thanks for all the advice, I appreciate it. Morris has improved slightly. We have noticed that if he's eating mostly dry food, his poo is more solid. Also, a daily probiotic seems to help. Also, we've noticed his out of box poo is mostly in the morning, which is around the time he gets very vocal for food. Even though his automatic feeder dispenses food at 5 am, he still seems to be mad and almost poops on the carpet out of spite. Now, maybe I am imagining that, but the rest of the day he tends to use the little box just fine. I'm hoping it resolves when he has his Iodine 131 therapy. Only 17 days to go.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Thanks for all the advice, I appreciate it. Morris has improved slightly. We have noticed that if he's eating mostly dry food, his poo is more solid. Also, a daily probiotic seems to help. Also, we've noticed his out of box poo is mostly in the morning, which is around the time he gets very vocal for food. Even though his automatic feeder dispenses food at 5 am, he still seems to be mad and almost poops on the carpet out of spite. Now, maybe I am imagining that, but the rest of the day he tends to use the little box just fine. I'm hoping it resolves when he has his Iodine 131 therapy. Only 17 days to go.

Yes, you are imagining it. Cats do not do things "out of spite." And dry food is of lower quality than wet food. Experts vary from "no dry at all" to integrating it into the main, wet food diet; I feed a high quality dry free choice as an adjunct to high quality wet food. (Then there are the homemade/raw/"human grade" (a misnomer) adherents. Everyone, it seems, has a say. But I would not feed dry food as a main diet. For one thing, cats as a rule don't drink a lot of water, and unless Morris does, he is probably not getting the hydration he needs for good health. I'd definitely ask his doctor about all of this, bearing in mind that vets are humans and they are not in fact infallible.For instance, a lot of vets push Science Diet, a lot of which has pork in it; I would never feed pork to anyone, much less my beloved cats! as it is a low-quality protein. But it's front and center in a lot of vet clinics.)

 

[Lari]

Hey, I just noticed this and it's something we've also noticed with our older cat (15.5 years), though hers was more constipation than diarrhea.

Have they suggested he has arthritis at all? And if so, is he on anything for it? Our vet suggested a two pronged approach where we started pain meds for the arthritis, and also keep the amount of litter in each litterbox lower, because the vet thought she felt more unsteady in deeper litter (and then miralax for the constipation). We've been doing all this for a bit over month now and the pooping outside the litter box has greatly decreased from multiples times a week to just a couple times. Which isn't perfect, but so much better.

Lots of older cats do have arthritis, so if there's pain involved, it may be causing some of this.