Cat with spine problem and cat litter box

[Emmapuma]

Hi guys,

Just after any thoughts and opinions really.

My 4 year old housecat has been diagnosed with a (currently) mild nerve problem along her spine which affects her back end - basically there is a very slight delay in the signals getting to where they should be.

Any way, she is fine in her self, can move around no problem - albeit a bit wonky - no pain, happy little cat etc but the only issue I am having is with the cat litter box when it comes to her having a wee.

It is a hooded box (anything without a lid she sends litter EVERYWHERE as she likes to spend ages digging afterwards!) My problem is she knows she is to use the litter tray but doesn't seem to go all the way in for a wee and so ends up peeing on the floor sometimes. I am currently putting puppy training pads down under the box but finding she is doing it every other day or so. I don't know whether he bladder is a little weaker or if she just thinks shes fully in when she isn't. Number 2s are fine, she goes all the way in for those!

Any suggestions welcome

[bexVN]

Getting into litter trays are difficult for cats with any limb issues. Hooded trays are often quite confining so difficult for a cat to manoeuvre in them so they learn not to go all the way in especially for urinating where they need to squat all the way down.. It may be worth looking into a bigger hooded tray with a wider 'floor space'

She may also just not realise that she is not far enough in, my cat toilets in her tray the same way as yours does. She is a maine coon so I bought her a large tray but high sided with a lid as she was struggling with a hooded one (dodgy pelvis due to rta years ago)

Edited by bexVN on Thursday 3rd August 12:34

[JoBlack]

I had a cat who ended up with a broken back after being hit by a car, she was the same - the issue might be a lack of directional control or damaged nerves affecting her abilities, my cat had a few accidents and just seemed to not be able to crouch properly - anything that restricts her turning space won't help. It's just one of hose things you work around. Be thankful it's infrequent, my neighbours scared my chihuahua so much he'll now only pee and poop inside next to the dooor so I spend all day mopping up his puddles.

[ali_kat]

Just a thought, but it's easier to clean litter than urine... can you put a normal litter tray in a cardboard box with high sides & the front cut off?

[Gaffer]

I have 2 diggers - Arabian Maus which aren't the smallest of cats (10KG & 7KG) and both have stupidly long legs.

So I have these: https://www.dubaipetfood.com/shop/ebi-cat-toilet-2...

They are really wide so the kittehs can turn round and I just put an old towel down in front of the trays to help catch any litter that gets tracked / kicked out, saves buying the fancy litter mats and does the job just the same if not better as you can throw the towel in on a hot wash every week or so.

Hope this helps

Claire