I'm Running Out Of Options
Update to this post.
Tig's been on anti-stress drugs (5mg Elavil in the evenings) since the 3rd of January.
His food has been changed to Royal Canin Medi*Cal Calm. It's supposed to help with stressed out cats.
He's getting 3.25mL of Lactulose (a stool softener) twice a day.
I noticed him straining a bit to poop and a bit of blood in his stool on the 12th so back to vet we went. They gave him an enema to clean him out and increased the Lactulose from the previous 2.5mL twice a day to the current 3.25mL twice daily.
He doesn't seem to be having any more physical problems pooping since then.
But he still refuses to have anything to do with the litter box.
I've tried his usual clumping litter (he used it for 5.5 years with no problem) - he won't have anything to do with it.
I've tried Cat Attract Litter. It's got a money back guarantee which I'll be cashing in since he refuses to go near it.
I've tried SWheat Scoop - a wheat based litter. No love.
I've tried his usual BIG litter box. He pissed on the floor.
I've tried several different low boxes. They remain pristine.
I've tried boot-trays with litter. He hissed.
I tried confining him to the bathroom with various boxes / litters. He pissed on the floor, pooped on his bedding and took a dump on the tub. After a week of scrubbing floors and doing laundry, I gave up on the bathroom option.
I've tried confining him to a small enclosure overnight with limited freedom under supervision since he usually only pees and poops at night.
This afternoon he pissed on the couch after a nap in the sun.
So for the foreseeable future, Tig's confined to the small enclosure (5 feet by 2 feet) with boot-trays full of litter lining the entire floor with no freedom until a solution can be found.
I'm hoping I can force him to get used to the litter and not be afraid of it. If he can't be re-trained to use a litter box then my options are:
1. To re-home him to a friend's barn (he's a very shy cat who HATES all change, and has never been outside since it's OMGscary!!) - I don't think he'd survive the first few days.
2. Put him down. He can't live in a tiny cage for the rest of his life and there are NO rescues anywhere near here who could be trusted to take care of a cat with litter box issues.
I'm just about out of options. This cat is my heart and soul but I just don't know what to try next.
I'll try anything at this point but I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions / weird ideas / hints on crate training a cat are more than welcome.
I want my beloved cat back.
Tig napping with his little sister Jax.
Tig's been on anti-stress drugs (5mg Elavil in the evenings) since the 3rd of January.
His food has been changed to Royal Canin Medi*Cal Calm. It's supposed to help with stressed out cats.
He's getting 3.25mL of Lactulose (a stool softener) twice a day.
I noticed him straining a bit to poop and a bit of blood in his stool on the 12th so back to vet we went. They gave him an enema to clean him out and increased the Lactulose from the previous 2.5mL twice a day to the current 3.25mL twice daily.
He doesn't seem to be having any more physical problems pooping since then.
But he still refuses to have anything to do with the litter box.
I've tried his usual clumping litter (he used it for 5.5 years with no problem) - he won't have anything to do with it.
I've tried Cat Attract Litter. It's got a money back guarantee which I'll be cashing in since he refuses to go near it.
I've tried SWheat Scoop - a wheat based litter. No love.
I've tried his usual BIG litter box. He pissed on the floor.
I've tried several different low boxes. They remain pristine.
I've tried boot-trays with litter. He hissed.
I tried confining him to the bathroom with various boxes / litters. He pissed on the floor, pooped on his bedding and took a dump on the tub. After a week of scrubbing floors and doing laundry, I gave up on the bathroom option.
I've tried confining him to a small enclosure overnight with limited freedom under supervision since he usually only pees and poops at night.
This afternoon he pissed on the couch after a nap in the sun.
So for the foreseeable future, Tig's confined to the small enclosure (5 feet by 2 feet) with boot-trays full of litter lining the entire floor with no freedom until a solution can be found.
I'm hoping I can force him to get used to the litter and not be afraid of it. If he can't be re-trained to use a litter box then my options are:
1. To re-home him to a friend's barn (he's a very shy cat who HATES all change, and has never been outside since it's OMGscary!!) - I don't think he'd survive the first few days.
2. Put him down. He can't live in a tiny cage for the rest of his life and there are NO rescues anywhere near here who could be trusted to take care of a cat with litter box issues.
I'm just about out of options. This cat is my heart and soul but I just don't know what to try next.
I'll try anything at this point but I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions / weird ideas / hints on crate training a cat are more than welcome.
I want my beloved cat back.
Tig napping with his little sister Jax.
