Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Any tips from been-there-done-that tripawd cat families on getting post-surgery cats back in the litterbox? Or stories of cats who resisted but eventually got there?
It's been a bit of a struggle, the past few years of his life, to get our 16 year old cat to pee in the litterbox reliably. If he detected any trace of anything in the litter, he would pee on the floor of the bathroom across from the box. So we started scooping more often and more carefully, which helped a little. Then he started peeing "high" over the side of our litterbox, so that it hit the wall and dripped down to the floor behind the box (ugh) and when we couldn't get him to transition to a covered box or a top-entry box, we eventually used a sort of high liner that stuck up out of the box in his "favorite" corner, which would "catch" his pee and keep it in the box. Combining this with "Cat Attract" litter and continuing to scoop very frequently was working...until the tumor. Once he was in pain, and even since the surgery, he tried to get his poop in the litter box (failed once, since-surgery, but clearly started out there), but he will NOT pee in the box. He pees on the floor -- and since the surgery, he has started peeing in other rooms of our small apartment, not just in the bathroom (which is where his litter box is).
I do not want this to be our "new normal." Any ideas how I can help him return to using the litterbox? Could this refusal to pee there be a sign he's still in pain (vet stopped his pain meds)? Anyone go through something similar?
p.s. Since the surgery, I did try getting a very shallow aluminum pan with a thin layer of litter and putting it very near where he sleeps. He completely ignores it.
During recovery Mona did not like the litter box. As advised I cut down the front so it was easy for her to walk in and I changed the litter to one with less dust. After the surgery she went to the vet's house overnight and used the litter box there. But when she got home? No way! She went everywhere except for the litter box.
When her stitches were removed I removed the new litter from the box and replaced it with the old litter which had been bagged to go into the garbage. She immediately used the box; however, she balanced on the rim of the box and peed over the edge. She sat outside the box and leaned over to cover up. Eventually she started using the box more "normally" with her own style.
I don't think a lid on gives enough head space for a front leg amputee. Others may have experience with this.
It sounds like your cat doesn't have full mobility yet. Is he jumping on to the couch yet? I noticed a huge improvement in Mona in mobility once the stitches were out and I stopped controlling things so much. We were starting to butt heads and she really wanted her independence. When I got out of her way she's adjusted very well. And yes, she does use the litter box but prefers to go outside unless it's raining, cold or dark.
I don't know if this means your cat is in pain. The only time I had a cat pee in inappropriate places (other than Mona) was a male with an urinary tract infection.
Hope things improve for you soon.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
neuromancer said
Any tips from been-there-done-that tripawd cat families on getting post-surgery cats back in the litterbox?
Did you search all the Tri-kitty Blogs yet? You can search all blogs here .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I too cut the front off the litter box off and that helped..I would definitely try that! It made it so Jill could just walk into the box instead of having to jump/walk over the front of it.
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Well, it's been over a week since the stitches came out, and 2 days since we were told we could take the E-Collar off him, and he has much better mobility. He can jump up on the couch or the bed, and he gets back and forth to his food and water well.
He is still pooping in the litterbox. He still will NOT pee in the litterbox, and today he peed on my son's bed, which he has never done before. It's kind of driving us around the bend. We use cat attract litter, we provided extra litter boxes, we provided a shallow aluminum tray with his litter in it, we put extra litter boxes closer to him so he wouldn't have to go as far... He can clearly get into the box because he poops there. We keep asking our vet about urinary blockage (because he's also not peeing as often as he used to) and they don't seem concerned. Going to get some feliway refills (I have an old diffuser) and see if that helps.
Online
Just hearing how well that extraordinary sixteen year young cat is doing makes me smile! Moving around so much better, jumping on tne couch a d on tne bed, all quite amazing!!
I knlw the peeing in all the wrong places has to be frustrating. Maybe just a urine sample would give the vet enough information to see if he has any bladder or urinary issues. I know you don't want to put him through anything invasive at this point.
I know with senior dogs sometimes incontinence goes along with the aging process.
I'm just so thrilled to know he's doing okay and can enjoy eing loved and spoiled. Thanks for the update.
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Just to update, for others who might be in the same spot, we got a Feliway diffuser and some "calming treats" (which he took well for about a week, then started refusing). He has been confining his peeing to the bathroom, where the litterbox is, since starting the Feliway (whether coincidence or not), but until yesterday it was on the floor. I put down "pee pads" and he would pee on them. Yesterday and once today, though, he actually peed in the litterbox for the first time since surgery. Hoping this might continue...
WOW! DOING A VICTORY DANCE OVER HERE!!!
This is such a crazy little "weird behavior" he has developed since his amputation. Standing ovation ro you for your perseverance and patience!
Thanks for sharing what you jave tried, what's working, what's not.
Glad he is doing well!
Love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Oh YAY! That's really cool, we didn't know about the Feliway diffuser. Glad to hear that something is helping, here's to more continued success!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I've updated in Progo's main "recovery" thread, but I'm happy to report that, at 3 mo. post-op, he is peeing and pooping ALMOST always in his litterbox, and now only pees outside it if he's used it once and it hasn't been scooped yet (either because we are asleep, out of the house, or hadn't noticed). But when he does pee outside it he does so in his "favorite" corner of the bathroom, so I keep a pee pad down there, which makes for easy clean up. MUCH IMPROVED.
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