Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello, I have a newly 3 legged kitty (Rear amputation). I have 3 cats total so it took me a while to figure out it was my 3 legged cat doing this.... but he is now peeing on my walls next to the litterbox instead of going inside. He is still pooping in the box however. I thought it was perhaps not clean enough for him but I have been trying to do extra cleaning multiple times a day and it isn't fixing it. I'm thinking he's having a hard time in the box?
When he poops, I can hear him bumbling around in the box and he often steps in his poop and gets it on his rear leg. I have the very large corner nature's miracle boxes right now. They do have a cover on them... I don't think I can take the covers off because he doesn't squat... he just basically pees standing up and if I don't have a cover on it, he still pees on the wall inadvertently.
The boxes I have do have a low lip entry ... but I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions? We are trying to sell our house right now and I just know people are going to be totally put off by the "cat pee room" .... no matter what I do that pee smell will not go away.
Thanks!
Hi and welcome! What's your new kitty's name? Did he come to you as an amputee? We love learning about our members so share your story if you'd like 🙂
Meanwhile, we have published a "best of" litterbox tips article a while back, but I know our fabulous Tripawds members will chime in too. Here's that article:
Litterbox Tips for New Tripawd Cats
As for the pee room smell, here's an article about a terrific odor removal product we discovered. I think it will help.
A Non-Toxic Goodbye to Pet Stains, Marking and Odors
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello and Welcome,
My first question is your kitty fixed?
Have you wintenessed him doing this ? I am wondering if he is spraying which is different but it is still urnine!
Catching a cat in action, will help determine whether they are spraying or urinating. To urinate a cat squats and deposits a volume of urine on a horizontal surface. To spray a cat stands up, usually makes a treading motion with its back feet, quivers its tail and a small volume of urine is sprayed backwards onto a vertical surface such as a wall, leaving an obvious scent mark.
https://www.vet.....-the-house
Why Cats Spray
http://www.catb.....ats-spray/
If kitty is just a high pee er this would be an option.
Rubbermaid totes you would have to cut it out like the example above. This is a tall example and great for kitties that pee high or scatter litter everywhere . (size of any litterbox is important! you want your kitty to be able to turn around in it comfortably )
You can cut this with a box cutter or utility knife, xacto knife.
BE CAREFUL ! File jagged edges down. I know its not really nice looking they do have other colors of course ,but if it works it works.
My other question would be how many litter boxes do you have for 3 kitties? The rule of thumb in multi cat household is one per cat plus one.
Then scoop often as you can. Do you wipe the box out with a enzyme cleaner? Then the wall is really important to get the urine off of it so kitty does not continue to spray or pee on it. Most of the time its just detective work and it can be resolved.
I have one more thing to add too, I would want to rule out UTI'S as well. Usually want to rule that out first if this is just starting. If its behavior, we can problem solve those!
Hugs!
Holly & Purrkins
Do we have some kitty experts around here or what?! 🙂
Just want to say hello to you and all your kitty tribe. What was the reason for your cat's amputation and how long ago was it?
Best wishes
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!
OMCat!!! Holly and Purrkins, what a great post! Have a relative whose elder cat is a legendary sprayer and never would have thought of the tote solution! The cat is not doing this to mark his territory; he simply has a very difficult time squatting at his advanced age. ( Imagine this may be true for some TriCats as well...) So the tote would be purrfect!!! Right now, pee pads are duct taped to the surrounding walls and changed out but this would be sooo much better. Love how much we at Da Bear HQ are learning from the feline folks!!!
I don't think I can add much to Holly's excellent response. My tripawd kitty Mona lost her front leg and developed creative litter habits since her amputation. She has gone in many inappropriate places and I had to come up with a different plan this winter since she decided to start peeing beside the toilet. Now my two cats have two litter boxes with a new type of litter. The cats somehow decided that one of the boxes is for pee and one is for poo. When Mona uses them she spends quite a bit of time tosses the litter to cover up. Unfortunately she tosses it out of the box a couple of feet. Luckily the boxes are in the garage.
Since you have 3 cats, do you have 3 litter boxes? I hope you find a solution so you can sell your home.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
I never would have thought of using totes that way! Kudos Holly, that's a pawesome tip!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kerren...love the the kits use ine box for pee, one for poop!
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!
Hi and welcome!
Litterboxing has been the bane of my tripawd-owning existence 
I wrote a blog post about it - my lil girl has extra trouble since she has neurological problems with her remaining hind leg.
http://cheeseca.....-tripawds/
Basically, I use cardboard boxes, line them with plastic (I am currently using Duck Brand 1115016 Peel N' Stick Laminate Adhesive Shelf Liner), reinforce weak spots with superglue and/or packing or duct tape (my cat is a BIG digger), and change out the box every couple of months.
I also have SO MANY LITTER MATS to help keep things semi-tidy. And I'm currently using a floor protector underneath everything in case of accidents, spills, etc.
I'm not on the forums all that much, but feel free to private message me if you have any questions about this or anything else! Always happy to help out another trikitty family!
Puuuuhleeeze, puuuuuuuhleeeeeze share specific details including construction, cost, and EXACT materials (if you can)
That would mean the WORLD to us at Da Bear HQ where we have a very large rehabilitated feral population.
Charliebear there are lots of details and pictures in the link to my blog post 🙂 The cost is VERY cheap, as long as you have access to cardboard boxes! My solution may not be the best option for heavy use, with lots of cats, but for my purposes it gets the job done!
cheesecat said
Hi and welcome!Litterboxing has been the bane of my tripawd-owning existence
I wrote a blog post about it - my lil girl has extra trouble since she has neurological problems with her remaining hind leg.
THANK YOU for bringing this to my attention. I must have fallen behind on my blog reading that week. This is great! I'm adding it to our Tripawd Litterbox Tips post right now. Only thing is, there are a few broken photo/video links in the post. Let me know if I can help with fixing them OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
cheesecat said
Hi and welcome!I also have SO MANY LITTER MATS to help keep things semi-tidy. And I'm currently using a floor protector underneath everything in case of accidents, spills, etc.
This would be great for FETA You can put Puppy pee pads in-between the two layers.
Its a 2 part layer system the first part has little rubber holes and the second part is solid rubber. All cleanable.
This helps litter scatter problems. Kitty gets out and the litter falls in the little holes there. All you have to do is pick it up and pour it back in the box.
iPrimio
Cat Litter Trapper - EZ Clean (Dark Gray and Brown Color) - 32 inches by 30 inches SUPER BIG. Water Proof Layer and Puppy Pad Option.
They make 3 different sizes we use the JUMBO.
They are absolutely worth the cost if you can swing it. You will be cleaning a lot less litter scatter & for Feta having a accident you can just switch out the wee wee pads.
The smaller sizes are better priced! I would highly recommend them! We have had ours for over a year and it looks brand new!
We got ours on Amazon Smile.
https://smile.a.....er+trapper
This might help DAbears feral ferret population too?
Holly & Purrkins
Great idea! I wish wish wish I could use such a thing as just her litter box!!! Sadly if Feta can't dig-dig-dig-dig-dig like a gopher on RedBull then she won't "go" 🙁 This looks like it would be great for protecting the areas around the box, though - especially with puppy pads! Thanks for the tip!
Did you see what we did to Purrkins box? I have posted it several places and on his blog.
This is what our litter box is set up like , this is a huge box!
Petmate Giant Litter Pan 19.8 x 34.7 x 10 in
psc=1&refRID=SE4H2VANAYZ65C8N51D1
We cut the front out with a dremel tool using a cutting wheel, then filed it smooth . This would give Feta access and room to dig. Just a idea anyway. Cutting the front out is what helped Purrkins get in and out no problems! We cut all the boxes this way;) The plastic is so tough that is the only way I know to cut such plastic.
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