Our cat - Elderly or anxious?

[purplepixie1978]

Our 14 year old domestic shorthair has coped remarkably well with our little girl - they play together quite well, she tolerates the odd rough pat, and sucks up at dinner time for scraps (as much as cats can suck up!).

However, she has started pooing outside her litterbox in the past month or two. Not in different places, just every now and then she seems to miss the box and it ends up on the floor next to it, even though she has clearly been standing in the box (pawprints in the box, litter scattered on the floor etc). The box is in the same place as it has been since we moved here in April 2008, and I keep it clean. I also keep DD out of the laundry so Tink has somewhere private and quiet to do her business.

What do you think - elderly, anxious or another problem?

[~Hestia~]

Hard to say...our cats sometimes do this, DH thinks they've just kicked it out of the littebox ITMS? Hopefully it's something minor like that, though annoying to keep cleaning up.

If you do think she's anxious, we use a great product that you plug into the wall called Feliway. Our vet recommended it, only cats can smell it and it keeps them calm, we've been using it since our 2nd son was born and our cats are sooo chillaxed now!

ETA - another thought...have you got the litterbox with high sides? Maybe as she's getting older it's harder to climb in and out of?

[purplepixie1978]

Thanks for getting back to me Cheezel.

No, if she'd kicked it out it would have some of the crystals stuck to it... and sometimes it's kinda hanging over the side (yuck, sorry). It's a pretty low tray, she steps into it okay.

I'll look into the Feliway if she keeps it up!

[~Hestia~]

Ah I see what you mean, doesn't sound like she's kicking it out then. One of our cats is 17 now and the older she gets the more fussy she is about her litterbox - I would maybe change the type of litter or even get her another one (in case she doesn't want to poop and pee in the same box like our grand ol' girl ).

Given her age (great age for a cat btw!) I'd probably get her checked out by your vet too, just in case.

[krysalyss]

I wouldn't think anxious. If she was her habits would really change. You would probably see spraying or she would be toileting in a totally different spot. I think she is probably just starting to miss the tray. Maybe get her a large tray and see if it helps.

[beckoes]

Hard to say...our cats sometimes do this, DH thinks they've just kicked it out of the littebox ITMS? Hopefully it's something minor like that, though annoying to keep cleaning up.

If you do think she's anxious, we use a great product that you plug into the wall called Feliway. Our vet recommended it, only cats can smell it and it keeps them calm, we've been using it since our 2nd son was born and our cats are sooo chillaxed now!

ETA - another thought...have you got the litterbox with high sides? Maybe as she's getting older it's harder to climb in and out of?

can you get that smelling stuff at a pet shop/big w type place?? i need that as my cat IS anxious!

Id say its just her age, if there are no other signs just the litter try. our cat creeps around the house like there is something about to jump out and get her from behind every object! need that calming stuff!!!

[~Hestia~]

Beckoes - not sure if they sell them in pet shops, maybe those huge ones...so far we've been getting it from the vets. I can check next time we get pet food but that won't be for a couple of weeks. Well worth it though! Ours were so stressed out they weren't even grooming themselves and were wee'ing everywhere, poor things. Now they lounge around all day