Pooping outside of box.

Dr. Marie replied:

Problems like this can really be frustrating. It sounds like you are doing all of the right things as well. I usually do recommend getting a new box, trying one with a lower entry and moving the box to a new place.

While I won't be able to say for sure what is happening, I have a few thoughts for you.

The first thing I always recommend is a thorough vet exam. At 13, there are several medical conditions that could possibly be contributing to these issues. I have seen cats with hyperthyroidism that have bowel movements outside of the box.

Another very strong possibility is if Dagmar has arthritis near the end of her spine. This is something called lumbosacral syndrome. It can make it painful to squat in the right position for defecation. A lot of the time, for some reason, cats with lumbosacral syndrome feel better if they stand outside of the box and poop. If this is what she has, then sometimes anti-inflammatory medication can help.

If the vet can't find a medical reason, one thing that sometimes helps is to put incontinence pads around the litter box so that she is pooping on the pad. This will make cleanup a little easier. Sometimes, if we can get her pooping on the pad, we can very gradually move the pad so that it is partly inside the box. You may be able to eventually get her to actually go in the box again.

I hope this helps and I hope she is behaving better soon!

Dr. Marie.



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