Bathroom Habit Changes & Recommended Litter boxes
Providing Comfort for Your Older Cats: The Best Senior Cat Litter Boxes & Bathroom Habit Changes
As our beloved feline companions enter their golden years, their needs change, and it is our duty as pet owners to ensure their comfort and well-being as they age. One noticeable change in senior cats is their bathroom habits, and many owners are not prepared for this change. You may notice your cat is having accidents in the house that they previously had not, and changing your litter box may help. Finding a more senior oriented litter box tailored to the needs of aging fur babies is essential. Here, we will explore some of the best options available that our doctors use for their senior kitties:
1. Dr Valerie’s Crew of Kitties:
Her senior male FIV+ kitty with recurrent urinary issues litter box of choice is an empty plastic litter box.
Her younger cat prefers top entry boxes, but she also likes to trap her other cats in it, so that turned out to be not a good fit. Since introducing a litter robot, her younger kitty has transitioned really well. Dr. Valerie’s senior female painful kitty has done really well with the litter robot – but MUST have the stairs – she wouldn’t be able to get in it without them.
Also, for some older painful or handicapped shelter kitties Dr. Valerie has done these DIY litter boxes – specifically numbers 1 and 3. Some cats who can’t posture well may need a low entrance box with high sides as they will pee outside of the litter box while standing inside of it.
https://www.catster.com/guides/diy-senior-cat-litter-box-plans/
And finally, play around with substrate, some older kitties have a hard time with litter getting stuck in their paws and may need the wood pellets or even just a potty pad. Others may want a very thin layer of litter.
Dr. Valerie recommends this website for owners of kitties with urinary issues: https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats
2. Our Practice Manager Gina’s Recommendations:
A litter box that has a more accessible entry in which her arthritic cat Shadow can step in very easily. Also, high side walls to prevent them from throwing litter everywhere.
3. Dr. Mel’s Suggestions
Dr Melanie has two aging cats with different preferences. She has a litter box on each floor of her house . A litter robot and an oversized uncovered large litter box with pee pads set up front.
Her more timid cat remains slightly wary of the litter robot and took him weeks to get used to. He prefers the open litter box that doesn’t make a “noise” when it is cleaning. The pee pads in front help for the occasional “miss” when aiming to urinate. In the past she has used extra-large converted storage containers that she cut a hole in. But finds the deep step in, is to cumbersome for her cats. Above all – daily cleaning and frequent litter substrate changes are necessary to keep harmony in the house.
While it is normal for cats to experience changes in their bathroom habits as they age, if problems continue to persist it is best to reach out to your veterinarian in case there are any underlying medical conditions. It also is a good idea to bring changes like this up to your vet at your cat’s routine vet visits.