Expert: Dear Tabbi - 2/21/2009

Question
Hi.  I have a two problems.  
1.  We have 2 cats that are litter mates (1 male, 1 female) and recently brought the mother (an indoor, then outdoor, now indoor cat) back inside.  The male and mom got used to each other pretty quickly (he's a great cat) but the daughter and mom gave each other a wide berth.  We then declawed the mom (now all three are declawed and all are spayed/neutered).  The mom, after declaw, seems to have gone from alpha female to doormat.  The daughter now bullies her to the point of not letting her near the food/water/litter. This has left the mom hungry and occasionally urinating in our game room.  I know they don't understand they are related and may never get along but I would just like for everyone to be able to eat and to go where they're supposed to.

2.  The daughter for a long time has been "prissy" about the litter box.  I keep the box clean and most of the time she will use it but sometimes, for no apparent reason, she will urinate/defecate in our game room.  I have two litter boxes - one she likes, one she doesn't.  I really don't want to have any litter boxes in the house.  (They have a cat door to the garage.)  I have a fabulous litter box, the Litter Robot, that she doesn't like but the other two do.  Any ideas on why she randomly chooses to use the game room carpet and how to stop her?

Thanks for any new ideas you have.  

Answer
Candace,

Your problems may be because of the declawing. It can cause emotional and physical problems for life.

Did they use the litterbox OK before declawing?

A lot of times it take a very long time to heal from declawing and the cats still can have exposed nerves that you can't see. That is the main reason for avoiding the litterbox. It is like digging in dirt with your fingers cut off to the knuckle. It is painful.

The cats also can lose their sense of being able to defend themselves and become submissive.

She may want privacy which may be why she goes in the game room. Have you tried temporarily putting a litterbox in the game room to see if she uses it in there? I would also try putting shredded newspaper in the litterbox instead of litter and see if she uses it then. That can tell you alot about what's going on.

Also try feeding mom and watering her separately, maybe in another room. That way they don't have to share bowls. She may be upset about that which could be why the mom urinates in the floor.

Tabbi