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Cats/Senior cat urination problem
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Question
My senior cat, almost 19, has begun urinating on the floor right next to his litter box now and then. He shows numerous signs of cat dementia. Please advise behavior modification techniques.
Lynda,
Congratulations on your cat living to age 19, which is quite senior for a domestic cat. Can your senior cat still get in and out of the litter pan, OK. Often geriatric cats over 15 years of age are quite arthritic, so you may want to try a more shallow litter pan.
You might also check to see if there is a urinary tract problem which may be making the cat go before actually getting into the litter pan. It is not infrequent that older cats have kidney issues. The first sign of kidney problems is weight loss and excessive water consumption followed by soaking the litter pan. If the litter pan is soaked, the cat may not want to go in it!
So before we worry about behavior modification techniques, medical problems need to be addressed and treated or ruled out.
I am also giving you a link to a series of excellent articles on feline litter box problems:
http://www.geocities.com/heartland/pointe/9352/litterboxhelp.html
Finally, make sure any accidents are cleaned up with an enzyme based cleaner specifically for pet stains and pet odors (available at most pet supermarkets or farm stores).
Please feel free to follow up.
Best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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