Litter box help PLEASE!!

[OldMama]

I'm having a problem with my 13 yo spayed cat. She quite suddenly started urinating outside her litter box. We had a covered box with little steps leading to actual litter and she would just wee on the steps (after using it correctly for several years!). We replaced that with a covered box with a swing door. She wouldn't go in at all so I took off the door. Then she'd go in to poop but not pee so i took off the lid. Now she poops in the box regularly. When she pees; however, she stands near the edge of the litter (but inside the box) with her fanny sticking out. Naturally the pee just goes on the floor. She isn't even bothering to try to cover any waste, solid or liquid with litter. I am keeping the litter pristine but nothing is working. Could she be senile?? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[BluegrassCat]

due to her age my first thought was that she was having problems with her kidneys, but after reading your entire post I am not so sure anymore. Give your vet a call, I always start there.

[Gladys]

my older cat started doing that, took her in and she indeed had a UTI. She also seems to have a litter aversion. she has never covered anything. but now that she feels better she's going back in the box. did you change the actual litter? can you go back to how the box was set up before? if she started doing that without any changes i would take her to the vet just went through something similar.

[dogoagogo]

It may be a perception problem. She seems like she wants to pee in the box but doesn't realize she's sticking out.

What about getting a larger, shallower box and putting her regular one in it, on top of litter? This would just catch the pee - it's a fix for you but not for her. 13 isn't that old, but if she's having a problem due to aging, you may just have to adapt to her, and not worry about retraining.

or

Maybe put puppy pee pads under the box and change them daily?

[gtown123]

I'm having a problem with my 13 yo spayed cat. She quite suddenly started urinating outside her litter box. We had a covered box with little steps leading to actual litter and she would just wee on the steps (after using it correctly for several years!). We replaced that with a covered box with a swing door. She wouldn't go in at all so I took off the door. Then she'd go in to poop but not pee so i took off the lid. Now she poops in the box regularly. When she pees; however, she stands near the edge of the litter (but inside the box) with her fanny sticking out. Naturally the pee just goes on the floor. She isn't even bothering to try to cover any waste, solid or liquid with litter. I am keeping the litter pristine but nothing is working. Could she be senile?? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Has anything else changed in your house lately?

Do you change her water often?

Have you been giving her any less attention or does she seem bored?

Definitely check for a UTI as well.

[Alley]

I had a similiar problem with our older (approx 19 yrs) recently. Had her to the vet twice in a few month period. She does not have UTI or other physical problems. She is well to put it bluntly crazy. After the last vet visit vet suggested we to try Feliway spray and Cat Attract in the litterbox. If those things did not work then we were going to go the cat prozac route. Both the feliway spray and cat attract got her using the litterboxes again. I must admit I have not used either in awhile. I do go out of my way to give this cat extra attention now. Who knows she is a crazy cat that I love. Before talking with the vet I was trying all kinds of things putting aluminum foil outside the litterbox so she would not go there, etc. If you need a vet recommendation I go to http://www.companion-pets.com/

[OldMama]

Thanks for the suggestions. All were helpful in some way. I will definitely get her checked out for UTI but will use those puppy pads and Alley's products as well to deal with the most immediate issues..
And, Alley, I really think my cat is (as you put it bluntly) crazy as well.