My 18-year-old cat won't go out to pee, should I get a litter box?

I am sorry to hear about your kitty. It is possible he has a negative association with the litterbox after his blockage. I assume you mean he is urinating outside his box when you say he isn't using it- if he is not urinating at all then he needs to return to the vet right away. I would consider getting several new boxes, the larger the better (a box 1.5 times the length of the cat is recommended, often rubbermaid type sweater boxes are used in these cases). I would recommend getting a Feliway diffuser https://www.feliway.com/us#redirected which can have a calming effect and consider a calming supplement such as Zylkene or Composure, and discuss with your vet whether or not any other medications may be needed, such as pain medication or anti-anxiety medication depending on your cat's history. You can read more at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951508

It should be fine if he’s choosing to go outside. I would think you would find urine or feces in the house if he is going indoors. Many cats prefer to go outside and as long as he has the choice to use the litter box I wouldn’t be concerned.

Hi there. Yes, you could certainly try leaving the litter box in your attached bathroom so that it's closer and easier for her to get to, as a starting point. But in a cat this age, I would be very suspicious of an underlying medical issue causing this behavior - this can be true even if she appears generally healthy otherwise, on the outside. Possible causes would include hyperthyroidism, a GI problem such as chronic pancreatitis or inflammatory bowel disease, or arthritis making it difficult or painful for her to get into the litter box when she needs to go. I would recommend a vet visit for a thorough physical exam and some basic lab work to check for these issues. If she has a medical problem of some kind, having it treated appropriately will often resolve the unwanted accidents.

I'm sorry to hear about what is happening. In terms of your cat, felines definitely can have a physiologic response to stress resulting in what you are seeing. The one thing that you would definitely want to be sure about is whether or not Shadow is refusing to urinate or is unable to urinate. One is obviously an emergency while the other is a waiting game. If she has refused to urinate for any more than a day, I would start to be somewhat concerned. I would be much more concerned if you start to see any straining in the litterbox or indications of pain / discomfort. This condition is something we are more likely to diagnose in male cats, but can occur less frequently in females. I think keeping her somewhere quiet for now is great provided she has free access to water and a litterbox. I would also make sure you are checking frequently for any changed in urination status or Shadow's behavior / demeanor. If you come to believe there may be an inability to urinate, take Shadow to the veterinarian immediately. Hope this helps.

Try using a litter box attractant. You can purchase one online or in most pet stores. A pheromone product such as Feliway spray or plug in diffuser may decrease any anxiety or stress. Consider a wider litterbox with a low edge. Since Whistles is older, he may have difficulty stepping into the box.

Poor Monty. If Monty seems lethargic, vomits, or gets into the position to urinate and does not produce any urine, then I would take him to the veterinarian immediately. However, since we know he prefers not to use a litterbox and had the stress of the move, that might be your explanation. If you have any idea where he used to like to urinate/defecate (grass, dirt, mulch, plants, etc), I would try to replicate that in the new yard since that is his preferred area to go. The other problem is that most cats want to have privacy, so he may not go in front of you (while on a leash). Since we are coming into a holiday weekend, I would recommend having your vet evaluate him tomorrow (presuming that they are open) if he does not urinate overnight tonight just to make sure that everything is OK. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tobei. First, it is a good idea for him to see his veterinarian to determine there is not a medical cause contributing to his condition. For example, a disease that will increase his thirst will make him urinate more and this can lead to going out of th box. If he does not have an underlying disease, then it is a behavioral problem. In this case, you need a minimum of one litterbox for every cat in the house plus one. Most cats prefer uncovered boxes. The boxes need to be in safe locations away from loud noises such as appliances. Older cats are prone to arthritis and it can be difficult to get in and out of the litterbox. In this case using the lid to a large Sterilite storage container is an option. The very low lip may make it easier for him to access it. I hope this information helps!