Litter box problem started recently

by michele m
(philadelphia, pa)

My male cat Strider will be 3 in August and sometime around the beginning of the year (around March) he ate some string. He went to the vet and he gave Strider some antibiotics and liquid laxative type stuff. After that all was good again.

But within the past month or so ago he did it again and the same steps were taken but now he's going to the bathroom everywhere. He has had the same covered cat box since he was a kitten and I don't know if that's the reason.

I'd hate to get him a new cat box if that is the reason but maybe I should try that first before taking him back to the vet. Some advise would be great.

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My Thoughts:

My first thought is that these problems could be totally unrelated, or, maybe the string is still in there and causing problems. I know that ingestion of strings and other foreign objects can bind up the intestines and pose a serious health risk. This is why I would certainly recommend you call the vet and see what your vet thinks first.

If he's had the litter box all along, and it's large enough for him, I think it's unlikely that the box itself is the problem. Cats can change their preference at any time, however, so it's possible.

My next idea is that maybe the laxatives threw him off track a bit. Also, antibiotics can mess with the digestive tract. This could possibly cause inappropriate elimination.

But, if it's been a few weeks since he was on either one, he's taking a while to get normal. It could be he got off track and just can't get back on the wagon, so to speak. If that's what it is, a little isolation retraining with the box should fix that.

In any case, I'd be concerned about a potential health risk and call the vet for confirmation, then go from there. I hope that helps. Please let us know how he progresses.

-Kurt