How to Make an Accessible Litter Box for Arthritic Cats
When Kitty Can't Squat
I love my cats. I love to hold them, play with them, and watch them pounce on each other. However, I don't love cleaning up cat pee. My elderly cat, Sophie, stopped squatting to urinate.
Sadly, bathroom mishaps become the reality and the norm for older cats who begin having orthopedic difficulties. This is usually attributed to age-related arthritis, but even younger cats can exhibit unwelcome elimination behavior that drives their loving owners to the brink of sanity.
Never fear! I have a wonderful solution. Thanks to some research into the subject, I've discovered an inexpensive and marvelously simple answer to Sophie's standing pee problem. In the beginning, I noticed that she was having difficulty jumping up onto the bed anymore, and she started eliminating outside of the covered litter box. There are often two standard reasons cats do this; the box is dirty (which wasn't the case for me), or the cat has a medical problem and is trying to let the owner know. Always visit the vet when this happens to rule out a Urinary Tract Infection because ignoring such can be fatal for the animal.
In my case, it was neither of these two usual suspects. Sophie was experiencing discomfort trying to step into the higher box. I purchased a flat, uncovered litter pan for her. This worked for all of a month before I noticed that she was still eliminating outside of the box. I observed her and discovered why. Sophie would enter her flat pan, dig a hole, then stand straight up, without squatting, and pee. It sprayed everywhere!
After cleaning this up a couple times, I began searching for a solution. Veterinarians explained that older cats sometimes stop squatting because it hurts their knees. Poor Sophie wasn't misbehaving, she was simply working within her limits; and as someone who has suffered with Rheumatoid Arthritis her whole life, who was I to not understand her dilemma? It was recommended that I purchase a large Rubbermaid storage bin.
A hole is cut into the side, low enough for the cat to enter without having to step over, but high enough to contain the cat litter. I purchased a 30-gallon size. It cost a mere $9.97 at Home Depot. Two of the employees there even cut the opening into the side for me. All I had to do was draw the size opening I desired with a Sharpie and purchase the little $6 hand saw. All in all, it cost me $17 and some change; far less expensive than most covered litter boxes.
The sides of the bin are tall enough that Sophie can walk in and urinate on the walls all she wants without it going outside the box. The Rubbermaid bins are easy to clean with Lysol wet wipes and they don't absorb the urine. It's a win-win for everyone. Now I have the peace of mind that I won't wake up to a puddle of cat pee, and Sophie is happy with her large, easy-access kitty toilet.
When you love your animals, you find a way to accommodate them in their declining years. Sophie will be 13 years old in April, 2012. I hope for many more years with her and knowing we've conquered the problem elimination will make those years happy for us both.
(Please see pictures for visual illustration of how to create a custom easy access litter box)
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Sadly, bathroom mishaps become the reality and the norm for older cats who begin having orthopedic difficulties. This is usually attributed to age-related arthritis, but even younger cats can exhibit unwelcome elimination behavior that drives their loving owners to the brink of sanity.
Never fear! I have a wonderful solution. Thanks to some research into the subject, I've discovered an inexpensive and marvelously simple answer to Sophie's standing pee problem. In the beginning, I noticed that she was having difficulty jumping up onto the bed anymore, and she started eliminating outside of the covered litter box. There are often two standard reasons cats do this; the box is dirty (which wasn't the case for me), or the cat has a medical problem and is trying to let the owner know. Always visit the vet when this happens to rule out a Urinary Tract Infection because ignoring such can be fatal for the animal.
In my case, it was neither of these two usual suspects. Sophie was experiencing discomfort trying to step into the higher box. I purchased a flat, uncovered litter pan for her. This worked for all of a month before I noticed that she was still eliminating outside of the box. I observed her and discovered why. Sophie would enter her flat pan, dig a hole, then stand straight up, without squatting, and pee. It sprayed everywhere!
After cleaning this up a couple times, I began searching for a solution. Veterinarians explained that older cats sometimes stop squatting because it hurts their knees. Poor Sophie wasn't misbehaving, she was simply working within her limits; and as someone who has suffered with Rheumatoid Arthritis her whole life, who was I to not understand her dilemma? It was recommended that I purchase a large Rubbermaid storage bin.
A hole is cut into the side, low enough for the cat to enter without having to step over, but high enough to contain the cat litter. I purchased a 30-gallon size. It cost a mere $9.97 at Home Depot. Two of the employees there even cut the opening into the side for me. All I had to do was draw the size opening I desired with a Sharpie and purchase the little $6 hand saw. All in all, it cost me $17 and some change; far less expensive than most covered litter boxes.
The sides of the bin are tall enough that Sophie can walk in and urinate on the walls all she wants without it going outside the box. The Rubbermaid bins are easy to clean with Lysol wet wipes and they don't absorb the urine. It's a win-win for everyone. Now I have the peace of mind that I won't wake up to a puddle of cat pee, and Sophie is happy with her large, easy-access kitty toilet.
When you love your animals, you find a way to accommodate them in their declining years. Sophie will be 13 years old in April, 2012. I hope for many more years with her and knowing we've conquered the problem elimination will make those years happy for us both.
(Please see pictures for visual illustration of how to create a custom easy access litter box)
Just in time for Christmas, introducing my first children's book (and first in a series), The Cat Who Wanted to be a Reindeer. This fully color-illustrated story is for children 9 and under and available for download on NOOK from Barnes and Noble. This heartwarming tale of Sam and his feline friends makes a wonderful gift.
Follow me on Facebook and TWITTER! ...and check out my blog covering all other topics - One Pissed Wet Cat on Open Salon/Salon.com
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Published by MICHELE E. GWYNN
Ms. Gwynn is a freelance writer for two local papers in San Antonio, Texas, and an independent contractor for Examiner.com. She holds a degree in Broadcasting, and has published her first Sci-fi short story,... View profile
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