Need advice on anxiety issues

[Syd&Max]

Hi everyone,
I have a question about cat anxiety. Max - who you may remember as the cat who had a urinary blockage - has been doing well since his illness in August. He has been using the box just fine, but has a setback every single time I clean the litter. This sounds weird, but if I leave it a little dirty, with urine clumps and poop, he seems fine. When I scoop and clean it, he protests by going somewhere else for a day or so. Then, he goes back to the box. Weird! Well, Friday I cleaned as usual, worring that the usual protest would follow. I checked the box Saturday morning, and no pee or poop. We went out of town for the day, and Max was left without us or our dog Sydney. Basically he was alone for 12 hrs or so. Usually the cat and dog are alone from 7 to 3 when we are at work. Anyways, when we returned about 7 pm Sat night, he still had not used the boxes. I discovered this morning that he had peed a few times on my wood floors in my dining room, and it also got on the drapes. It is all cleaned (I am a pro at this now - Nature's Miracle), and he has since been to the box (a pee and a little poop) but he is very skiddish and withdrawn. I spoke to my vet a while back about this protesting, and she thinks it is purely behavioral. Could a change in his box do this to him? Maybe I should clean only some pee and poop out, instead of cleaning it totally? This latest cleaning seems to have pushed Max to the deep end. Why is he fine when the box is dirty, but when it is cleaned we have an emotional breakdown for 2 days? What can I do? Help!

[kehorner]

Well, I would definitely try just not cleaning out all of the clumps, and see if that works. It's definitely the path of least resistance, and if it fixes your problem that would be great.

Who knows what the poor guy has running through his head. I've got one who runs every time I go to scoop the boxes because LAST JULY, for a period of 4 DAYS, we were travelling and the last thing that I did before I threw him into the carrier for 10 hours of driving was scoop the box. So almost half a year later, and the poor guy is still traumatized! Of course, I'm not saying that you did anything to traumatize your cat, just that he could have some very strange psychological connection somewhere that you don't see which is causing his behavior. Good luck!

[Ash]

I agree with kehorner. Just leave a little bit in the box for him. Who knows why he prefers it that way. It's definitely the first time I hear of it.

I'm glad Max is still with you and improving! Well done!

[Syd&Max]

Thanks for the replies. Max seemed more himself last night - cuddled up with me on the couch, laying in his spots, etc. However, when I went downstairs (by his box), he did not follow me. He still seems all wigged out about the box. Like I said, he was FINE until I changed the litter (maybe too much of it), but then again all I did was scoop. My vet did mention (and I have a call in about) medication to relieve some of his anxiety. Any thoughts on this? I have a feeling I will be taking him in again this week! He is peeing and pooping, so I am pretty sure it is mental, not physical.

[Ash]

Medications for anxiety are obviously not a real solution to a problem. But since Max's problems have been going on for a long time and he seems to be especially sensitive about his litterbox habits, like a fixation, it might be a good idea to discuss it with your vet. A mild drug given for a short while might be able to cut this fixation and anxiety about the issue. Cats can become mentally very hooked on one thing ...

[Traci]

I am not in favor of anti-anxiety drugs for cats, they are not the solution, and many of them cause significant side effects, and end up only masking the problem. Most behavioral issues can be resolved when the owner makes a committment and spends quality time in resolving them.

He could also be suffering slight seperation-anxiety, since it was obvious he was alittle "off" on the day you were gone.

[Syd&Max]

am not in favor of anti-anxiety drugs for cats, they are not the solution, and many of them cause significant side effects, and end up only masking the problem

I don't think they would be used long-term, but just like Ash said, to break that obsession with his box. My vet, who is very seasoned and knowledgeable, is in favor of it.

Most behavioral issues can be resolved when the owner makes a committment and spends quality time in resolving them.

I have to disagree - I have spent an ENORMOUS amount of time, money, and energy to get Max to feel "normal". I have been extremely patient, and have done everything everyone has suggested. He seems to have a big problem with his box - he likes it dirty, which makes it staying clean a problem. If I leave it dirty, he is fine. I clean it, not so fine. I just don't want anyone implying that he is like he is because his owner has not invested any time in him. Quite the contrary! I have even been told that I should have given up a long time ago, which I would never have done.

He could also be suffering slight seperation-anxiety, since it was obvious he was alittle "off" on the day you were gone

I agree. Today when I returned from work there were no accidents - he even peed in the box again. He seems a little skiddish still, but better every day. I think it is a combo of the box being cleaned and us leaving. Bad timing on my part!