Need some advice....FAST (please)

We have 5 cats and one of them has taken up peeing and pooing all over the ktichen and living room (on couch, floor, counters, stove, table etc). This started happenig approx. 3 months ago. We figured out which cat it was and brought her to the vet. There is no medical reason why. Since it is both pee and poo, the vet said that its not a jealousy or spite thing (my DS is 9 months old).

We have taken the vets suggestions
Change the litter (we added a new box with a different type of litter....gone through three different kinds).
We leave the top off of one (the rest are enclosed)
We are using feliway

The vet says medication will not help.

My DS is trapped in his room (we have a small 2 bedroom apartment and our room has litterboxes in it) and its not fair to him. I've called many shelters (no-kill) and they won't take her because of her age (10+).

The vet says our only other options are putting her in a cage unless we are home to watch her or having her put to sleep.

None of these options are appealing. Can someone PLEASE help me figure out another solution.

Re: Need some advice....FAST (please)

How many litterboxes do you have?
I forgot the rule, but it's something like the number of cats plus one (so you would have 6 boxes).
Maybe try adding another one.

Sorry, I can't help with the shelter situation. I don't know of any.

Re: Need some advice....FAST (please)

if you must go the way of a shelter they do have a elder room at the bide a wee in calverton(or is that west hampton) either way they have a room just for elder cats. hth

Re: Need some advice....FAST (please)

Thanks, I will try Bide a wee. We have 4 litter boxes, I used to have 6, but we took one out of what is now the baby's room and one out of the living room kitchen combo, there really is no other places. Thanks again for your suggestions.

Re: Need some advice....FAST (please)

Posted by janet

if you must go the way of a shelter they do have a elder room at the bide a wee in calverton(or is that west hampton) either way they have a room just for elder cats. hth

Re: Need some advice....FAST (please)

I think your problem is not enough boxes. I would try putting one in the kitchen/dining area...you took two boxes away and it sounds like the cat is reacting to that....it sounds like the box this cat preferred was in that area and he/she is still going in that area.
hopefully you can find a discreet area to put the box.

ETA: I would think the worst thing you could do is change the litter and boxes...you want to keep things as constant as possible.

Message edited 9/6/2008 2:43:50 PM.

Re: Need some advice....FAST (please)

Posted by Gertyrae

I think your problem is not enough boxes. I would try putting one in the kitchen/dining area...you took two boxes away and it sounds like the cat is reacting to that....it sounds like the box this cat preferred was in that area and he/she is still going in that area.
hopefully you can find a discreet area to put the box.

ETA: I would think the worst thing you could do is change the litter and boxes...you want to keep things as constant as possible.

Re: Need some advice....FAST (please)

What about putting a box with a cover in the kitchen area? Maybe even one with a cover and a door, this way your DS can't get into it.