This is a bit of a weird question but within the past 2 months my cat has stopped using her litter tray and instead is peeing on the carpet. I live with my parents and my mother is worried that my cat will ruin her carpet and if I can’t get her to stop then she’ll get rid of her. The prospect of losing my cat is deeply upsetting me. I’m struggling with depression and she’s become a sort of emotional support animal. It would really impact my mental health if my mum got rid of her. I really don’t want to lose her but I don’t know what to do.
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Hi love,
Thank you for coming to Asking Jude for help. I’m very sorry to hear about the difficulties you are having with your cat and her litter box. I know that your cat is like family to you and that you care about her very deeply. Losing her would be absolutely devastating, especially since she is able to support you during your depression. I strongly recommend taking your cat to the veterinarian to see if they can figure out why your cat isn’t using her litter box. Since they are professionals, they may be able to quickly identify the problem and help you find a solution.
Although I am not an animal expert, I did some research on why cats may stop using their litter boxes. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), cats can refuse to use their litter box for different reasons: the litter box is unclean, there aren’t enough litter boxes, the litter box is too small or too big, the box is difficult to access, there is too much or too little litter in the box, etc. For more information, check out this link: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/litter-box-problems. Try seeing if any of those concerns might be what is causing her to pee on the carpet.
This link offers ways to help “retrain” your cat back to using their litter box, so I recommend clicking here: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/solving-litter-box-problems?credit=web_id96068337. I also recommend checking out this link (https://pawswhiskersandclaws.com/behavior/inappropriate-elimination-what-to-do-when-your-cat-refuses-to-use-the-litter-box/), which explains how you can clean the carpet to avoid her from peeing on it again.
As for your mother’s concerns, I strongly suggest talking to her about how important your cat is in your life. Let her know that you understand her frustration; nobody wants their personal objects urinated on by a pet. However, reassure her that you are actively looking for ways to retrain your cat to use her litter tray. Let her know that you will be cleaning up after her if she makes a mess on the carpet again. Then, you can elaborate to your mom about how much your cat means to you. This may help your mom see how necessary she is to you. You may even want to mention that your cat helps you with your depression. I found a link with tips on how you can communicate with parents, which I hope will help you: https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/talk-to-parents.html#
Sending love and support,
Helen
Thank you for reaching out to Asking Jude... Has the cat ever been brought to a Veterinarian? Are you abe to communication with a Veterinarian -- telephone, internet? A Veterinarian should be able to answer your questions...