Whiskers has been avoiding the litter box in the hallway lately. He is 11, gray, and deaf. Tux, my 6-year-old black cat, uses both boxes without issue. I am concerned this is anxiety related. What was discussed during his recent veterinary visit regarding anxiety?
Oh no, I am so sorry! Coco is 14 and has hip issues, so I know how scary it is when they stop using the box! Did the vet check for pain first? I found this thread about vet notes on anxiety really helpful when I was worried about Peanut: Vet visit notes on anxiety
I observe that Lulu, my 7-year-old DSH, also gets picky. We changed her litter texture, which helped with her hairball issues too. See Lulu's hairball routine for the specific clumping brand I use. It might be worth checking if the texture is too rough for Whiskers' paws.
My River is 6 and goes outside, so I don't have this problem, but I know a lot of indoor cats get stressed by noise. Since Whiskers is deaf, maybe he is sensitive to vibrations? I manage my barn cats by keeping things quiet in Barn cats and predator control.
Thank you all. To answer the question about the vet visit, the doctor noted that Whiskers' anxiety stems from the lack of a private, quiet space. I have written down all the details in this thread about tracking his health: Tracking Whiskers' health. It is not just about the box, but about his routine.
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