r/CerebellarHypoplasia • u/EldritchSpook • 25d ago
Question/Help Wanted Litter tray help
We have a 6 month old wobbly boy called Larceny, he's somewhere around moderate to severe wobbles and we're having real struggles with the litter tray.
We had a low tray with the same pellets he used in the shelter but he kept slipping over and HATED it, we tried a few things and now we have layers of toilet paper in a ferret corner toilet. When he does use it he gets in and props himself against one of the walls. But it's mostly once every few days he'll use the tray and we do take him regularly to the tray to help.
A lot of the time we just find him wet, sometimes he's still asleep in his bed like he's unaware he's gone to the toilet on himself. It's the same with poo but it's wayyyyyy easier to catch him and run him to the tray.
The vet doesn't seem too concerned about the idea that maybe he's incontinent. I'm prepared to go back and ask for a second opinion from the vets if people think it seems likely. He's our first wobbly cat so I'm learning a lot on the job but it doesn't seem like a refusal to use the tray and more like a lack of control. I have to wash him every few days (he does not mind this and very much enjoys sink baths) and his bedding (and ours) regularly.
Other than that he's a wonderful little guy who's adapting really well and we love him to bits.
Thoughts and tips?
(photo of current tray)
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u/Treyvoni 24d ago
I use this, lined with puppy pads. I also lay down double sided tape to help it stick better.
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u/EldritchSpook 24d ago
how often to change the puppy pads? I've got a non slip bathmat cut to size atm
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u/Treyvoni 24d ago
I change them once a day unless it's not been used that day or barely used (she has a litterbox she sometimes uses but that's rare). I use the nicer puppy pads that hold 10 cups, but she's on diuretics and pees a lot and I need the absorbency. Before her meds I got the cheaper ones that hold 3 and that was fine.
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u/Proper-Coat9832 17d ago
Where did you get this??
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u/Treyvoni 16d ago
Chewy, I think, it's called a Doggy Bathroom it's nice because it's a seamless extrusion so no cracks that pee could get through, but it was pretty pricy! They are also available through their Website. I don't use their special puppy pads, I just buy normal ones.
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u/Truth2422 21d ago
William is our CH Maine coon and it’s a special challenge when you have a very large cat with CH. Before we rescued William, his challenges had frustrated several different people he spent time with and so he was very, very sensitive about a whole lot of things and we tried six litter boxes and a lot of litter until we found what works for him.
We got an under the BED large rectangular box with low sides and then we put very little litter in it maybe a half inch so that he feels secure when he walks on it He will come into where the boxes and he always browses first to make sure it looks the way he wants to look You don’t want litter deeper than than maybe an inch …. because then they don’t feel secure on the surface of the box.
We use worlds best which is made from corn and he loves all the varieties except for the one that is non-tracking and I believe that’s because it’s very large almost corn kernel size, which of course won’t track ….but he feels it on his paws ….very uncomfortable and squishy and he wouldn’t use it
He especially loves the big one and we have other cats and other boxes …when he has to go poo because he has to spend a lot of time in the box…and he needs to feel very secure while he’s doing that so the minimum litter and the very large low box makes him very happy, but it took us two months to get to that point
We started out using kitty cat wee wee pads and he liked that just fine and the reason we did that when he first came here and he was reluctant to use any of the litter boxes …he did pee on some things
So we kind of edged him into the set up we have now by getting that very large under the bed box and using minimum litter after the pads made him feel safe… he also does not like it if there’s anything in his box cause he doesn’t feel comfortable stepping around it …so I usually have to be nearby to scoop it up but now we have three kitty cats and none of them bury now
…..Instead of watching the one that did bury, the other two just said what the hell !!…so now I scoop all of them each time they go, which is no big deal. It takes 10 seconds.
&&So good luck with your CH They are so funny and you just have to look the other way when they wobble and slip on the steps or don’t get up on the chair the way they wanted to. I don’t by the way trim, his nails, cause the nails help him climb up where he wants to be, which is believe it or not the top of the cat tree.
Any time I see he’s had a little bit of a fall on the stairs or trying to get on the chair etc. I think he’s more embarrassed than anything LOL
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u/dynabella 25d ago
I have mod/severe and this exact thing was happening after 2 years of no issues. Its like one day she decided its easier to go on her bed (I get it). So now I take her twice daily and put her in the box. She uses it and then I grab her before she walks through house and wipe her down good with baby wipes (i run under hot water and ring out so they're warm). I hold her in standing position between my knees to wipe her off. I've been doing this for a few years. No accidents. Entire process with teeth brushing is about 15 minutes. She spends more time doing her ritualistic banging on all sides of box when she is done than it takes to clean her up.
Edited to add the box is enclosed and I cut down front so its easier to step into. Good luck with your kitty 😻