It’s been a sad week at the Sommerer’s. The saddest part is that one of the cats has stopped using the litter box for #2. A month or so ago Cricket was peeing on the bathroom rugs, so we’re pretty sure that she’s the culprit.
Brad will be staying here while Lloyd and I are in Missouri with our families in July, and I joked to him, “If you find poop twice in the basement or once in a living area, put ’em down.” Yeah, that was funny until Wednesday night I discovered three piles of poop downstairs. I was pretty upset, and told Lloyd, “This can’t happen.” We’ve been cleaning the litter box daily since the pee episodes, so there’s no reason for her not to use it.
Friday night there was poop and pee downstairs. There was much weeping and Cloroxing on my part, and we decided to take them to the vet in the morning. If this was unfixable, I wanted them both put to sleep. We’re pretty sure it’s Cricket, but what if we only had her put to sleep and it turned out to be Pfennig? That would be bad. (To help us gather evidence, we’ve been using the webcam on my laptop. It has not been helpful so far.)
Anyway, long story made longer, we made an appointment for 11:30, and I wept my way around the morning. I sniffed, “I don’t know where we should bury them outside.” In a very kind voice, Lloyd said, “Lauren, they take care of the bodies.”
I know what that means – they throw them in a dumpster.
“No.” (crumbling into tears)
I sobbingly said that they could go under the hostas, since that’s where they like to sleep when they’re outside.
Lloyd is the best boy in the whole wide world. He went right out and dug a grave.
Well, we took them in and the vet said that ‘inappropriate elimination’ has many reasons, and gave us a couple of things to try. So, we have another litter box in another spot, and are putting some ‘attractant’ in there, because our old cats are becoming too senile and stupid to know what to do. We’re giving it another week or so, and if it keeps happening, we’ll put them to sleep.
That’s it. Warning: If and when this actually does happen, I will not want to talk about it. I hate crying.
That makes me teary-eyed just reading it…
When/if the burial takes place, well provide lunch in the fellowship hall dining room. But we won’t talk about it. Deal?
We’ve been having the same problem. We were told to try this – http://www.petguys.com/-039079056830.html. Buy it online. It’s WAY cheaper than in the stores.
Our older cat started pee in the house after we changed the guest room (his hideout) in to Anna’s big girl room. As it turns out, Jack is much happier in his basement apartment (the basement bathroom), but then he never sees us. But then we have Ollie, who seems to have an aversion to pooping the in litter boxes. He seems to prefer the tile floor right in front of the box. *sigh.
Any time we talk about the fate of the cats, I just start crying.
I’m so sorry you’re going though this. I’m sorry that I know what you’re feeling.
The diffuser was also recommended by our vet. He said the cost was around 40 dollars, so thanks for the link.
I’ve been checking the boxes and the security tapes, and so far we’re ok today.
Thanks for the kind words, everybody.
The last time Arron had a cat to the vet, she said that this is the hardest scenario to deal with – a seemingly healthy cat that has suddenly started doing this. It’s such an easier decision when there’s a definite health issue like with Ned.
When we moved Jack into his apartment, the pooping on the floor stopped. We both thought Jack was doing that too, but after about a week it started up again – clearly it wasn’t him. It’s so hard to make that decision. 🙁
I guess it was kind of merciful that Ned went so fast. Sorry about your hard decision.
Lauren, I’m so sorry this is happening. I also teared up reading this. I wish there was something I could do…please know my thoughts are with you.
Does this mean that Lloyd won’t be turning your cats into a diamond ring for you?
(I wanted to have at least one light hearted comment for the day. Otherwise, well, otherwise it wouldn’t seem like LandL.com.) 🙂
Sis, I know how hard this is on you. You’ve seen too many loved pets (Cinders, Skeeter, . . . ) come to the end of their lives. Now this.
As hard as this might be, may I suggest focusing on what the most loving thing YOU can do for her/them would be?
All dogs may go to heaven, but cats remain in our hearts.
Tuna is very, very loving. 🙂