I used to post here quite some time ago so I hope I can get some advice on my mom's cats strange behavior recently. I chose Zelda as a kitten but she adopted my Mom. I had her sister but I lost her sister Noni January to Kidney failure ... she took my heart with her. She was 16 (I was 16 when she came into my life.

Zelda is the same age. She used Sweat Scoop cat litter in her box for quite some time now and the same sort of litterbox (with a hood) the door fell off. One day I heard an odd sound and Zelda had peed outside the litterbox. There are pee clumps in the litter box so this isnt all the time. But often enough that its messy and smelly.

I caught her one day doing it and what she is doing is she walks into the litter box standing with her butt to the opening and just pees so it goes outside the litter box.

I am at a loss what it is. After what happened with my Noni she is terrified to take Zelda to the vet. But I dont see any obvious signs of a UTI my Noni had those sometimes so I would think I would know.

She had a problem briefly where her butt hurt and was leaking something reddish and she felt feverish. But then the next day she was better.

I am trying to help my Mom the best I can but I dont know why she is doing this.

thanks!

Christine

"I am lost. I have gone to look for myself.
If I should return before I get back, ask me to wait."

I believe you do need to take Zelda to the vet - your statement that "She had a problem briefly where her butt hurt and was leaking something reddish and she felt feverish. But then the next day she was better." is a big red flag to me, especially with a 16-year-old cat.  Do remember, she won't get kidney failure from seeing the vet, but she could have a serious condition that may kill her or cause her great pain if it goes untreated!

Once you've had her checked out by the vet, if the problem continues, try taking the hood off the box.  She may have just decided that she doesn't like the hood anymore. 

But please do have her checked out quickly, OK?  And come back & tell us what's going on with her!

And, as Cats Dolls said, uncover the litterbox, or perhaps get a second box for her.  She may have become claustrophobic, or feel that she has to do "separate business" in "separate boxes."

Keep us updated!