old cat, no longer using litter box

Question
I have a 20 year old Burmese.  The vet has told me that he has a mass on his intestine, so at this point, we know it's just a matter of time - he's used his 9 lives.  However, he has stopped using his litter box, and I'm wondering if you have any ideas.  For quite awhile, he was still urinating in the box, but he's stopped using the box for that now, too.  He seems to be quite alert - still interested in being fed and having attention.  His bowel movements are generally very loose.

Answer
Hi Barbara.  So sorry to hear of his diagnosis. I would suspect the entire issue has to do with his medical condition, but you could try a litter called Cat Attract.  It's formulated with herbal attractants to encourage cats to use their litter box.  It comes with a money back guarantee, so trying it would be risk free.  You can find a retailer through their website, www.preciouscat.com

Something else you could try is to use an extra large litter box.  I have some "litter boxes" that are actually under-the-bed storage totes.  They're much longer than regular litter boxes, so they're easier for older cats to maneuver around in, and a little shallower than commercial litter boxes, so they're easier for senior cats to step in and out of.  They seem to be preferable to my guys over 12.  The only down side is that you have to use about 2-3 times the litter to fill it, so they can be heavy to lift when you need to empty them completely.  You'll probably need to scoop some litter out first if you use a heavy clumping litter (I use pine, which is much lighter).