Cat going on carpet--Help! please

Question
QUESTION: I am at the end of my rope, having tried everything I can think of!  Adult cat, adopted from humane society 6 years ago.  No problem for first 5 years--cat always used litter box no matter what! For past year, cat periodically has BM on dining room carpet.  A few times, other places, but 95% of the time, its in this same area--even when litter boxes are clean.  I've given her 2 boxes one on each end of the house.  No change in lifestyle, food, or litter.  No other animals here, no house guests of any kind.  Sometimes she cries in the morning when I feed her.  When she goes on carpet it is usually during the night when I'm sleeping.  Sometimes I've felt she does it if she's left alone too long or if I go outside to work in yard & she wants to come out--later I find the poo on the carpet. Sometimes I think its behavioral and other times I'm not sure.  Otherwise no other health problems that I'm aware of.  Vet checked her for an issue with her fur clumping (this was b/f she was having issue going on carpet) and said she is in good health.  I've treated carpet with product called DUMB CAT which is supposed to break up the bacteria so the cat won't smell previously soiled areas.  It had no effect.  I'm constantly dragging out the carpet steam cleaner to clean these messes.  I've taken her to the spot and scolded her and even spanked her--well, smacking her face a little. She doesn't get it and goes right back and does it again the next day.  I'm not getting through to her.  It is now so out of hand I just don't know what to do... is it instinctive now b/c she 'smells' the previously soiled carpet and considers it her own personal large litter box?  Is it behavioral? a bad habit now that can't be broken? She DOES use the liter box the rest of the day and time; most of the time, in the morning when I get up she's done it again.  What the heck do I do?  I am a renter so cannot pull up the carpet and I'm thinking about taking her back to the humane society! I'm afraid my landlord may find out that the cat is going on the carpet.  If someone came in here with a black light they'd see she's gone all around the dining room table.  By the way, I'm rarely in the dining room area; although it is open to the living room, but rarely sit at the table there or use that particular area. And NO! I will NOT put a litter box there--absolutely NOT!  and if it means getting rid of the cat or putting a liter box in the dining room; I will have to say goodbye to her as painful as that may be.  I live on a highway and can't make her an outdoor cat.  But actually I've been do disgusted with her that several times I tried to do it anyway--make her an outdoor cat.  But she cries at the door calling "hello, hello" and it breaks my heart so I let her back in; and that's not a long term solution anyway.  I live in the northern climate and in the winter I can't banish her to the outdoors anyway.  Is there something I can put in the carpet that will keep her from wanting to go there?  I've tried putting plastic down but she goes on the carpet between the plastic and the wall!  I've put her food and water dishes out there but she will just go a few feet over from her food dish. I read cat don't like fragrances so I put all kinds of sweet smelling air fresheners there and a Renuzit right on the floor near where she goes, and just went right next to it!  I've shaken that carpet freshener powder generously over the carpet and let it sit there and she just pooped right on top of it.  She's an affectionate cat and otherwise there are no other problems;except she cries if I go outside even for a minute.  I know this is a long post, but I wanted to let you know I've tried everything I could think of.  In the morning when I wake up she's right there in the bed with me and very affectionate; and at night when I read in bed she's right with me.  Please help... spanking and scolding her doesn't help and i don't want to be a cat abuser anyway!  I feel awful scolding her, but I don't know what else to do.  As far as shutting her up in one room; that doesn't work either, she scratches at the door, tears up the carpet and cries and "howls hello? hello? hello?" she says. This cat has 3 cat beds! 2 liter boxes that I scoop out faithfully each and every single night! toys and all the luxuries a cat could want.  I could probably be more affectionate toward her but I work from home... i  have to work, you know?  I give her Purina dry cat food, and there's been no change in her diet. Help!  how can I get her to stop going on the dining room carpet!?  Should I take her back to the humane society so she can have a fresh start with someone else?  She is fixed and I will pay the adoption fee for the new owner to increase her chances for adoption; but as I write that line that I just wrote it makes me feel like crying.  Other than pooping on the carpet for the past year or so, she's been a good friend.  Like I said, I rent and can't pull up the carpet; that's out of the question!  If I owned the place, I would if that's what it took.  It just feels hopeless to me.  I think if I took her to the vet, he's probably say her health is fine.  I sense that it is really. She does get anxious sometimes.  Maybe a sedative or something?  Is there anything I can put on the carpet to discourage her and get rid of any odor that she smells which may be instinctively making her go there?  OK... I'm really praying for some help here and appreciate anything you can tell me. I just can't connect any event or circumstance with the time this all started.  Like I said, she wasn't always this way. The first 5 years she's been with me, she never went anywhere she shouldn't have. As far as urine, she seems to be using the box for that. Mostly she does this at night between the time I go to bed and the time I wake up.   Thanks very much, Joy

ANSWER: Joy,

Punishing her won't help, it will just confuse her because she won't understand, especially if she can't help it. When a cat has a sudden change in behavior there is a most often a reason for it. It sounds like it could possibly be a medical issue. She may have some type of intestinal parasite or abdominal issue. It is rare, but she may even have a tumor or cancer. If you got her as an adult, she may be older than you think and she may be starting to have age-related issues. Cats can get a form of kitty Alzheimer's which makes them behave in a bizarre manner, or she may have arthritis that makes it painful for her to get into a litterbox at night. When a cat avoids using the litterbox, it most often means that the cat has pain when using it and associates that pain with the litterbox and goes elsewhere. I would find out if it is a medical problem causing her behavior before dealing with it as a behavioral problem.

Have you tried keeping her in your bedroom at night with the door closed and a litterbox in there? Do you have a night light on at night? She can be going blind and may have trouble seeing at night where her litterboxes are so she goes somewhere familiar to her. Have you tried putting puppy training pads next to her litterbox? She may also be going deaf, and when she is left alone she panics because she can't hear where you are (by vibrations#.

I would have her checked by a vet is familiar with geriatric cat care and their conditions #not all vets are which can be detrimental to an older cat#. They can check the condition of her thyroid, kidneys, liver, etc. and give her pain medication if she has arthritis or other ailment.

Can you let her out with you when you go outside? She may be stressing or upset about something that you may not be aware of. And it sounds like being alone is really bothering her. When a cat is adopted it is hard to tell what traumatic experiences the cat had previously. Some action or noise, etc. may have triggered something in her mind for her to start behaving like that.

Being prepared and knowledgeable about elderly cats will make things easier for the cat and for you. I am including some very good links about elderly cats. Copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar:

http://www.sniksnak.com/resources/geriatric.html

http://www.messybeast.com/towards-end.htm

http://www.2ndchance.info/oldcat.htm

Give your kitty a lot of love and reassurance now. She is probably as confused about her behavior that she can't help as you are. She needs to know she is not a 'bad kitty' when she has age related accidents or strange behaviors. Having an elderly cat, CAN be frustrating at times, and probably will get more so. Please don't ever punish her for her behavior. Someday, you may wish she were still here 'having accidents'.

This may be helpful:

Here is a 'recipe' for cat odor removal:

1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon of liquid soap

#3% hydrogen peroxide can be bought at most grocery and drug stores in pint and quart bottles#.

Gently mix all ingredients in a non-metal container. Do not mix or shake vigorously!

The mixture is best used when fresh but can be stored. Do not keep mixture in an airtight container.  Have a VERY loose lid as baking soda and hydrogen peroxide when mixed together will release oxygen and an airtight container will explode. You can mix and keep it in large spray bottle #Home Depot, etc.# but a plastic liter or 2-liter soda bottle works just a well.

Always test for color-fastness. Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent in stronger concentrations and can lighten materials that are not color-fast.

FOR LARGE AREAS OF CARPET:

You can use a carpet cleaning machine - one of your own or a rental and use the recipe instead of the shampoo. You will have to make several gallons of the recipe depending on the size of the carpet. Don't use the vacuum part of the machine - you will want to let the solution soak and dry for 24-48 hours before vacuuming.

Most carpet cleaning machines are not made for this use, and baking soda can clog the nozzles of the machine so use caution. Instead, you can use a 1 gallon garden bug sprayer #Home Depot, etc.#. Rinse the nozzle out frequently by filling the tank with hot water and spraying it in the bathtub until the nozzle is clear.

If using the sprayer saturate the entire carpet with the recipe, let dry for about 24-48 hours and vacuum. You will have to probably repeat the procedure again.

FOR INDIVIDUAL CAT URINE SPOTS ON CARPET:
If fresh, sop up as much cat urine as you can with a paper towel first. Use a spray bottle to saturate the spot completely with the recipe - do not blot. The recipe must penetrate the padding and possibly the floor boards underneath, where the urine has penetrated for it to work.

Wait 24-48 hours until dry then vacuum. If the urine odor is still present - repeat the procedure. It usually takes 2-3 applications to completely neutralize the cat urine odor.

Tabbi

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again Tabbi,
Wow!  thank you so much for your thorough reply.  I realize the punishment doesn't help... she simply doesn't get it and I can see that. I began to think this cat was really not too bright since she wasn't making the connection between the deed and the consequence.  But if all cats are like that, then I can now remove that stigma from her. :( I feel awful about having punished her.  And will never do that again.  Your mention of the intenstinal parasite reminded me that she actually was going on the carpet the last time she was at the vet.  I took her for hair clumping problems and asked him about it and he said she could have a parasite, but he couldn't tell from externally examining her.  I asked him if we could give her the medicine just in case and he said yes.  So I gave her the medicine in her food.
The issue of her going on the carpet is periodic or phasal.  She will have a week or month where this is frequent (sometimes daily) and then we go through a phase of weeks with no occurrence whatsoever.  At those times, I believe the problem (whatever it was) is resolved only to be disappointed when it starts up again.

On her age, she still likes to play, chase things and can jump up on the window sill and doesn't seem to have movement problems.  She runs quickly up and down the hallway and bolts around the house sometimes like she's chasing an invisible mouse or something.  She plays with her toys that way.  I don't know if that's an indication of youth, but she's not lethargic is my point I guess.  

She may have been abused in her previous environment and sad to say I've scolded her myself for these accidents and have taken her to the spot and smacked her little nose.  I can't say enough how sorry I am about that but I figured that if she received a consequence that she's stop.  

I watch the Dog Whisperer show on TV and sometimes wish there was a cat whisperer!  Maybe that's YOU!  :)  

I've thought the same thing.... to put a light on at night and I actually do that and have done so since she's had the difficulty.  So I've got that one covered but sadly it has not produced much different result.  But,yes, I always leave a lamp on in the kitchen at night and the room adjacent is the washing machine area and just beyond that a half-bath where her litter box is located.  In the washing machine area there is a night light too.  

One night I tried to shut us both into the bedroom.  I do have a litter box in there too.  It's at the opposite end of the house.  She seems to use that one for urine and the other for solids.  

I don't know what puppy training pads are Tabbi... could you explain what that is about and what purpose those are used for and how it may help?  

She hears me call to her and comes.... so I don't think she's going deaf but I'd no thought of that.  She does get anxious easily; is there any over the counter thing that you'd suggest to use to maybe keep her calmed down?  

What would you think of this Tabbi.  I feed her in the morning and then work on the computer.  She walks around crying and meowing a lot after she eats, like she's upset.  And I say to her What? what's the matter.  She just seems to walk around crying like she wants to go outside or something but I can't let her out.  Last time I did, she disappeared (as she always does if I let her out) into the wooded ridge behind the house.  I heard her scream and a barking and saw a dog chase her and she ran up a tree.  She's more an indoor cat and I don't think she knows how to handle herself well outdoors.  I live in a forest area but also on a main country road where cars and trucks zoom by all day and night.  So she ran up a tree and the dog stood there barking at her for about 5 minutes.  I climbed up the ridge and called and called to her but she wouldn't budge out of the tree for about 2 hours.  I painfully watched her as she tried to come down but each time would swing from the branch, nearly falling, and then climb back onto the branch and sit there.  Finally, after hours she managed to awkwardly climb down and I thought any moment she'd fall but managed it.   I think it freaked us both out!  So if I let her out, I'm concerned she may get herself in that kind of trouble again or get out on the highway.  I see dead cats fairly often in the road and I'd simply "loose it" if that happened to her, you know?

I tried shutting the door to the bedroom at night...but I'm getting old too! And i get up at night to march off to the bathroom and kept running into the closed door half asleep.  She didn't like it either and cried to get out of the room.  It didn't go well and I gave up on the idea without giving it any more effort.

I made some changes yesterday and thought to see what happened over night last night and if it went well, I wouldn't close us in the bedroom all night.  And fortunately, it did.  However, if the problem comes back, I will definitely make it a habit to close is in the room at night.  Like I said, there is a litter box in there.  Last time we tried it, she cried to have the door open so she could get out.  But if that's what we ultimately have to do... we'll do it.  And she'll eventually get used to it and so I will too.

I do have an appointment on April 15th to see the vet.  Money is a real issue, but somehow it will have to work out, that's all there is to it.  

You think being alone bothers her... and you're right.  But 99.999% of the time she isn't.  I work from home and don't really go out much at all except to the grocery store and the like.  In the summer I work in the yard but I think the sound of the lawn mower makes her grateful to be indoors.  But at night sometimes, I get into bed and she realizes I'm not watching TV anymore. So after being in bed 20 min. or so, then I hear her, "Hello? hello?"  So I yell out, I'm in here and down the hall she runs and jumps in bed with me until I sleep and then she goes off somewhere.  When my daughter comes, she will step outside to smoke and if I step outdoors with her, the cat is crying and meowing and calling.  Its ridiculous.
Is there any way to break that with her?  Its like a codependency or something.
Or she figures if anyone is outside then she wants to go too.  

Just a question more, if I may.  On the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and liquid soap mixture... does the take the smell out of the carpet from her perspective?  I mean she does not urinate on the carpet (as far as I can tell anyway), it is only the stool.  And by the way the stool isn't hard or formed, it more like the consistency of mashed potatoes and sometimes a little bit of watery mashed potato-like.   Does that sound normal?  And I can't get it up off the carpet without it making a smear.  Sorry to be so graphic there but I'm a bit embarrassed about how little I know about cats in general and I own one!  I should have never become a cat owner! (too late now).

My thought is that she still smells the stool even when I can't see it or smell it... I think she does.  So will that mixture neutralize that so she won't smell a litter box smell when she passes through that room?  

What about white vinegar and water mixture... do you think that will do the same thing?  I'm concerned about damaging the landlord's carpet.  

thank you so much and I will give you an excellent high rating once I figure out how to do that. I very much appreciate your help!  Truly, I do!
Joy

ANSWER: Joy,
Sorry for the unavoidable delay. I'll try to answer your questions and hope I don't miss any.

If the vet gave you parasite medication for the cat but did not test the cat's feces he could not know what kind of medicine to prescribe. There are different types of worms and parasites, and the specific type needs specific medicine. There is also the possibility of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome#, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or an allergy to something #or some ingredient# she is eating. You may want to try a different vet for a second opinion. I would bring a stool sample to any vet appointment. That would be a big help in determining it your cat has a medical issue going on.

Puppy training pads: they are the thin pads that you put on the floor to pee on that are absorbent on one side and leak proof on the other. Another similar product is the human pads that are put on beds or under elderly people for incontinence. They may help if she doesn't want to use the litterbox or has a problem with it. She may instead use pee-pads. They are a little inconvenient, but it's easier to throw a soiled one away than to clean a carpet.

No, there are NO medical over the counter products that you can buy to give to a cat to calm them, but there are other products available. There is a calming product that you can add to the cat's food or water that reduces anxiety called Bach's Rescue Remedy. It is available on-line and in health food stores. Here is a link about it: http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm
For the cat's stress you can get what is called Feliway #or Comfort Zone with Feliway#. It is a spray #or you can get plug-in diffusers#. Try PetSmart/Petco, etc., a vet's office #they use it too), or on-line. It is very popular and is good for calming cats and reducing stress. It copies the relaxing pheromones that cats produce from rubbing their faces on things.

Yes, vinegar will work. Here is another "recipe" to stop the smell:
Blot up what you can with paper towels. Mix one teaspoon mild dish-washing detergent in one cup warm water, dip a clean towel in the liquid and, working from outside in, dab at stain. Do not over wet.
Rinse with fresh water and blot dry. Next, add on-third cup white vinegar with two-thirds cup water and dab on stain.
Rinse with water; blot until dry. Once area is totally dry (after at least 24 hours), sprinkle entire carpet with baking soda (Bicarbonate of soda) or rug deodorizer. Vacuum after a few hours.

Here is a good website for some additional information for 'accident' cleaning:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)

http://www.catsofaustralia.com/urinestainremoval.htm

I hope this additional information helps. If you have more questions (or if I forgot to address an issue) send a followup.

Tabbi

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Tabbi,
I spent most of the day yesterday crying.  I took my cat to a Vet in the next town b/c I simply couldn't wait for the other Vet appointment on the 15th.  My local vet is on vacation.
I took a stool sample.  They found nothing in it--no worm evidence.  But they de-wormed her anyway, which from what I understand is no more than giving her a pill.
The Vet (a younger female Vet) said "this cat doesn't look right to me".  She said that she believed that "this cat isn't feeling good" because it appeared to her that my cat was not properly grooming herself.  I don't pay much attention to that kind of thing so couldn't agree or disagree on that point.  But what I could agree with is that her coat is dry looking and sort of spiking up (for lack of a better word).  Like it doesn't lay flat in some places.  She thought this to be a sign of something wrong.  The cat has NEVER URIANTED on the carpet or anywhere else, it is a problem with the stool.  She uses the liter box most of the time but has a bowl movement on the carpet, usually during the night or early morning sometime.  Its pretty much a daily occurance now.

The vet ran a (and I'm copying from the receipt she gave me) SNAP Feline Tripple test for feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency firus and heartworms which was negative.
She said that my cat is NOT dehydrated.  

She did a CBC/CHEM (blood work) and it showed a DECREASED WHIT BLOOD CELL COUNT.  All of the whilte blood ceslls were at the LOW END of the NORMAL RANGE.  Her chemistry panel (which checks for liver, kidney function, protein levels, clcium, phosperous, blood sugar and potassium) was normal.

Her bottom line diagnosis was this:  "I am suspicious that she has a problem affecting her bone marrow". I said do you mean Cancer? (I could hardly get the word out of my mouth.) She said that my cat may only have a year more to live, that she will definately worsen over time becoming weaker, etc. and at that point I should consider putting her to sleep.

I was shocked and as I write this I'm starting to cry again.  

Her stool, she said, is not right.  On this chart she had in her office, it was a number 6 and is should be a 2.  Her stool is too soft and barely formed.  From what I can tell, my cat's stool has been like this for some time now.

So now the food she is given, I'm told is not good.  She's been on Friskies dry.  So this vet said Purina One or Iams.  She was on Purina before this, but still had the same stool.  Other people (not Vets) say wet food is best, Fancy Feast.  I still don't know for sure what food to give her to help her with the stools...or if it is just a result of her illness or low white blood cells....and or stress.  

If this gets posted Online anywhere and anyone anywhere knows anything about this white blood cell thing, please email me:   Basically, I can hardly believe it that my cat has less than a year to live.

She's less active than years ago, but she is around probably 7 years old or something.  I adopted her when she looked like a full grown cat (to me) from the humane society.  I'm sad b/c she's been a good friend, good cat.  She did not start going on the carpet until about a year or so ago and around that time is when her coat began to look different.  

The Vet said there's nothing we can do.  

I will get the Feliway and Bach Flower Remedy; anything to make her final days more stress free.   How much Bach Flower Remedy do you put in the water?  Someone said that to me before and to rub it on my hands and pet her.  

I did the baking soda and peroxide, etc. mixture to the carpet; hoping that the result would be that she could not smell previously soiled areas so that it wouldn't be instinctive any longer for her to eliminate in that area.  I prayed it woudn't fade the carpet; it didn't seem to.  Yet, she is still using various places in the dining room anyway,even as recent as this morning.  I ordered Natures Miracle... the Anti-icky-poo product that someone recommended was too expensive although it had great online reviews.  I have the Natures Miracle carpet shampoo and pint spray bottle on its way and a product called SCAT which is high pressured air released from a can with a motion sensor on it to frighten the cat away from certain areas.  I don't know if at this point its cruel to use, as it may add to her stress.

I tried having her with me in my bedroom at night, one of the 2 liter boxes i have is there.  She cried and tried to get out several times, but I tossed some water at her, which seemed a mean thing to do.  That was before I knew she was in any way sick.  We got through the night; she seemed to used her liter box alot.  But the next day she left me 2 stool samples on the dining room carpet.. which is the place she keeps using.  So I figure, what's the point?  It didn't seem to do any good.  

She does use the liter boxes for urine all the time.  And for stool 95% of the time.  Soiling the carpet in the dining room has been going on for slightly over a year, about the same time her coat started to look dry and spikey.  So if the coat issue is health related, the stool happening at the same time is health related also.  I do keep a light on in the bathroom where the liter box is located by the way.  

She's less active than when I first got her but I attributed that to natural aging.  She eats fine, drinks fine and jumps up and down on things fine and sometimes even plays with toys and runs around at night like she's chasing things.  But I have to say, she is not as active overall. She does seem to cry sometimes for no reason that I can tell and has some periods of anxiousness.  I've not been really understanding about soiling the carpet and have scolded her and I know that hasn't helped. I feel awfully bad about that now.

Thank you,
Joy  

Answer
Joy,

EDIT:   I'm sorry, I forgot in the previous answer to reply to your query about Bach's dosage.
Bach's Rescue Remedy can be given in the water during any time of stress. You can use up to ten drops every time the water is changed depending on the level the cat is stressed. If your cat does not like the taste (though the alcohol content is almost negligible after dilution), you can rub one or two drops behind the cat's ear. The remedy can be given by mouth, which is the most effective method. Only a few drops (4-8) are necessary, and need not be swallowed, but only must contact the mucous membranes (gums, tongue, lips). Be careful not to contaminate the dropper by touching it to the animal (if this occurs, rinse the dropper in very hot water before returning it to the bottle). You can also add a dropper full to the water dish, or a few drops on wet food (there is no effect of dilution). You can add a dropper full to a spray bottle filled with bottled spring water, and use it to spray a room, carrier, car, around litter boxes or plants, or other problem areas. You can even put a few drops in your hand and pat the animal on the head and around the ears with it--the head is very sensitive to energy and will absorb essences in this way.

For most behavioral problems, you can give 3 to 4 times a day for 2 to 4 weeks, or add a dropper full to their drinking water every day until no further signs of distress are present.

There is no improper or wrong method of applying the Bach Remedies. It is not necessary to be precise in counting the number of drops in any of the dilution methods. You cannot overdose the Bach's Remedies, they are non-toxic and have no side effects.

The Bach Flower remedies are nontoxic and will not adversely affect any other animals in the household. It is fine to put the remedy in a common water dish. In some cases we may even want to treat multiple animals in this way. The Bach Flowers work through a principle of resonance; if the animal needs the remedy, the remedy will act.

Also here is a website that contains information too. It is for people as well as animals so you can get it at a health food store.
http://www.petsynergy.com/flower.html

        ---------------------------------------------
I'm SO sorry about your kitty! The brighter side is that you don't know for SURE what she has. A low white blood cell count can be an indication of an infection and apart from distemper or infection, it can be an indication of FIP, bone marrow cancer or and an auto-immune disease.

With runny stools the order of diagnostic pursuit is:
parasite/pathogen, diet sensitivities, Viral, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Being informed about the possibilities will help. I have included some good links for you to read that I hope will help.
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar#

Reading lab reports:
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/lab.aspx
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/labreports.html

Normal ranges for tests:
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/values.html

Here is a forum where people talk about their cats having low white blood cell test results:
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152731&highlight=fecov

Information about FIP:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fip.html

If your does have Gastrointestinal Lymphoma #cancer# here is some detailed information about it:

Gastrointestinal Lymphoma is the most common malignancy diagnosed in cats. It is also known as lymphosarcoma. It is important to differentiate the alimentary form of lymphoma from inflammatory bowel disease because the signs are so similar in cats. A biopsy is necessary to do this.

Gastrointestinal lymphoma is classified into low grade, intermediate grade, and high grade. Low grade types include lymphocytic and small cell lymphoma. High grade types include lymphoblastic, immunoblastic, and large cell lymphoma. Low grade lymphoma is only found in the small intestine, while large grade can commonly be found in the stomach. The symptoms correspond closely to the location of the lymphoma. The most common sites for alimentary #gastrointestinal# lymphoma are, in decreasing frequency, the small intestine, the stomach, the junction of the ileum, cecum, and colon. Cats with the alimentary form of lymphoma often present with weight loss, rough hair coat, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, although vomiting and diarrhea are commonly absent as symptoms. The tumor can also cause life-threatening blockage of the intestine.  Anemia is a common problem in all cats with lymphoma.

Biopsy of affected lymph nodes or organs confirms the diagnosis, although a needle aspiration of an affected lymph node can increase suspicion of the disease. X-rays, ultrasound, blood analysis, and bone marrow biopsy reveal other locations of the cancer. The stage of the disease is important to treatment and prognosis.
Stage I - only one lymph node or lymphoid tissue in one organ involved.
Stage II - lymph nodes in only one area of the body involved.
Stage III - generalized lymph node involvement.
Stage IV - any of the above with liver or spleen involvement.
Stage V - any of the above with blood or bone marrow involvement.[1]
Each stage is divided into those with systemic symptoms #loss of appetite, weight loss, etc.# and those without.

Complete cure is rare with lymphoma and treatment tends to be palliative, but long remission times are possible with chemotherapy. With effective protocols, average first remission times are 6 to 8 months. Second remissions are shorter and harder to accomplish. Average survival is 9 to 12 months. The most common treatment is a combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, L-asparaginase, and doxorubicin. Other chemotherapy drugs such as chlorambucil, lomustine #CCNU#, cytosine arabinoside, and mitoxantrone are sometimes used in the treatment of lymphoma by themselves or in substitution for other drugs.

Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for lymphoma in cats.  Lower stage lymphoma has a better prognosis. The most common drugs used are cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone. Gastrointestinal lymphoma has also commonly been treated with a combination of prednisolone and high dose pulse chlorambucil with success.

When cost is a factor, prednisone used alone can improve the symptoms dramatically, but it does not significantly affect the survival rate. Using prednisone alone can cause the cancer to become resistant to other chemotherapy agents, so it should only be used if more aggressive treatment is not an option.

The white blood cell count must be monitored. For clinicians who are inexperienced in administering chemotherapy, or who have not treated many cats with intestinal lymphoma, it is recommended that a veterinary oncologist or internist be consulted for guidance on protocol selection and ongoing management. Many cats with intestinal lymphoma can be managed successfully for some period of time!

More information on Gastrointestinal Lymphoma:
http://www.manhattancats.com/Articles/Gastrointestinal_Lymphoma_in_Cats.html

And this is a WONDERFUL site for caregivers of a cat with Feline Lymphoma:
http://felinelymphoma.org/

Unfortunately cats are with us for a short time and when you have an animal you sometimes have heartbreak along with the joy. Give the cat lots of love, understanding, and reassurances. If you can somehow afford it, I would get more opinions. From her crying and avoidance of the litterbox to poop, I imagine she is in pain. I would have a vet give you pain pills for her to ease her discomfort and extend her quality of life. I would also spread the puppy pee pads around the areas she is pooping. From her possible diagnosis I would say that it may get worse rather than better.

Loose stool suggestions:
Adding about 15% plain, canned pumpkin #not the pie mix# to add roughage to her diet may help firm up her stools. Hills Prescription Diet w/d -- a high fiber catfood, usually available from a vet's office, helps diarrhea. Sweet Acidophilus is available in the dairy case at the grocery store and that can help too. Do NOT give your cat regular milk, that causes diarrhea, and so does the flavor additives in raw chicken. Of course if her runny stool problem is directly related to a medical issue I'm not sure what will work.

Here is an article on soft stools. It is geared towards the Bengal breed of cats and/or breeders but you may find some useful information in it:
http://www.nitewindes.com/hc_healthdiarrhea.pdf

If she passes away, or if you need to euthanize her at some point, here is an EXCELLENT site for emotional support, and where you can have a memorial for your kitty too:
http://rainbowsbridge.com/hello.htm

I would also groom and brush her. If she is not grooming like she should then that will feel good to her and she will feel comforted by the attention from you.

Remember though to think with your head and not your heart. THAT is the hardest part! Do what you can to make her happy and comfortable, which includes easing any pain, and hope for the best.  She is probably as confused about how she feels as you are, and she probably is also embarrassed about her accidents that she can't help. I'm praying that it is not cancer. Please keep me updated. I'm concerned and care about her too.

Tabbi