Special Needs Part 2 - Litter Box

For Moki using the litter box poses a unique challenge. As you can see from the begining of this video, Moki starts to shake from side to side when either urinating or passing a bowel movement. Fortunately, the shaking when Moki urinates is improving. Unfortunately, we have not seem much improvement in Moki's shaking when he passes a bowel movement. Under either circumstance, Moki cannot use a litter box by himself. We therefore have to place Moki inside a litter box approximately four times throughout the day. (Note, the shaking does seem to stop when Moki actually urinates. The shaking does not stop however when Moki passes a bowel movement.)

Time has allowed us to develop a routine. We place Moki is the litter box every morning, after we awake. We then place him in the litter box again around noon, depending on who is home for lunch, or who can get home. We place him in the litter box a third time around 6:00 and finally again sometime between 10:00 and midnight depending on what time we go to bed. (Moki always sleeps in our bed with us, so this is his potty break before bedtime. Because of his disability, he cannot crawl in or out of the bed, so if he wants down during the middle of the night, which most of the time he does around 3:00 a.m., he wakes me by meowing, and I place him on the floor.)

Moki's problem in using the litter box, lies in his shaking. He is completely aware of where the litter box is, and how to use it. He even tries to dig a hole in the litter, when he is placed inside the box. However, he can only manage to dig a whole in the litter, or use the litter box for that matter if you hold him up inside the box. (He cannot dig a hole like normal cats, to cover his own waste, his holes usually amount to only a few soft brushes of the litter with his front paw, but he trys and thats what counts!)

If no one is around to assist Moki in using the litter box, he will walk over to where the litter box is located. He will then lay down on a towel located around the litter box, on his side, lift his leg up and use the bathroom that way. (He always goes on the towel by the litter box.) Unfortunately, this usually creates quite a mess, because Moki has a hard time standing up again, and usually rows over or steps in his own waste (hence we always have to clean him up, if we are not around to put him in the litter box.)

It was kind of hard to shoot this video while holding Moki up at the same time, so if anyone has any questions, just leave them in the comments section and I will anwser them tomorrow.

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Announcements:

Easter will be upon us shortly and many of you may be considering buying gifts for your friends and loved ones. If you are one of the many people that will be shopping this Easter season, we ask that you please stop by Artsy Catsy to purchase your gift(s.) Your purchase from Artsy Catsy will help to wonderful kitties, Lilly Lu and Moki. All funds raised by Artsy Catsy, for Lilly Lu and Moki, will be matched by a very kind hearted and generous, "anonymous benefactor." So why not give a gift that gives back this holiday season...

Are you shopping for someone a little smaller on your Easter list? If so, consider stopping by Beaus Bloggie to purchase one of the many squillions she is auctioning off to help Lilly Lu and Moki. These little guys make the perfect edition to any Easter basket...we are sure your little ones will love them!