...
By Melissa Fleur Afshar
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A social-media post about a cat’s sudden turnaround after a year of litter-box problems has been applauded by pet lovers on the platform.
Shared on Reddit by the feline's owner u/b-randy90 on January 11, the story of Lucky—a cat whose behavior shifted dramatically after a simple change at home—has been upvoted more than 12,000 times, sparking a wave of supportive comments from fellow owners.
"I shared Lucky's story because we had tried so many different things and, when something finally worked, it was like striking gold, and I had to share in case it helped someone else going through it," the cat’s owner, who would prefer to stay anonymous, told Newsweek. "We are cat people—me, my husband, and my son.
Read More on Pets
"We currently have five, and they all have their own personalities," the owner added.
Lucky became part of the family after being found under a car as a kitten on the owner’s son’s birthday. Despite his sweet nature and love for people, Lucky’s litter box habits became a persistent challenge. For over a year, he would poop outside the box every few days and, when visitors arrived, urinate on bags or baby gear—behavior that left his family frustrated and worried.
"A lot of my family and friends saw the behavior and told me we should consider rehoming him or have him try being an outside cat," the owner said. "I don’t live in an area where that would be ideal and I couldn’t imagine anyone would want to take in a cat that has this problem. We also consider him part of the family."
...
Over the last year, the family tried medications, more litter boxes, new litter boxes, and scooping multiple times a day, but the behavior only slowed down, never going away completely. Lucky was also neutered. Nothing worked—until a recent visit from houseguests with a baby prompted a new approach.
"To try to prevent stress accidents, I set up a calm ‘reset space’ for him in our attached garage," Lucky's owner told viewers. "I put his favorite XL litter box, his favorite bed, toys, food, and water out there. What surprised me was how clearly he communicated once he had that option. He would come inside when things were calm, but when he started to feel overwhelmed, he would walk to the garage door and meow to be let out."
The change was immediate.
"And the biggest thing: no accidents. No pooping outside the box. No stress peeing when visitors were around," the post continued.
The owner realized the issue was not about cleanliness or quantity of boxes—it was about stress and control. Inside the home, most of their cats used a litter robot, which Lucky disliked. The garage offered quiet, privacy, and a box that smelled like him.
"Since giving him his own space he has improved in an amazing way," Lucky's owner said. "Not only had the behavior stopped, but he also seems happier and even more loving.
"He also will now go to the door and meow to be let out whenever he wants."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines