Senior cat lived ‘happy life,’ until he was given up for hating the litterbox
As cats get older, sometimes changes occur in their behavior. This varies from health issues to stress.
One such senior cat is on the hunt for a new home after falling victim to this sort of occurrence, an Indiana shelter said.
Tucker, a handsome orange tabby with expressive green eyes and a distinct ear, is now on the hunt for a new home after stress took a toll on his bathroom habits.
“Tucker may be 13, but don’t call him old. Call him loving. Call him laid-back. Call him what we all know to be true: a truly perfect cat… with just one little quirk,” the Humane Society for Hamilton County in Fishers said in an April 21 Facebook post.
“This handsome tabby has been through a lot. He lived a happy life with his owner for 7 years, sharing space with another cat, peacefully snoozing in sunbeams, playing with crinkly toys, and curling up on laps. He was a litterbox pro… until something shifted.”
Unfortunately, Tucker began to despise his own litterbox.
“Over the last 6 to 9 months in his previous home, Tucker started having some litterbox aversion. Nothing else changed, he was still sweet, still gentle, still adored being held and petted, but sometimes, this is how cats communicate stress. And stress, especially for a front-declawed cat like Tucker, can build quietly over time,” the shelter said.
According to his pet profile, Tucker was declawed before he was given to his previous, longtime owner.
“Now, Tucker finds himself at the shelter, confused and in need of a soft landing. His ear is crumpled from old infections. His heart? Still wide open,” the shelter said. “He purrs with delight for neck massages, happily accepts cuddles in all forms, and has a love of sunspots and cat treats that could melt anyone’s heart.”
The ideal home Tucker would go to is one with a person who speaks fluent “cat” and has the patience to get over his “temporary break” from his litter box, his profile says.
For more information on Tucker, visit the shelter’s website.
Fishers is about a 20-mile drive northeast from downtown Indianapolis.
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 3:14 PM with the headline "Senior cat lived ‘happy life,’ until he was given up for hating the litterbox."