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#1
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Help please! Cat is pooping outside litter box
Hoping someone will have some helpful insight for us.
Our 7-yr old neutered male cat has been defecating in the house for the past 4-5 weeks now. It was happening once or twice a week but now, it's almost every day. He urinates in his box. We brought him to the vet 2 weeks ago and they cleaned out his anal sacs (which were full) and did a CBC - results were normal. The next day, he pooped everywhere again. Then, nothing for a week. We were resigned to a behavior problem (we have a 13-month old who started walking around the same time as the inappropriate elimination started) and made an appointment with an animal behavior specialist. But earlier this week, we saw the whole poop scenario from start to finish and realized that he was in pain when passing the stool. He meowed really loudly and insistently, panted and then, judging by his awkward position, passed the stool in discomfort. Usually, after the meowing, he runs around like a bat out of hell dropping poop throughout the house (on the hardwood floor and on the beds). I was interpreting the meowing as cries for attention (I was usually tending to the baby when it happened) and the poop dropping as resentment. So, when this poop crisis started, we made sure we gave the cat more attention, never ignored his requests to watch him eat and did our best to make sure the baby wasn't stressing out the cat. After seeing him in pain the other morning, we have to conclude that the problem is medical. We took him back to the vet. The vet checked him out again and didn't feel anything amiss. When I mentioned mucous on his stool, he said that that usually indicates irritation in the bowel. He suggested a new diet (Medi-Cal hypoallergenic/gastro), meds (Apo-Metronidazole) and an X-ray. The X- ray didn't show anything conclusive (possible thickening of the stomach lining - subjective, according to the vet). The stools aren't that soft, but they are pale, smelly and there is mucous on them. We brought a fresh poop sample to the vet Friday night to test for Giardia. Won't get the results until Tuesday or Wednesday. I suggested a thyroid test, but they weren't able to do it because the cat was too stressed from the X-ray. We'll have to go back to do that blood test. Meanwhile, the cat isn't eating his new food (he ate a third of a cup when he got home from the vet - had been fasting for over 12 hours for his X-ray, so he was famished - but has not touched it since, so we switched him back to his Innova and he's eating again). Apart from the poop problem, the cat looks perfectly healthy. No change in appetite, thirst (he might be drinking a bit more), weight, energy level or daily routine. He is his usual gorgeous self. The only signs he has a -light colored smelly stools -mucous on stools -pain upon defecating -defecating outside his box (which he's probably doing because he associates pain with the litter box, right?) While we wait for the stool test results, we'll buy a new litter box. We have been scooping it out at least once or twice daily. It's clumping litter - same brand he's had since he was a kitten. Anything else we can do? Does anyone have ideas on this? Questions we should be asking the vet? Should we have his anal sacs checked again? Besides the thyroid, is there anything else we should test? We have a toddler and can't have the cat leaving presents everywhere in the house like this. We need a speedy diagnosis! It's not just the hygiene question: it's getting increasingly difficult to get the cat into his cage to bring him to the vet. Thanks in advance for any ideas. P.S. I searched this newsgroup and a few of the relevant posts listed links which are now outdated. |
#2
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Help please! Cat is pooping outside litter box
Roxanne wrote:
Hoping someone will have some helpful insight for us. Our 7-yr old neutered male cat has been defecating in the house for the past 4-5 weeks now. It was happening once or twice a week but now, it's almost every day. He urinates in his box. We brought him to the vet 2 weeks ago and they cleaned out his anal sacs (which were full) and did a CBC - results were normal. The next day, he pooped everywhere again. Then, nothing for a week. We were resigned to a behavior problem (we have a 13-month old who started walking around the same time as the inappropriate elimination started) and made an appointment with an animal behavior specialist. But earlier this week, we saw the whole poop scenario from start to finish and realized that he was in pain when passing the stool. He meowed really loudly and insistently, panted and then, judging by his awkward position, passed the stool in discomfort. Usually, after the meowing, he runs around like a bat out of hell dropping poop throughout the house (on the hardwood floor and on the beds). I was interpreting the meowing as cries for attention (I was usually tending to the baby when it happened) and the poop dropping as resentment. So, when this poop crisis started, we made sure we gave the cat more attention, never ignored his requests to watch him eat and did our best to make sure the baby wasn't stressing out the cat. After seeing him in pain the other morning, we have to conclude that the problem is medical. We took him back to the vet. The vet checked him out again and didn't feel anything amiss. When I mentioned mucous on his stool, he said that that usually indicates irritation in the bowel. He suggested a new diet (Medi-Cal hypoallergenic/gastro), meds (Apo-Metronidazole) and an X-ray. The X- ray didn't show anything conclusive (possible thickening of the stomach lining - subjective, according to the vet). The stools aren't that soft, but they are pale, smelly and there is mucous on them. We brought a fresh poop sample to the vet Friday night to test for Giardia. Won't get the results until Tuesday or Wednesday. I suggested a thyroid test, but they weren't able to do it because the cat was too stressed from the X-ray. We'll have to go back to do that blood test. Meanwhile, the cat isn't eating his new food (he ate a third of a cup when he got home from the vet - had been fasting for over 12 hours for his X-ray, so he was famished - but has not touched it since, so we switched him back to his Innova and he's eating again). Apart from the poop problem, the cat looks perfectly healthy. No change in appetite, thirst (he might be drinking a bit more), weight, energy level or daily routine. He is his usual gorgeous self. The only signs he has a -light colored smelly stools -mucous on stools -pain upon defecating -defecating outside his box (which he's probably doing because he associates pain with the litter box, right?) Right. It's not a behavior problem. From what you've written, it sounds like your poor cat most likely has some form of colitis. It could also be parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, some other colonic disorder, or, at the outside, tumors or polyps. But colitis of some sort would be my first guess. While we wait for the stool test results, we'll buy a new litter box. We have been scooping it out at least once or twice daily. It's clumping litter - same brand he's had since he was a kitten. Anything else we can do? Does anyone have ideas on this? Questions we should be asking the vet? Should we have his anal sacs checked again? Besides the thyroid, is there anything else we should test? We have a toddler and can't have the cat leaving presents everywhere in the house like this. We need a speedy diagnosis! It's not just the hygiene question: it's getting increasingly difficult to get the cat into his cage to bring him to the vet. Thanks in advance for any ideas. You might put him on a soft food or liquid diet for a day or two, if only to give his bowels a rest. Whatever food you give him after that should be either high in fiber or highly digestible and low in fat. Anything else will exacerbate the condition. Have him treated for any parasite infestation. Apart from that, try to keep his stress level down. The fact that his elimination problems coincided with your child's newly acquired ambulatory skill could point to irritable bowel syndrome, a form of colitis brought on by stress. Obviously I believe your vet should be investigating the possibility of some sort of colitis first. I could well be amiss, but your cat is demonstrating all the signs of a colonic disorder. HTH. Please let me know how things turn out. |
#3
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Help please! Cat is pooping outside litter box
Roxanne wrote:
Hoping someone will have some helpful insight for us. Our 7-yr old neutered male cat has been defecating in the house for the past 4-5 weeks now. It was happening once or twice a week but now, it's almost every day. He urinates in his box. We brought him to the vet 2 weeks ago and they cleaned out his anal sacs (which were full) and did a CBC - results were normal. The next day, he pooped everywhere again. Then, nothing for a week. We were resigned to a behavior problem (we have a 13-month old who started walking around the same time as the inappropriate elimination started) and made an appointment with an animal behavior specialist. But earlier this week, we saw the whole poop scenario from start to finish and realized that he was in pain when passing the stool. He meowed really loudly and insistently, panted and then, judging by his awkward position, passed the stool in discomfort. Usually, after the meowing, he runs around like a bat out of hell dropping poop throughout the house (on the hardwood floor and on the beds). I was interpreting the meowing as cries for attention (I was usually tending to the baby when it happened) and the poop dropping as resentment. So, when this poop crisis started, we made sure we gave the cat more attention, never ignored his requests to watch him eat and did our best to make sure the baby wasn't stressing out the cat. After seeing him in pain the other morning, we have to conclude that the problem is medical. We took him back to the vet. The vet checked him out again and didn't feel anything amiss. When I mentioned mucous on his stool, he said that that usually indicates irritation in the bowel. He suggested a new diet (Medi-Cal hypoallergenic/gastro), meds (Apo-Metronidazole) and an X-ray. The X- ray didn't show anything conclusive (possible thickening of the stomach lining - subjective, according to the vet). The stools aren't that soft, but they are pale, smelly and there is mucous on them. We brought a fresh poop sample to the vet Friday night to test for Giardia. Won't get the results until Tuesday or Wednesday. I suggested a thyroid test, but they weren't able to do it because the cat was too stressed from the X-ray. We'll have to go back to do that blood test. Meanwhile, the cat isn't eating his new food (he ate a third of a cup when he got home from the vet - had been fasting for over 12 hours for his X-ray, so he was famished - but has not touched it since, so we switched him back to his Innova and he's eating again). Apart from the poop problem, the cat looks perfectly healthy. No change in appetite, thirst (he might be drinking a bit more), weight, energy level or daily routine. He is his usual gorgeous self. The only signs he has a -light colored smelly stools -mucous on stools -pain upon defecating -defecating outside his box (which he's probably doing because he associates pain with the litter box, right?) While we wait for the stool test results, we'll buy a new litter box. We have been scooping it out at least once or twice daily. It's clumping litter - same brand he's had since he was a kitten. Anything else we can do? Does anyone have ideas on this? Questions we should be asking the vet? Should we have his anal sacs checked again? Besides the thyroid, is there anything else we should test? We have a toddler and can't have the cat leaving presents everywhere in the house like this. We need a speedy diagnosis! It's not just the hygiene question: it's getting increasingly difficult to get the cat into his cage to bring him to the vet. Thanks in advance for any ideas. P.S. I searched this newsgroup and a few of the relevant posts listed links which are now outdated. If your first vet doesn't get this sorted out within the next few days seek a second opinion. There is a medical issue here. Your cat is avoiding the litter box because he is associated that with the pain... figuring with kitty logic that pooping in other places might be more comfortable. Until the issue is resolved your cat will be pooping all over the house in what he views as an effort to avoid the pain. Very annoying yes, but please don't be hard on him because of this. |
#4
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Help please! Cat is pooping outside litter box
On May 20, 3:27 am, Noon Cat Nick
wrote: Roxanne wrote: Hoping someone will have some helpful insight for us. Our 7-yr old neutered male cat has been defecating in the house for the past 4-5 weeks now. It was happening once or twice a week but now, it's almost every day. He urinates in his box. snip Apart from the poop problem, the cat looks perfectly healthy. No change in appetite, thirst (he might be drinking a bit more), weight, energy level or daily routine. He is his usual gorgeous self. The only signs he has a -light colored smelly stools -mucous on stools -pain upon defecating -defecating outside his box (which he's probably doing because he associates pain with the litter box, right?) Right. It's not a behavior problem. From what you've written, it sounds like your poor cat most likely has some form of colitis. It could also be parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, some other colonic disorder, or, at the outside, tumors or polyps. But colitis of some sort would be my first guess. I think that's what the vet thinks as well. While we wait for the stool test results, we'll buy a new litter box. We have been scooping it out at least once or twice daily. It's clumping litter - same brand he's had since he was a kitten. Anything else we can do? Does anyone have ideas on this? Questions we should be asking the vet? Should we have his anal sacs checked again? Besides the thyroid, is there anything else we should test? We have a toddler and can't have the cat leaving presents everywhere in the house like this. We need a speedy diagnosis! It's not just the hygiene question: it's getting increasingly difficult to get the cat into his cage to bring him to the vet. Thanks in advance for any ideas. You might put him on a soft food or liquid diet for a day or two, if only to give his bowels a rest. Whatever food you give him after that should be either high in fiber or highly digestible and low in fat. Anything else will exacerbate the condition. He was certainly NOT eating the dry Medi-Cal the vet prescribed. He would just sit by his bowl and look at us as if to say "You really don't think I'll eat this stuff, do you? Come on, guys, where's my food?" Should we try canned food? Is that considered "soft food"? Have him treated for any parasite infestation. He's on the Apo-Metronidazole already. The vet said it would help reduce colon inflammation and would treat the Giardia if it is that (which is doubtful, since he's an indoor cat and we have no other pets). Apart from that, try to keep his stress level down. The fact that his elimination problems coincided with your child's newly acquired ambulatory skill could point to irritable bowel syndrome, a form of colitis brought on by stress. Didn't realize colitis could be brought on by stress in cats as well. Thanks for the insight. Obviously I believe your vet should be investigating the possibility of some sort of colitis first. I could well be amiss, but your cat is demonstrating all the signs of a colonic disorder. HTH. Please let me know how things turn out.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Thank you very much for your input. |
#5
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Help please! Cat is pooping outside litter box
On May 20, 5:11 am, Joe Canuck wrote:
Roxanne wrote: Hoping someone will have some helpful insight for us. Our 7-yr old neutered male cat has been defecating in the house for the past 4-5 weeks now. It was happening once or twice a week but now, it's almost every day. He urinates in his box. snip Thanks in advance for any ideas. P.S. I searched this newsgroup and a few of the relevant posts listed links which are now outdated. If your first vet doesn't get this sorted out within the next few days seek a second opinion. I must admit that we are a bit annoyed with the vets (two vets at the vet clinic have seen him so far). They're doling out the course of action with an eye dropper it seems. There is a medical issue here. Your cat is avoiding the litter box because he is associated that with the pain... figuring with kitty logic that pooping in other places might be more comfortable. Until the issue is resolved your cat will be pooping all over the house in what he views as an effort to avoid the pain. Very annoying yes, but please don't be hard on him because of this.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Oh, it's annoying all right and a lot icky when there's a baby in the house, but we don't blame him for this. It's not his fault and we feel so bad for him. Poor thing. |
#6
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Help please! Cat is pooping outside litter box
Roxanne wrote:
On May 20, 3:27 am, Noon Cat Nick wrote: You might put him on a soft food or liquid diet for a day or two, if only to give his bowels a rest. Whatever food you give him after that should be either high in fiber or highly digestible and low in fat. Anything else will exacerbate the condition. He was certainly NOT eating the dry Medi-Cal the vet prescribed. He would just sit by his bowl and look at us as if to say "You really don't think I'll eat this stuff, do you? Come on, guys, where's my food?" Should we try canned food? Is that considered "soft food"? I should think it would still produce solid stools, which will be painful to pass. A better option, IMVHO, would be baby food, which also acts somewhat as a stool softener. Dilute it a bit. Thank you very much for your input. You're genuinely welcome. Again, let me know what happens. |
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