3rd Trimester

People with Cats (Long)

I have posted something about this before, but it is getting out of control.  My cat began pooping on the carpet in Feburary, she actually started sharting a bit and then started actually pooping in our front room.  We took her to the vet and they ran tests- all came back normal.  But they suggested another litter box, so we had 3 boxes and 2 cats.  However, she was still not using the box all the time.  Sometimes, she does poop in the box and she always pees in the box.  In June, we decided we would start locking her in the laundry room when we were sleeping or gone, since we couldn't watch her to make sure she wouldn't do it.  That worked until this month, now she has begun pooping on the tile floor when locked in the laundry room. 

Things we have tried:

We have praised her for using the box, with treats, petting, etc.

We have changed her litter.

We have put in an extra litter box.

The vet exhausted ideas for what could be wrong with her medically and suggested a cat psychologist.

We tried using puppy training pads, she just lifted them up and pooped under the pad.

We moved her litter box to the spot where she was pooping and she just pooped directly in front of the box.

Anyways, at this point, it is difficult because I can't clean up her waste and DH has to do it... his patience is wearing thin.  Any ideas?

Re: People with Cats (Long)

  • I should also add that February is about when I found out I was pregnant, so I'm wondering if it has something to do with the hormones.  Is anyone else having a similar problem?
  • hmmm that is a hard one. ?I am assuming you tried different litters and that you didn't switch litters around February. (actually I see that you changed her litter). ?There are all kinds you can try. We had one cat that would NOT touch the natural litters. ?We always use normal Fresh Step (non clumping) and scoop poops out everyday and change it every week. ?My friends all like Fresh Step the best too.

    The same cat that hated the natural litter also likes to spray in the house. Not the same as pooping, but they are both forms of acting out (if there is no medical issue). ?He takes kitty prozac and that seems to help. ?When he goes off it, he starts to spray again. ?Maybe kitty is depressed. ?Has the vet discussed an antidepressant?

    If you do go that route it can take a bit to find the right medication and the right dosage. ?If the medicine is right and the dosage, they won't act sluggish after the first week or so.?

    Good luck!!?

    image Liam Henry: 9/5/09 Emmeline Claire: 5/23/11
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  • The only thing I can think of that you haven't tried is Feliway.  It comes in a plug in diffuser or spray.  Feliway contains cat pheramones which can help a stressed out cat.  I foster dogs in my home and when I bring a new dog in I always plug  a new Feliway in to help my cat adjust.  GOOD LUCK!

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  • Nope, we went on vacation for a week and while we were gone she peed our bed (we knew she may do this so we had a plastic mattress pad on it) she also has a tendency to poop on our guest bed if she's mad.  

    The night we returned, right in front of me, she peed on our dog pillow (the dogs came with us on vacation and that apparently made her mad too) and then she also peed on our couch (thank god it is leather and was easy to clean) DH has also lost all patience and said if it happened one more time he was putting her outside. 

    They have emotional issues I guess,  and get pissy (no pun intended) 

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  • imagecaruso_60:

    The only thing I can think of that you haven't tried is Feliway.? It comes in a plug in diffuser or spray.? Feliway contains cat pheramones which can help a stressed out cat.? I foster dogs in my home and when I bring a new dog in I always plug? a new Feliway in to help my cat adjust.? GOOD LUCK!

    ?

    oooo yes I forgot about that! ?One of my friend's cats was peeing in their bed all the time, so they got a couple felaway plug-ins and the problem was solved. ?It relaxes the kitties.?

    image Liam Henry: 9/5/09 Emmeline Claire: 5/23/11
  • Def try the calming spray.  It helped our kitty who liked to mark in our living room  :)

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  • Something must be upsetting your kitty. Is there any changes he/she is having to get used to (aside from being pregnant)? One of my kitties had an issue similar to this (would not stop pooping on the bed) and eventually we moved into a bigger place and he stopped. Somehow you've gotta pinpoint what it is he/she is throwing a fit about. Don't you hate how you can't reason with them?!
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  • We have occasional problems like this with our oldest cat, mainly she will poo right outside the litter box.  It is not that frequent anymore, but a year or so ago it was happening a few times a week; now maybe once a month if that.  Has your cats environment changed, my vet said that could cause issues?  I think that is what intitally triggered the problem with my cat.  She in general is very particular about the litter space, like if it is dirty she won't go in it, if you or another cat is in the bathroom, she will find a different place to go.  We also had tests done at the vet, and no medical problems.  I now use tidy cats small spaces (it has the orange label) and  she really seems to like that formula of litter, and we try to scoop it 1-2 a day to keep her satisfied.  I hope this helps.
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  • We were originally using a lavendar scenter litter, i can't remember the brand.  When she started doing this, we switched to tidy cats small spaces.  Then we tried crystals.  Now we got a paper pellet one and are trying that.  Felliway is a good idea, we tried the felliway collar and she didn't do it the day she had it on.  However, after the first day, she started doing it again and the collar said it should last for 3-4 weeks.  I might need to get the plug in.  I've had her for 4 years and I love her to death, I just feel so bad that I can't help my DH clean it all up every day.  The only thing that's really changed is the pregnancy, other than that everything has been stable.  I am a teacher, so I have had summer off, but this started long before I went on break.  Le sigh...
  • imagejanice74:

     

    The same cat that hated the natural litter also likes to spray in the house. Not the same as pooping, but they are both forms of acting out (if there is no medical issue).  He takes kitty prozac and that seems to help.  When he goes off it, he starts to spray again.  Maybe kitty is depressed.  Has the vet discussed an antidepressant?

    If you do go that route it can take a bit to find the right medication and the right dosage.  If the medicine is right and the dosage, they won't act sluggish after the first week or so. 

    Good luck!! 

    My doctor hasn't mentioned kitty prozac... I think that would help her.  She gets stressed out really easily.  For instance, if my phone is on the counter, she freaks out or knocks it down- she doesn't like things to be any different, maybe prozac would chill her out.  Is it expensive?

  • sgrlsgrl member
    My cat is on Elavil - it unfortunately has not solved his inappropriate urination problems, but it does calm him down and supposedly it helps a lot of cats.
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  • imagesleepingbeauty825:
    Something must be upsetting your kitty. Is there any changes he/she is having to get used to (aside from being pregnant)? One of my kitties had an issue similar to this (would not stop pooping on the bed) and eventually we moved into a bigger place and he stopped. Somehow you've gotta pinpoint what it is he/she is throwing a fit about. Don't you hate how you can't reason with them?!

    I totally agree with this...your cat is stressing and it may not be something obvious. My parents had a problem with one of there cats doing this and found out the cat is just very particular with where things are. Also my sister needed a place for her cat to stay for 8 months so I took the cat in since I had two, I thought whats one more for just 8 months. Her cat had never had any problems in the 6 years she had him, but when he moved to our house he started stressing and he would pop in random places in my house. I wanted to cry about how often I would find this and how stressed I was getting. I added more litter boxes, tried moving them to different rooms, nothing seemed to help. We used the cat soother things and it helped but didn't make it completely better, he must have just been stressed from the other cats and the new place because it took until 6 months of him being at my house for him to be better. He is now back with my sister and has never had a problem since.

    I have found my cat to be more clingy or needy since I found out I was pregnant, maybe that has something to do with it, or maybe you might have to keep trying things to find out what is stressing your cat.

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  • I think it was 60 pills for $30, our cat had to take one a day. ?Yours may take less depending on her weight.
    image Liam Henry: 9/5/09 Emmeline Claire: 5/23/11
  • imagejanice74:
    I think it was 60 pills for $30, our cat had to take one a day.  Yours may take less depending on her weight.

    That would completely be worth it.  I am calling them first thing tomorrow! There is hope :)!

  • imageClaireBennett:

    imagejanice74:
    I think it was 60 pills for $30, our cat had to take one a day. ?Yours may take less depending on her weight.

    That would completely be worth it.? I am calling them first thing tomorrow! There is hope :)!

    ?

    Good luck! ?The prozac helped my friend's dog too. ?He was a rescue and had major separation anxiety.?

    image Liam Henry: 9/5/09 Emmeline Claire: 5/23/11
  • I have 2 cats and both have totally changed behaviors since pg...My little cuddly kitty seems to ignore me but always curls up on the opposite end of the couch/bed to watch me now.  The other, usually pretty calm unless hubby pulls out a laser pen now plays with everything, his energy is through the roof and driving me crazy...At least one of them was having problems in the litter box usage area.  Our box didn't have a cover and was tucked up against a wall in the laundry room.  The place where they chose to use was our rug at the front door (guess how we found out the very 1st time! thankfully just pee that time)....

    We were in the middle of a little rearranging in the laundry room (nursery hadn't started yet) but their box was left completely alone.  Who knew that my cats cared if my washer/dryers were stacked or not?!  Finally they got used to that and we got a new place for their box, it is in a cubby (well ventilated, no front on it just sides and back) and they LOVE the privacy!!  I think it made up for the remodeling in the laundry room...GL!

  • Is your kitty an indoor only kitty? Because the issue with kitty poop is really only with cats that eat rodents and other animals. If they are indoor only cats and do not have access to rodents and other animals there is really no risk with their poop.

    You could get some of those long cleaning gloves and use those to help clean up the cat poop sometimes. 

  • imageanhella:

    Is your kitty an indoor only kitty? Because the issue with kitty poop is really only with cats that eat rodents and other animals. If they are indoor only cats and do not have access to rodents and other animals there is really no risk with their poop.

    You could get some of those long cleaning gloves and use those to help clean up the cat poop sometimes. 

     I've heard this too, although I can understand why a pregnant person still wouldn't want to clean it up.  This late in the game, it is so uncomfortable to bend over and get down on the floor.  If you wear gloves and wash your hands, it should be safe.

  • I've had a similar problem. Out of no where our cat has decided the loveseat is his litterbox. I'm wondering if it's because he knows theres a baby on the way & he is jealous. But that doesn't really make sense since he is the most unsocial, skiddish cat!
  • Cats don't get mad or jealous, what they really get is stressed- and some get stressed more easily than others.  The only improper elimination problem I've had is when something looked like the litterbox, so I can't speak to that specifically, but the Feliway diffusers have helped a lot with my cats when introducing them to each other and the dog and foster dogs- really more than I expected.  So that, or talking to vet about behavioral meds is worth a try.

    Also, if you're not, use a cleaner like nature's miracle or another pet specific cleaner, because if pets smell that they've gone there before, they'll go there again.  Also, you could try to clean your litter box(es) with that cleaner, because the plastic can hold strong (to a cat) odors that they don't like. You could also try "Cat Attract" litter, which I've heard good things about.  Since your cat is going most of the time in the box, I don't know if these things are as likely to help, but they may be worth a try. Good luck!

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  • Our kitty was having a problem with peeing on the basement rug and in dirty laundry bins.  We have an extra box for her. 

    We ended up changing litter to Arm and Hammer's Essentials- it is made of corn- smells GREAT- and hides odor well.  It is very soft and clumps (not 100% firmly, but it does.)

    I hated the smell of the Small Spaces litter after a couple years- and I think she did too.

    She now poos in one box and pees in the other- most of the time.  We have found that she peed on some laundry again- but I think with all the stuff going on here- DH forgot about her box for too long.  

    To clean the areas she peed on we bought a bottle of Anti-Icky Poo spray.  It is expensive- but works great- better than natures miracle.  You spray it on- let it sit- repeat if necessary.  You can also inject it ith a syringe into carpet padding or furniture.  

    We also like Odo Ban- the eucalyptus scent keeps her away, too.  

     

    My kitty has become more clingy the last few weeks- she is not an overly social cat, but is really mellow and keeps to herself- unless the dogs area chasing her! 

  • imageClaireBennett:

    We moved her litter box to the spot where she was pooping and she just pooped directly in front of the box.

    That would have been my suggestion.  One of my cats started pooping at the bottom of our stairs, and as soon as I put a litter box there she used the box instead of the floor.   I Hope you can figure out a way to get her to use the boxes again.

    Are you using a different type of litter?  Different food, etc?

    Good luck

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