Any VETS in the House? Cat type question.....

[thatsright]

My Cat, Bailey has recently developed a problem. Over the last 4 weeks or so, 3 or 4 times she has urinated right outside the Cat-box. What she will so is stand inside the Cat box and it will go all over the linoleum.

I change the cat box once a week, so I'm wondering if there is too much 'stuff' in the box, so she would urinate in an unusual way? The other thing is that I recently put one side of the box right up against the wall and there is a metal cart close to her box. Would she be feeling claustrophobic, and thats why she has to get to the center of the room (causing her to sort of lean onto one side of the box)?

Other Pertinent Info: She is a 14 year old Calico cat, and for about 4 years she was an outdoor cat at the old house. Now she's an indoor cat. She does have a Fur ball problem which about once a month will cause her to vomit after an occasional meal. She had fleas two summers ago, but other than that no other major problems.

Is she just getting old, and this will start to happen. Is she getting claustrophobic, if cats can do such a thing? Could this be the sign of an internal physical problem?

Thoughts/opinions/suggestions?

 

[Eli]

It could be that her litterbox is too dirty. If she goes to the litterbox and is forced to move sh!t around(no pun intended) to find a clean spot to do her business, then she might be going before she makes a spot.

Perhaps it is her old age that is not allowing her to hold it as well.

I'd try keeping the litterbox cleaner. If that doesen't work.. it could be old age, I guess? Although she isn't *that* old.

It could also be something serious, like perhaps a urinary tract infection, too.. so.. maybe someone more knowledgable as far as cat ailments will come in here.

 

[jadinolf]

I'll vote for changing the litter box more often.

See me in two weeks.

 

[AreaCode707]

My roommate's cat did that and it wound up being a urinary tract infection. Took bloody 4 months to find that out. :|

 

[mugs]

Are you still using non-scoopable litter? Or are you saying you dump the scoopable stuff out and replace it once a week? If you're using the non-scoopable stuff, switch to scoopable. It won't fix your problem, but it'll save you money.

Edit: I just noticed that it's 14 years old. When my old cat got that old, he started crapping on the floor next to his litter box, but he'd always pee in the litterbox. He died before we ever figured out what his deal was.

Edit2: Try a litterbox with a cover.

 

[Linflas]

Could be something as simple as bad aim if the cat is using the box and does not appear to be straining. If you are noticing a difference in the way she is squatting while using the box then you may want to have her checked for urinary tract problems or perhaps arthritis etc. Did you recently move the box to the current location? Have you changed the type of litter? Also if you are using clumping litter you may want to consider scooping out the clumps on a daily basis.

 

[mandala]

Or you could try using a litter box that has a top on it (with the little door for going in and out). That way most stuff (litter, etc.) stays in the box.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: mandala
Or you could try using a litter box that has a top on it (with the little door for going in and out). That way most stuff (litter, etc.) stays in the box.

We need to get one of those.. the sides of our litterbox are way too low.

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: Linflas
Could be something as simple as bad aim if the cat is using the box and does not appear to be straining. If you are noticing a difference in the way she is squatting while using the box then you may want to have her checked for urinary tract problems or perhaps arthritis etc. Did you recently move the box to the current location? Have you changed the type of litter? Also if you are using clumping litter you may want to consider scooping out the clumps on a daily basis.

Well her box might not be in the most 'cozy' of places. It's in the Pantry up against the wall. On the other two side are milk crates. So maybe she feels 'cornered?' Thought the last time she did this, the box was directly up against the wall, not the usual 6-10 inches off the wall in the center of the pantry. I try to keep the box dead center in the middle of the pantry, so she has space all around, but sometimes it gets moved back up against the wall.

The litter I have been using since she was a kitten is FreshStep. The urine clumps up with the cat litter, and sort of stays @ the bottom. It's a 'gravely' type of cat litter, not like the sand kind. When she takes a dump (for lack of a better term), sometimes her ears will twitch back and forth, but it doesn't really look like she is straining. Not really sure how you would define straining? She doesn't look like she's in pain, I'm not a cat so I couldn't say for sure. Sometimes, (when her cat box is 'full', or even clean) before she urinates, she will meow when I'm nearby. But not all the time??

O and BTW, thanks for not Sh!tting on my thread folks :laugh:

 

[ed1564]

On the topic of cats, anybody know what to do for a cat that at night will not quit whining/meowing?

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: ed1564
On the topic of cats, anybody know what to do for a cat that at night will not quit whining/meowing?

Does it want to go in/outside?

Does it stop if you pick it up?

Have you feed it?

If no, then call the vet to see whats wrong.

 

[ed1564]

It is a kitten, it stops if you pick it up and starts purring. I think it really wants to sleep in the bed but we dont let it. If we do it just keeps us up all night.

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: ed1564
It is a kitten, it stops if you pick it up and starts purring. I think it really wants to sleep in the bed but we dont let it. If we do it just keeps us up all night.

It's a Kitten DUDE!! It wants some lovin, so pick it up. But if your going to be strict about not sleeping with you, then prepare to put up for a while with the Bellowing.

And thats my 'Expert Veterinarian Opinion.'

 

[Turkish]

---------- Xiety says -----------

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: mandala
Or you could try using a litter box that has a top on it (with the little door for going in and out). That way most stuff (litter, etc.) stays in the box.

We need to get one of those.. the sides of our litterbox are way too low.

that's what i am going to get as well but my kitty is still too young to get in if I get one of those with a top. btw, what did you do with your kittens? gave them away or taking care of them yourself?

---------- Cheers ----------

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: ed1564
It is a kitten, it stops if you pick it up and starts purring. I think it really wants to sleep in the bed but we dont let it. If we do it just keeps us up all night.

lol wait for a few weeks, she will be able to get up on the bed i tried not letting my kitten on the bed but she can jump now and doesn't care what i want.. she will get up and crawl between me and the blanket when i am asleep

 

[thatsright]

Since I haven't had a kitten in about 10 years, I totally forgot how very young kittens have no idea how to use their claws.

Back in the day, my kittens would climb right up my jeans, my shirt and sit on my shoulder-all the while I am standing at the kitchen counter. Using their claws to dig into my clothes/skin isn't a soothing feeling!


DAMN THAT HURT!!! OUCH-PAINFUL!!

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: thatsright

Originally posted by: ed1564
It is a kitten, it stops if you pick it up and starts purring. I think it really wants to sleep in the bed but we dont let it. If we do it just keeps us up all night.

It's a Kitten DUDE!! It wants some lovin, so pick it up. But if your going to be strict about not sleeping with you, then prepare to put up for a while with the Bellowing.

And thats my 'Expert Veterinarian Opinion.'

LOL Welcome to Pet World..... 24 / 7 wanna play?