My cat doesn't alway clean himself after using the litter

My cat has been very good about using the litter. However, recently he does not always clean himself after using the litter. Consequently, he has soiled some of the carpets and places where he travels after the litter use. Why does he do that, and how can this be corrected? Please help!

Is he overweight and unable to reach his backend?

Cats don't typically clean their rear ends immediately after "potty/pee" as dogs typically do. Is his poop solid yet easily passed, does he have difficulties/constipation or runny/loose stool? Is he long haired and things stick to his back end? Or is he simply impatient and jumps out of box before he is thoroughly done?

I think my cat has the most problem when his stool is a little bit runny, because of the sticky nature of it.

He is not over-weight, but he does have long hair in his back end. He is not overly impatient, since he spends a lot of time moving the litter around.

So, maybe the problem is runny stoll? Does it come from trying to vary his diet a little with treats?

Originally Posted by asntp

I think my cat has the most problem when his stool is a little bit runny, because of the sticky nature of it.

He is not over-weight, but he does have long hair in his back end. He is not overly impatient, since he spends a lot of time moving the litter around.

So, maybe the problem is runny stoll? Does it come from trying to vary his diet a little with treats?

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Absolutely could be! Personally I believe in a hard food diet, Maia can't get enough of Purina Vitality formula, dry! She has a very healthy stool, once a day, very regular. She loves Fancy Feast so she gets that as a treat once every couple weeks, otherwise she would be fat, FAT cat! Dry food also helps dental hygiene......

Originally Posted by cheylink

Absolutely could be! Personally I believe in a hard food diet, Maia can't get enough of Purina Vitality formula, dry! She has a very healthy stool, once a day, very regular. She loves Fancy Feast so she gets that as a treat once every couple weeks, otherwise she would be fat, FAT cat! Dry food also helps dental hygiene......

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Just curious, how old is Maia?

at least yours burries it, stalker poops and goes, and boy it SMELLS!!

nasty lil man!

never ever seen any of my 3 clean themselves straight after (dont blame them would you stick your head there straight away?? ewww)

Get darker carpet lol cant see the stains then

My middle child, Moose (7 yrs.), has never had good rear-end hygiene. If I get a whiff, I get a wet paper towel and get his rear damp, and then he'll get busy and clean himself.

ok clpeters23, that sounds a bit like my Levi who was brought home from the shelter last November and does not clean his but after pooping and sometimes has a dirty bottom.

I will try your suggestion about wetting his bottom a bit with a paper towel or tissue and see if that might help him to learn to clean himself, thanks.

We had that problem with our orange female years ago. Solved it quickly and permanently with a little spray bottle.  After she was done and out of the box for a while, of course (not while she's in the box), we waited a few minutes and if she didn't clean her bottom within about 10 minutes, we gave a squirt or two to her bottom, which made her want to clean it.  Three times of doing that and it worked.  No trauma to her, no problems after that. 

Also, have a young male that sometimes does not cover up his poo or pee. Sometimes he does, only because he gets lucky and paws the litter close enough. Other times he does nothing to try and cover it. I noticed he's in a big hurry when he does that because he's in the middle of playing with the other cats and like a kid, gets it to where it's supposed to go, but the heck with covering it---gotta get back in the game with who he's playing with!!

Ive never seen my cat  clean his behind right away either, but I've never had  a problem with anything being smeared either...and we have a  cream colored twist carpet in our family room, where he hangs out with us. He does clean himself regularly, but not right away.  He also eats a combo wet/dry diet; a little wet a.m. & p.m., and a lot of dry at will.  Not long ago, hen he was having tooth/gum problems and only on wet, his pooping was sporadic, and he did not drink water, so after tooth removal I am glad to have him back able to eat the dry, which he loves. 

But I've never seen him stop & clean right away. He's more likely to get frisky & run around.  Guess he feels good!  lol

mad hatter said:

 
ok clpeters23, that sounds a bit like my Levi who was brought home from the shelter last November and does not clean his but after pooping and sometimes has a dirty bottom.

I will try your suggestion about wetting his bottom a bit with a paper towel or tissue and see if that might help him to learn to clean himself, thanks.

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Late in posting this but clpeters23 advice worked, after about 3 times dabbing with a half of a "wet" paper towel and a couple reminders here and there he usually cleans now on his own.

Wow, I have not paid enough attention to when my cat goes I guess.  I have never seen her clean up.