Had a stray walk in my door ... - Page 4

Does it look like it could be pieces of poo stuck to his butt that are dropping off after he gets out of the litter box? They'll be small and just randomly dropped or scraped off on the floor.

If that's the case there's usually two things that cause it: kitty's food has him a little constipated or he's managed to eat some hair (usually human hair) and that's making it not drop in the box.
There's a fix for the former, but not the latter...


As for him wanting to go outside, you just need to be firm and ignore it. My cats want lots of things I don't let them have or do (for their own safety), they get over it.

Ah, geez. try putting the poop piles IN the litter box and maybe he will "get the idea." There is also a condition with a name where cats poop inappropriately... let me see if I can find it with some info.

ETA: he also may be pooping from stress ( you being gone) or from illness. I would definitely get him checked over. Meantime, there are other things you can try re: inappropriate elimination. Do a google search and see if there are things listed in many articles online that you haven't tried. Get a Feliway diffuser for that bathroom, too.

How many boxes do you have - my boy insists on having at least two boxes - one for pee, and one for poo. They're not huge boxes, though. I tried just great big boxes but he likes lot of separate boxes. How does the poo look? the other thing my boy has done is when he's not feeling great, he'll poo outside the box.

I agree. Get him checked. It may not even be GI problems, but something else. Poor guy has been through so much....

You might want to try Cat Attract Litter. When you leave town, have a third box. Some cats are really picky about using a clean litter box. Cats that have lived outside are not used to pooping and peeing in the same place.

First of all, Bravo and Thank You for taking this little guy in and caring for him. I had a little guy come into my house to eat when the weather was still cold a while back. I have been taking care of and taking in ferals and strays for about 12 years now so needless to say Mr. Deeds, (his name came from what my mate was watching on tv when he came limping up the walk needing help), has been with us ever since.

Has your little guy had his second worming yet? For rou8nd worms and hookworms they need a second deworming 3 weeks after the first to get those that hatched after the first ones were killed. You might want to also check with the vet to make sure what they gave you also covers tapeworms. All it takes is for a cat or dog to swallow one flea to introduce tapeworms into their system.

As far as stomach upsets and things that will cause diarrhea, any sudden change in food can sometimes with some cats cause upsets to either extreme. (Diarrhea, constipation & or vomiting.)

I also have had wonderful luck in leash training several cats. For some time when new ferals or strays came up, as well as the two kittens I brought home from the Pound, I would take them in for spay/neuter, shots, etc. and then I wouldn't let them out of the house without acollar, harness and leash for at least two weeks.

They can certainly go throu8gh some funny machinations trying to slip their collars when first put one. (more than one of them kept walking backwards trying to slip out of the restraint. Pretty much all would not walk with the harness and leash at first, so I would just take them to the yard with the offensive garb on and let them learn that it wasn't a kitty eating monster. Generally after a few days they would wander around like they had used a leash all their lives.

The real big difference between walking a dog and a cat is.... until you've invested a lot of time getting comfortable with each other, the cat pretty much walks you. They like to wander and be curious about everything and I always just found myself wandering behind.

I was not a "cat person" before my first stray moved in with me back in 1996 when I lived in an apartment in town. Now I am "one of those cat ladies".

I've had the same thoughts of how can people abuse and treat as disposable the poor cats and dogs that we come across suffering out there. One thing I know today is I am part of the solution in doing my best to help the ones others just don't seem to see; and I am not quiet to others about the feral and strays plight because of the people that don't spay/neuter their pets.

You seem to be doing all the "next right things". Allow yourself some kick back and relax time and don't second guess yourself too much on whether you are doing right by the cats and all parties involved. You're doing just fine.

Oh yeah, one more thing. I have read here and known a couple people whose cats travel with them and it works very well. Your new little guy may be one of those. Ya just never know how those little angels will surprise us.

This may sound crazy, but is there any way you could get some purified outside dirt or shavings of some kind to use for litter? Since he's been going outside, maybe if you make it as outside-like as possible he'll go in the box?

Lady Hitchiker has a point. Get some dirt- a bag of dirt - like top soil... and put that on top of the litter in the pan... then sprinkle some of the Cat Attract on top of that.

A cat that doesnt use a litter pan will be PTS whereever he goes - no kill or not because that makes him unadoptable. I don't know if a no-kill shelter will take him in or if it would have the foster resources to devote to turning around the problem.

Just ask White Cat Lover about this.

IMO, before you decide this is strictly behavioral litter box issues you need to step back and absolutely make sure he has no health problems that could be causing this. Maybe his stools look normal, but maybe they don't feel normal coming out (think of it as you might feel when you've had too much spicy food). A cat will not understand what's going on and will more likely associate the litter box with the unpleasant feeling.

Experiment with some different litters and litter boxes. If you haven't tried it, go to walmart and pick up a big clear storage container - it can have tall sides or shorter ones, it doesn't matter. If tall, cut a hole in the side to make it easier for him to get in. Leave the top off. Some cats are very picky about boxes.
You could have a spare "dirt box" on the side. You just have to be careful where you get that dirt. If you dig it outside it could be contaminated with parasites (baking it is an option, but it smells terrible ). Store bought top-soil varies, sometimes it's heat treated but often it is not and there's the same risk.
You could also try a product called Eco-fiber (coconut fiber). You'd find it in the reptile section at a pet store. It needs to stay slightly moist or else it gets dusty, but it is sterile.

Just checking in to see what's happened - I do keep thinking that no matter what's going on, you've been good to this boy in helping him find a forever home, whether or not it turns out to be you....although I'd love it if it were.