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Kitten pooping on carpet/sofa

post #1 of 12
9/7/10 at 9:47am
Thread Starter 
Hi guys,

I got my 6 month old kitten a couple of months ago and for the last two days, every morning, he has been pooping in our living room. Once behind the couch and today, inside the couch. The poop is greenish in color and kind of watery.

Nothing has changed in the house. We are cleaning it a little, but nothing drastic.

The one thing I do every night is move the literbox up stairs and than move it down again the next morning when me and my wife go to work. Could this be disturbing him? He always poops in the literbox afterwards. I've also noticed he "meows" a lot more before using the literbox sometimes.

I am going to take him to the vet this week to rule out medical issues.

Any suggestions/tips would be appreciated.
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post #2 of 12
9/7/10 at 10:04am
It sounds like his stools are uncomfortable or even hurting him. That's why he's going to the couch - it probably smells comforting to him with your smell all over it.

Right now all you can do is get him in to see the vet ASAP. You're not going to be able to get him to stop going elsewhere if he's in discomfort. Treat the health issue and the behavior should resolve.

Of course make sure you clean up with an enzyme cleaned intended for removing the smell of urine and feces. If you don't clean thoroughly with one he'll get confused and go right back to those spots.

Don't move the litter box, btw. Imagine if you had to suddenly run to the bathroom and it was gone! Keep it where it is and add another one so that you have one both upstairs and downstairs.
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post #3 of 12
9/7/10 at 10:07am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
It sounds like his stools are uncomfortable or even hurting him. That's why he's going to the couch - it probably smells comforting to him with your smell all over it.

Right now all you can do is get him in to see the vet ASAP. You're not going to be able to get him to stop going elsewhere if he's in discomfort. Treat the health issue and the behavior should resolve.

Of course make sure you clean up with an enzyme cleaned intended for removing the smell of urine and feces. If you don't clean thoroughly with one he'll get confused and go right back to those spots.
Thank you. Yes we are going to take him to the vet this week.

I am using Nature's Miracle to remove an odor and a carpet cleaner. What is weird is that whenever he has done this, pooping outside litter box, it's always been in the morning when I move his literbox down stairs. After that, he uses the liter box just fine.

Hoping that this is a behavorial issue, could it be that moving his literbox from upstairs to downstairs every morning is causing some type of anxiety?

I'll update this post once I take him to the vet.
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post #4 of 12
9/7/10 at 10:10am
I added that to my last post already - so that's addressed. Litter boxes just shouldn't magically (to a cat) move on their own, their cat minds can't handle that very well since they're an animal that likes routine for those basic things.

I'd try to get him in soon - as in today or tomorrow morning. Loose stools are not good, nor is green anywhere near a normal color.
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post #5 of 12
9/7/10 at 10:12am
Thread Starter 
K. Thanks again. Yes I am going to take him to a vet ASAP as soon as I get off work.
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post #6 of 12
9/7/10 at 10:13am
Good luck! Maybe it's some missed parasites (if treated when you first got him) or maybe it could simply be a food issue.
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post #7 of 12
9/7/10 at 10:16am
Thread Starter 
I have switched him from Wellness canned to Fancy Feast (at least this month until I get paid). I will definitely be going back to Wellness. With Fancy Fiest, his stools are really stinky.

He eats them both with no problem.
He will need his rabies shot this month also. Other than that, he has had all his other shots.
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post #8 of 12
9/7/10 at 10:51am
I second (or third?) the litterbox thing. Don't move it but instead get a 2nd one so he has one on each floor. He may be getting confused as to where to potty because his box is moving.

Taking him to the vet to rule out a problem is also a good thing. Changing his food could be causing the stool issue but it could be something else. It is usually better to gradually change food instead of a dramatic switch which can upset his system.

I hope you can get things resolved soon.

And - Welcome to The Cat Site!!!
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post #9 of 12
9/9/10 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
Hi guys,

Here is an updated. I am going to take my cat to the vet either tomorrow or Saturday, but he has stopped pooping on the couch and floor.

I added another litterbox for him up stairs and he has one downstairs. I used to move his food around too and I stopped that.

For food I am switching back to Wellness for a while. I am not sure if that was the cause, but it just seemed he used to stink it up more with Fancy Feast, chicken flavor.

I hope the vet visit goes well and nothing is wrong with him. He will have to get a rabbies shot though.

Thanks for all the tips and help!
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post #10 of 12
9/16/10 at 5:43pm
Thread Starter 
Hi,

Update. Took the kitten to the vet on Saturday.

The kitten had lesions on his tail. I saw some hair missing from a certain part of his tail before but i thought he had gotten stuck or something. I noticed he was missing some around his ear also.

Turns out he has ring works (which is a fungus). The vet showed me under UV light what they looked like. I got a cream for medication for the kitten that I need to put on twice a day for a month. I will also need the bathe the cat twice a week for a month.

Will take the cat back to the vet after a month to see if progress is made on the ring worms.

The kitten has stopped pooping the on floor/sofa which is a good thing.

In addition, I found this spray at Petsmart that apparantly relives stress/tension if sprayed on places the cat usually plays around/sleeps. I am not sure if it works or not but have been using it.

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post #11 of 12
9/19/10 at 3:29pm
Good for you to get him into the vet - and how lucky this baby was to get you as a parent - poor you - first the little box deal, now ringworm (which I know is a terrible name for a fungus). Good luck to you and you should pat yourself on the back for helping this little one to health.
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post #12 of 12
9/19/10 at 3:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by darlili View Post
Good for you to get him into the vet - and how lucky this baby was to get you as a parent - poor you - first the little box deal, now ringworm (which I know is a terrible name for a fungus). Good luck to you and you should pat yourself on the back for helping this little one to health.
Absolutely, Skybox! Your kitty is lucky to have such a proactive owner.

And I'm glad you stopped moving the little guy's litter box and food bowls; cats crave routine and this would definitely stress mine out.

Good luck with the ringworm!

AC
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