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Is my cat depressed? Please help!

post #1 of 9
11/8/10 at 7:11pm
Thread Starter 
My cat has stopped using his litter box correctly, which he has had no problem doing since we got him as a kitten a few months ago. For a few days, he has been going to the bathroom on our carpet, right in front of us. When we are asleep in our bedroom, he goes outside the door and scratches afterwards. Once he was not more than a foot from his litter box and instead chose to use the bathroom in front of me on the carpet. He hasn't had any major changes in his life (a move, etc.) and his litter box has been cleaned and refilled numerous times. It could just be my imagination, but he has been more lazy lately and sleeps most of the day. It seems like he just lays where he is and doesn't get up unless I move him. He squirms from my arms when I put him in his litter box and scratch his paws in it. He hasn't stopped grooming himself and his appetite hasn't really changed..could he be depressed? If not, what is wrong with him? The only time he uses his litter box is when he is confined to a small area (a walk-in closet where his litter box is located). I can't figure out what is wrong with my cat, please help! If it helps, he is a white male Persian a few months old and has never seemed very picky about where he did his business before he started blatantly not using his litter.
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post #2 of 9
11/8/10 at 7:25pm
Hi there,

First of all, he isn't doing this blatantly,he is sending you a message. he could be sick, if he is lethargic that isn't normal especially for a kitten. Have you taken him to the vet? Is he declawed? Do you just have one litter pan? You really need two, even three is ideal.

I would definitely provide him with more pans. if you are using scented litter, I wouldn't- they don't like it. Plain clay litter or plain clumping litter is best.

I would make an appointment with your vet if the above measures don't work. Sometimes, the only way they can get our attention when they aren't feeling good is to deposit their "message" outside their box.
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post #3 of 9
11/8/10 at 10:06pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you for your response. I agree 100% he is doing this as a way to send us a message. He knows he is supposed to use his litter and would try to hide doing his "business" outside of it otherwise. He is not declawed and has not been neutered yet. We only have one litter pan because we live in such a small space (one-room apartment) but will get him another. The litter we use is non-clumping and unscented clay. He has used the same litter since we got him so I don't think that is the problem, but it could be. He has always been a lazy cat, and I thought this normal considering his breed, but lately he has almost no interested in toys, following me around the house, or moving when I put him down. He is drinking a lot it seems, and a bit less hungry but not in an extreme sense. Honestly he does seem sick and lacking energy, and I have made an appointment with his vet, but since it is not an "emergency" we will have to wait a week to see him. Any info I can get at this stage would be great so I can tell the vet all that I know and not have to wait another week for a follow-up visit. Again thank you for your reply!
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post #4 of 9
11/8/10 at 10:18pm
Thread Starter 
PS- He has recently eaten food with tuna in it, which I read is bad for cats. He hasn't had any since, but could that be why he is acting sick? What are the symptoms of food-poisoning or whatever problems eating tuna causes in cats?
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post #5 of 9
11/8/10 at 10:31pm
Unless it was heavily contaminated with mercury, the tuna takes a bit to make a cat sick. It's just not the ideal food for kitties (or humans either anymore). I rescued a Persian and once he got better he was anything but lethargic! His thread is in the SOS forum stuck at the top. There's a difference between laid-back which the breed is and lethargic.

If you can't get another box, at least get a bigger one. I use the plastic bins you can get at Walmart and find them very effective. Tall or short sides it doesn't matter, it's the space they need to poo in one place and pee in another.

Good luck, I hope he isn't sick.
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post #6 of 9
11/8/10 at 10:35pm
Thread Starter 
Right now we have a pretty large litter pan, the ones usually seen at petco or petsmart and we even thought it might be too big for him, but he has used it fine up until a few days ago. I agree with what you said, and I doubt it has anything to do with the area the litter is in itself; it's more likely he just isn't feeling well. I hope he gets better before we visit the vet, but he definitely needs to be checked either way. I hope he is okay! He is not being himself and it's the first time I've seen him this way. I am very worried
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post #7 of 9
11/8/10 at 11:32pm
Let us know what the vet says. It really sounds like he has some sort of urinary tract infection. Make SURE they check for that. Cats HATE being unclean; there is definietly a reason he is doing this. good luck!
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post #8 of 9
11/9/10 at 1:17am
Thread Starter 
Wow, thank you. I have never suspected this and all the symptoms point to this. I will be sure to mention!
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post #9 of 9
11/9/10 at 5:19am
This sounds like classic symptoms for a UTI (urinary tract infection) please get him to the vet without delay. For one thing UTIs HURT and he is in pain.

For another male cats can block suddenly and once blocked they will die, probably within 24 hours, without emergency treatment. So please, get your kitten seen today.
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