Question - 3 cats and fecal exam

ummm

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If you have multiple cats, and they share litter boxes, how do you know whose poop is which cat's? We need to do a fecal exam for one of the cats next week... so just trying to figure it out...

Locking him up in a room by himself could probably be difficult since he's 5-6 months old and quite active and he'd be really bored in the room for a day...

How do you do it???
 

nerdrock

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If we were just looking for worms/parasites in a fecal then our vet always just told us to mix all the poo in one container and they'd test it because, usually, if one has it the rest do/will soon.

If it's something else they're looking for in a fecal then you'd have to either put everyone else in an isolated area so that he has more room and access to one box, or put him in an isolated area so he's the only one that can use the box.
 

alicatjoy

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I'm going to reiterate some of what was already posted...

Why is your kitten having a fecal exam done? As stated, if you're looking at a routine fecal exam, then if parasites are present, it would be likely that all of the kitties would be affected -- especially if they share a litter box or groom one another. Therefore, any stool from the litter box could be collected and used (or, as previously mentioned, the stool could be mixed). However, if your kitty has been exhibiting symptoms that are requiring a fecal exam for diagnosis, it would be best if only that cat's stool is used for the exam.

I'm lucky in that I can tell my cats' stool apart, but not everyone is able to do that. In any event, there are things that you can do. First and foremost, it is possible for your vet to obtain stool for a fecal exam while your kitty is in the office via a fecal loop. It's truly no more invasive than having your cat's temperature taken and is done in less than a minute. Unfortunately, however, if your kitty has recently used the box, stool may not be available to collect. But, in most instances, that isn't a problem. Also, separating your kitty for a couple of hours after a meal or watching when he uses the pan and then scooping up the stool immediately after is also a viable option.

If all else fails, call your vet's office. I'm sure they can always provide additional information to you. Good luck and let us know how it all works out.
 

otto

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I can pretty much tell whose poop is which cats'. But I will watch for you answers to the other posters questions with interest.
 

rad65

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If one is a kitten and the other is older, it's easy to tell them apart. My 3 month old kitten's poop isnt even half as wide as my 1 1/2 year old's.
 

strange_wings

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I find that my cats poop and pee shortly after getting up in the morning and again in the evening, not two hours after eating. If one knows their cats habits it should be easy to collect a sample. Otherwise start following cats to the litter box.
 

carolina

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Sorry for the graphic description, but both my vets take the samples in the office, from inside their butts............. yep, I said sorry for the visual
 

ldg

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Our vet does the same thing Carolina's does. They have a little tool and it doesn't hurt - they have to put a thermometer up there anyway.

But I agree with the other posters - we used to bring in A poop sample - didn't need to bother with whose it was. If it had parasites, they all had to be treated for them.

The only thing they can't pass to each other is tapeworm. It needs to go through a host. But if kitty has round worm, it's best to treat them all for it anyway.
 
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ummm

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Thanks for all the ideas!

We just adopted him a few weeks back, so when he took him to the vet they wanted to make sure he's dewormed (doing Revolution), and want to do a fecal exam just to make sure he doesn't have any parasite/worms, since his foster mum found him on the side of the road.

When he first got here, it was easy to tell his poop apart since it's smaller, but now he's grown and it's harder to tell!

Didn't know the vet has this tool to get sample right there!
 

ldg

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It's really just best to assume they have parasites if they've been rescued from outside - as your vet did, by treating with Revolution. Kitty really ought to be treated again with another round of Revolution within 4 weeks of the first treatment. The Revolution only kills adult round worm (though it does kill flea eggs), so to account for the life cycle of the round worm, at least two treatments are necessary. It's after that second treatment that it makes sense to do a fecal.
 
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ummm

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Ah I see. Much to learn!

I do think he has been dewormed by the rescue we got him from (I need to double check, as the vet couldn't quite tell from the rescue's vet record) so this may in effect a 2nd round.
 
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