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Simba Yim's Post-Poop Panic Attacks

post #1 of 15
1/20/11 at 11:35pm
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Simba Yim is normally a very easy-going cat. In fact, he is so mellow he allows many things that many other cats would never stand such as: tail grabbing, nail clipping, ear cleaning, picking up, rude awakening from a nap, etc.

But the one thing he goes berserk over is after he poops. He starts darting down the hallway like a bullet and starts mewing. If someone does not report to his litter box immediately, he begins to run faster back and forth and mewing louder piteously. Then he starts jumping up things he normally would not attempt to reach and wrapping his paws around his scratching post with big, frightened eyes! The first few times I witnessed this behavior I assumed he was deathly afraid of something.

When someone finally follows him to his litter box, he lays down and carefully watches as the person cleans it up and disposes of the offending fecal matter. When the clean-up is complete he immediately calms down and returns back to the calm and easy-going boy he normally is. (We do a complete litterbox clean up once a week.)

Is he terrified of his poo? He doesn't seem to fear the litter box itself because he poos daily without a problem. It's just the post-poop panic attack I am curious about. Do any of your cats have a post-poop panic attack?

Age: 18 months
Adopted on January 8th, 2011 from North Shore Animal League.
Health: Neutered. Recently was checked by vets at North Shore and has all of his shots up-to-date.
Checked out negative for FIV and FLV. Going to the vet for a follow-up in March.
Habitat: Indoor cat.
Food: Dry food only. Purina One Chicken and Rice Formula for Adult Cats. Fed once in the morning and once in the evening. No grazing food (we tried to do the free feeding technique but I think his past of abandonment developed into a desperate attitude towards food.) This is the food they were giving him at the shelter.
Poops: 1-3 times a day
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post #2 of 15
1/21/11 at 12:17am
I would give him wet food as well as dry food. That might make pooping less anxious for him. if he isn't getting enough moisture, pooping could hurt- have his anal glands been expressed recently? He sounds stressed- add another litter pan for him so he can poop in one and pee in another and try and encourage him to drink (Drinkwell pet fountains are good). He is gorgeous by the way -gotta love the Mackeral tabbies. His desperation around food is perfectly normal behavior for stray cats. They never know when their next meal is coming so they will eat anything nailed down. Once you start setting up a routine feeding schedule for him and stick to it rigidly, he will relax because he knows at such-and-such a time, his food will appear.
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post #3 of 15
1/21/11 at 6:45am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hissy View Post
I would give him wet food as well as dry food. That might make pooping less anxious for him. if he isn't getting enough moisture, pooping could hurt- have his anal glands been expressed recently? He sounds stressed- add another litter pan for him so he can poop in one and pee in another and try and encourage him to drink (Drinkwell pet fountains are good). He is gorgeous by the way -gotta love the Mackeral tabbies. His desperation around food is perfectly normal behavior for stray cats. They never know when their next meal is coming so they will eat anything nailed down. Once you start setting up a routine feeding schedule for him and stick to it rigidly, he will relax because he knows at such-and-such a time, his food will appear.
Thanks for advice!
Hmm.. He's been checked out recently health-wise and he's fine.
And he drinks on his own. We change his water at least three times a day and that seems to please him. (He does not eat daintily like some other cats... bits of kibble gets in his bowl because crumbs stick to his mouth and then he goes for water.)

I don't know if it's a matter of his poop hurting him. If someone is in the room while he poops he doesn't freak out and run. He just goes up to the person and nudges them and mews.

I'm hoping he will calm down eventually with food. It makes me kind of sad seeing him scarf it down in mere seconds as if someone is going to steal it. On the other hand, he doesn't display any food aggression or anxiety other than eating fast. He allows me to touch the bowl, the food, and him while he eats and he doesn't seem fazed. Lately, he's been leaving some food behind and then going back to it throughout the day, so perhaps one day he will not have any trace of that desperation.
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post #4 of 15
1/21/11 at 11:02am
My boy was picked up as a stray - was obviously a pet as he had been neutered and declawed. And, as an adult black cat, took a while before I came along to adopt him, sad to say.

Anyway, he was totally anxious about food at first - scarfed it down as though he were sure it was going to disappear, or that it was his last meal. After a few months, while he still has quite a healthy appetite, he's more of a nibbler, and even when the bowl is empty over night, he's patient til breakfast time. I think he did get the idea that mommy was always going to make sure he got fed.

I'm not sure about the poop situation - that's interesting how much he wants you to clean it right away, though. I would get him a second box, though - just on general principles.
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post #5 of 15
1/21/11 at 12:20pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by darlili View Post
My boy was picked up as a stray - was obviously a pet as he had been neutered and declawed. And, as an adult black cat, took a while before I came along to adopt him, sad to say.

Anyway, he was totally anxious about food at first - scarfed it down as though he were sure it was going to disappear, or that it was his last meal. After a few months, while he still has quite a healthy appetite, he's more of a nibbler, and even when the bowl is empty over night, he's patient til breakfast time. I think he did get the idea that mommy was always going to make sure he got fed.

I'm not sure about the poop situation - that's interesting how much he wants you to clean it right away, though. I would get him a second box, though - just on general principles.
I hope he does eventually learn that food will come twice daily like clockwork and that he learns to savor his meals. He wakes us up in the morning by gentle nudging and then light mewing.

And as for his poo... It will be cleaned up and disposed of immediately for as long as he desires. I don't mind cleaning up. I was just wondering if there are other cats that display such behavior since I am pretty sure it is not a health problem issue.

He was admitted to that shelter a month before we adopted him. But they don't know the circumstances of his whereabouts.

I'm starting to think he got scolded each time he pooped by a previous owner... leading him to fear what happens AFTER the poo. Before and during the poo he is completely fine and mellow. As well as after he confirms with his own eyes that the poo is gone and his box is clean.

We are currently waiting on delivery of the second box that has a hood. He buries his business with practiced diligence (spraying the surrounding floor with litter.)
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post #6 of 15
1/21/11 at 12:27pm
He's a beautiful cat

Maybe he's a very clean cat, and doesn't want a messy litterbox? Lynxx wasn't quite that bad after he used the box. But when he was done he wanted it cleaned right away. He would go to my father and get in trouble, or bite him to get his attention, because he wanted his box cleaned right away.

Luna will run around like your cat does. Only Luna does that before she goes to the litterbox. That's how we know she has to go.
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post #7 of 15
1/21/11 at 12:36pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by My4LLMA View Post
He's a beautiful cat

Maybe he's a very clean cat, and doesn't want a messy litterbox? Lynxx wasn't quite that bad after he used the box. But when he was done he wanted it cleaned right away. He would go to my father and get in trouble, or bite him to get his attention, because he wanted his box cleaned right away.

Luna will run around like your cat does. Only Luna does that before she goes to the litterbox. That's how we know she has to go.
Ahahaha! I hope Simba doesn't follow after Lynxx and start causing trouble to get attention! Maybe Luna is revving up for her business time???

Ok I'm going to stop worrying and just think he demands cleanliness in his bathroom!

Here's a shot for you with his eyes open!
(He looks like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.)
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post #8 of 15
1/21/11 at 2:23pm
Actually, my Lucky tries to herd me into the laundry room after he has pooped. Either he just likes a clean box, or I've wondered because he is feral-raised that he is afraid that a predator may find him because of the scent. He covers all his stuff super well, but then seems to want it cleaned. Will lay down the hall waiting for me to finish, then when I'm done, seems relaxed.
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post #9 of 15
1/21/11 at 3:44pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LuckyBabyCat View Post
Actually, my Lucky tries to herd me into the laundry room after he has pooped. Either he just likes a clean box, or I've wondered because he is feral-raised that he is afraid that a predator may find him because of the scent. He covers all his stuff super well, but then seems to want it cleaned. Will lay down the hall waiting for me to finish, then when I'm done, seems relaxed.
Exactly! He covers it to the point where I have to dig around the box in order to find it. If I don't get every last piece he starts the running again. He's calm while watching me clean up. Once it's done he's back to normal.
Maybe Simba, like your Lucky, spent some time on the street before he reached the shelter.
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post #10 of 15
1/21/11 at 4:21pm
He's supurrvising the litter box clean up crew! Maybe he doesn't like the smell of it!
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post #11 of 15
1/21/11 at 4:47pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stephanietx View Post
He's supurrvising the litter box clean up crew! Maybe he doesn't like the smell of it!
Yeah, he does a very careful inspection!
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post #12 of 15
1/21/11 at 6:48pm
He sounds very "anal" about the litter box Seriously, I would have him checked out to see if the anal glands are plugged or even infected. I had a cat that cried out even stepping into the box as though he was afraid of the pain he would endure. I immediately took him to my vet and they said he had an infection in one of the glands. It cleared up quickly and never had another poop pain problem again
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post #13 of 15
1/21/11 at 8:24pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Feralvr View Post
He sounds very "anal" about the litter box Seriously, I would have him checked out to see if the anal glands are plugged or even infected. I had a cat that cried out even stepping into the box as though he was afraid of the pain he would endure. I immediately took him to my vet and they said he had an infection in one of the glands. It cleared up quickly and never had another poop pain problem again
Thanks so much for your concern! It means a lot that you would take the time to write and talk about your experience.

He was recently checked out by a vet. (We just adopted him on the 8th, and he received a clean bill of health that day. He's scheduled again for March to make sure he's adapting well and not putting on weight, or too stressed, etc.)

I promise you that he doesn't make any indication of discomfort or pain before or during the action of pooping. He doesn't dread going into the box either. He loves digging in the litter and forming a little toilet for himself to go in. I watched him several times from outside the door to make sure he did not have any pain or problems pooping. I was surprised to see him look so comfortable and then methodically bury it thoroughly... and then suddenly flip out after he's done burying it!

All of his stool looks normal and besides his running like a maniac (if it's not cleaned up immediately) he is quite mellow.
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post #14 of 15
1/22/11 at 4:23pm
Some kitties get the zoomies after they go potty. . .why? Who knows? Cats are funny creatures . It sound like a mixture of zoomies and him wanting you to clean the box. He sounds like a real character! He's a handsome boy, too.
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post #15 of 15
1/23/11 at 2:01pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Willowy View Post
Some kitties get the zoomies after they go potty. . .why? Who knows? Cats are funny creatures . It sound like a mixture of zoomies and him wanting you to clean the box. He sounds like a real character! He's a handsome boy, too.
Thanks!
We just got him a bigger box with a hood so now he doesn't track litter everywhere. It seems to have made him less anxious too after pooping.
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