Hi All,
I need help.
I adopted 2 cats on Jan 1. They're a pair of Siamese that lost their home due to the economy. The male is a healthy clown. The female is a sickly girl with the catch all diagnosis of IBS. She is on a special diet of Green Peas and Venison. Any deviation from that diet results in diarrhea.
Very soon after their arrival, the little girl started pooping under the bed and under other pieces of furniture. The foster said this did not happen while she was in her care. I've kept a poop diary. I'm using the same litter as the foster. I have 3 litter boxes in 3 different types of locations. Two of the boxes are oval with high sides and one is a very large pan.
The longest that she has gone without making a mistake is 11 days. In the last 24 hours, she has pooped 4 times outside the box. Once under my bed, once under an armoire and twice under the bed in the guest room. This is typical what has happened since she arrived. She has never peed outside the box.
The vet has no solution other than scoping her intestinal track, etc. The rescue people said that was not necessary. They both agree that the probably outcome would be the prescription diet she is already eating. I have a thorough record of her visits to the vet before entering rescue and the diet was that vet's solution.
I'm crying my eyes out over this. I've tried everything and I can't seem to fix this situation. I don't want to return this poor little thing to rescue. The male kitty really loves her. She seems less bonded to him.
My latest idea is to try an enclosed litter box since her kitty mind seems to be seeking enclosed spaces to poop.
I've read some of the threads on such problems here and the following from lotsocats seems to me to be what might be happening:
"Superstitious behaviors appear when the animal accidentally associates a behavior with a stimulus or outcome. For example, the cat potties and it is painful. The cat happens to be in the litter box. Hmm. The cat does this again, potty and pain in the litter box. The first association develops – litter box and pain. Then on one occasion the cat potties, there is the accompanying pain but right as the cat leaps from the box (before the poop drops from his bottom) there is relief. The poop drops to the floor. The cat sniffs it. The second association is formed and the superstitious behavior develops. Poop outside the box and there is no pain."
I've tried everything I can think of and I've tried everything the people at the rescue have suggested. As sickly and pitiful as this poor little girl is, I've come to love her and I want to fix this problem.
Any ideas????
Nancy
I need help.
I adopted 2 cats on Jan 1. They're a pair of Siamese that lost their home due to the economy. The male is a healthy clown. The female is a sickly girl with the catch all diagnosis of IBS. She is on a special diet of Green Peas and Venison. Any deviation from that diet results in diarrhea.
Very soon after their arrival, the little girl started pooping under the bed and under other pieces of furniture. The foster said this did not happen while she was in her care. I've kept a poop diary. I'm using the same litter as the foster. I have 3 litter boxes in 3 different types of locations. Two of the boxes are oval with high sides and one is a very large pan.
The longest that she has gone without making a mistake is 11 days. In the last 24 hours, she has pooped 4 times outside the box. Once under my bed, once under an armoire and twice under the bed in the guest room. This is typical what has happened since she arrived. She has never peed outside the box.
The vet has no solution other than scoping her intestinal track, etc. The rescue people said that was not necessary. They both agree that the probably outcome would be the prescription diet she is already eating. I have a thorough record of her visits to the vet before entering rescue and the diet was that vet's solution.
I'm crying my eyes out over this. I've tried everything and I can't seem to fix this situation. I don't want to return this poor little thing to rescue. The male kitty really loves her. She seems less bonded to him.
My latest idea is to try an enclosed litter box since her kitty mind seems to be seeking enclosed spaces to poop.
I've read some of the threads on such problems here and the following from lotsocats seems to me to be what might be happening:
"Superstitious behaviors appear when the animal accidentally associates a behavior with a stimulus or outcome. For example, the cat potties and it is painful. The cat happens to be in the litter box. Hmm. The cat does this again, potty and pain in the litter box. The first association develops – litter box and pain. Then on one occasion the cat potties, there is the accompanying pain but right as the cat leaps from the box (before the poop drops from his bottom) there is relief. The poop drops to the floor. The cat sniffs it. The second association is formed and the superstitious behavior develops. Poop outside the box and there is no pain."
I've tried everything I can think of and I've tried everything the people at the rescue have suggested. As sickly and pitiful as this poor little girl is, I've come to love her and I want to fix this problem.
Any ideas????
Nancy
