Random Poo-ing

My girl Nilah has really runny poo... has had for about 3 days.  Over a week ago her diet changed a bit, and she may be tucking into some of the new kitten's food.  Usually with food changes it seems to happen quickly... this has taken quite a few days.

Also, she did a really big runny one right in the centre of my carpeted room.  This is so incredibly out of character, so I'm guessing she just couldn't stop it.  But I'm also concerned about how much little Sundar, the kitten, is harassing her (in a playful kitten way), always chasing, leaping on her and biting her tail.  Could it be a protest poo??

I took Sundar to the vet today and told her about the harassing, and how good Nilah has been.  However she says it can escalate if the older cat gets really fed up.  So now I'm worried. I've never introduced a kitten to an older cat before, and I've been so worried about the boy, with his skeletal issues...

I guess there are a couple of issues here.... the runny poo and the tenacious kitten! 

Any advice greatly appreciated.

So the Vet didn't have any advise for Nilah?  Just that "it" can escalate?  Did she think it was a result of Nilah getting into Sundar's food?  (it certainly could be, because kitten food is much richer, but I don't know what you are feeding either one and also don't know the history of Sundar.  How long have you had him, and did you do the proper introductions?  In other words, do they seem to get along most of the time, or is Nilah always hissing/growling or running for her life from him?

Did the Vet advise you to try giving Nilah a little yogurt or anything else for her soft poops?  That usually works with my crew.  However, I will say that when we brought in "the boys", the elders did have quite a problem, and Callie sometimes did a "protest" poop right in front of me .  Didn't work though.  Those pesky boys are still here

By the 'it' that can escalate the vet was refering to Nilah getting really peeved with the situation.. In context, I told her that Nilah was being pretty good with him considering how much he harasses her (just playfully, as a kitten, but it does get a bit much!) and that was when she made that comment, meaning that Nilah may become less than gentle with him.  And Nilah is getting more peeved.

As for the runny poo, I've kept Nilah away from the wet kitten food and given her the baked organic chicken she loves (she won't eat it raw) and everything seems to be back to normal.  She does get really annoyed when he uses her litter tray, though. (I've written in another thread where they have 2 trays each, but of course it's hard to tell the little boy which ones are his.  They both like to have one for wee and one for poo!!)

I've had the little boy for a little over a month, and I really couldn't have been more careful about the introductions... really did it by the book, and it all seemed to be going well, except he's just so active.  Most activity between them is playing, and she is often quite active, having a good old romp.  But Nilah is a 'tail-wagger', even when she's happy to see you.  And she doesn't realise that that is the ultimate wavy toy to Sundar.  She gets so annoyed when he constantly attacks it... and I mean constantly!

I took the little boy as he was the only one of a litter to survive, and his survival was dubious due to structural deformity (Pectus excavatum, or funnel chest). Initially the vet thought he didn't have a great chance, but she's changed her mind as he is now breathing a lot better.  She's pretty sure all that romping with Nilah has been good for his physical development.

I'll bet it was her getting into his food that caused her loose stool, and perhaps she was expressing her displeasure at him, or couldn't get to the box in time, when she made the deposit on the rug...who knows.  The important thing is, she's better now, right?  It sounds like a normal household with a kitten in it .   So glad HE's doing so well.

Yes, I'm pretty sure it was the kitten food.  Really difficult to prevent some cross-over with the feeding though. 

And I'll live in hope that she just didn't make it in time and wasn't registering her disapproval... getting wet poo out of carpet is an absolute nightmare!

I'm glad you think it sounds like "a normal household with a kitten in it".  I'll go with that and hope it all settles down

Things are getting a lot better between Nilah and Sunday, but Nilah still has runny poo.  It seems to firm up a bit, then go runny again.  (Sorry about the sordid details...) No accidents outside the litter box, but I am concerned.   I've changed her diet back to what it was.

Is there such a thing as 'new cat in the house diarrhea'??

So you're sure she isn't getting into the kitten's food?  You might try feeding her a little bit of yogurt, if she'll eat it.  That's what I do whenever any of mine have loose stools.  I feed them plain yogurt, but I understand flavored is ok, just nothing sweetened with artificial sweetener. 

And, yes, I think stress could cause it, which would be like "new cat in house diarrhea". 

If you are absolutely certain she isn't getting into the wrong food, and she won't eat yogurt, or the loose stools continue, I would check back with the Vet and see what they think, because it shouldn't be continual.  There could be something else causing it.

It would seem like such a co-incidence, wouldn't it.... that a cat who has been so healthy all her life gets diarrhea right when a new kitten arrives?

I tried her on yoghurt.. she doesn't like it at all, so I gave it to the kitten, who scoffed it.

It does seem to be settling down, so I think it may be kitten food from before and stress.

I'll give it another few days.