New member/cat owner HELP MY CAT RONALD

willow12

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Hello i am a new cat owner ill get right to the point. 

I have a black male (i believe) short haired cat rescued from a box left at a mc donalds (hence the name ronald) hes so adoreable.

hes about 7-8 months old and loves the outside, although he just sticks near the house and under the house. 

i assume he poops outside sometimes. i got new and cheaper litter (has consistency of very shell filled beach sand, alot coarser than normal litter) and now there is no poop, i fear he may be ill but he seems like normal Ronald. I even kept him inside pretty much the whole day a few times since the mysterious vanishing poop started about 2 weeks ago. and still no poop in the litter box. I'm not going to complain about not having to clean poop/ waste litter. But what could be going on??? He seems fine although it is a bit noticeable his yearning to go outside even since i got new litter. i still let him outside when he is really meowing and clawing at the door. We also tried to teach him to use and flush the toilet. but we kind of stopped that, could the new litter prompt him to use the toilet when im at work? Does he just hold it cause he'd rater poop outside??

anyone have any insight, im 23 and work hard for my money, rather not dumbly go to the vet to have him say the obvious.
 
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siberian kitty

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You could try spraying feliway around your house or plugging one into the wall. I don't have one at the momment but I have read reviews, the majority said it was very useful however some cats don't respond as well as others and that they are quite highly priced.

Hope this is the kind of answer you were looking for.
 
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willow12

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i dont understand how would spraying something solve my question??
 
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siberian kitty

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Sorry I wasn't very clear, if your cat isn't using your litter box than this product is meant to help. I searched it up and it said that the best product for persuading your cat to use any new litter box was feliway (it also helps with many other cat problems).

Sorry if I have misunderstood your question and been no help to you.
 
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willow12

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i see.. so sometimes cats perfer going outside?? maybe he didnt like the litter? if hes going outside more power to him. but will a cat not poop in the litter box and ONLY want to poop outside in some instances?? is he holding until he goes outside or just not pooping for almost 2 weeks..?
 
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siberian kitty

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If you would prefer your cat going outside to the toilet rather than inside but you would also like him to get used to the litter box you could put the litter box outside and when it's getting colder outside you could gradually move it inside. But he will probably be fine going to the toilet outside.
 

siberian kitty

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You could also check that the box is deep enough; the shaving aren't to rough and that the box is 1.5x the length of your cat. Some cats prefer to have unscented litter so also check that. Cats don't like to go to the toilet to close to where they eat so if his bowl is close to his litter box move it away.
 
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willow12

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the litter is VERY coarse from what i was getting him before. also 2 new room mates moved in
 

angels mommy

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If you are still letting him outside, he is probably going there. Cats will hold it until they can go out, if that's what they prefer. That''s probably why he was meowing so much at the door, as to tell you, he had to go potty.  My cat used to go out on his own, (only on a leach now, for safety), so, he would rather go outside when I take him, but will use the box when he needs to really go, for instance while I'm at work. If you have new roommates, I suggest you make sure you are all on the same page with the cat. (example, when he is allowed out, when/who feed him etc..)

I understand that some cats are free to go outside, (mine used to be)  but it really is safer to keep him in, this way, there are no outdoor safety worries. I at least used to make sure my kitty was called in for the night by time it got dark.  Really though, I understand the money issue. I am almost 43, & I still live check, to check.

However, if you keep him in as an indoor only cat, this will save you LOTS of money now, & in the long run. If he doesn't go outside, he shouldn't need a spot treatment. (as long as there are no other animals that go outside).  Also, he can't get parasites, etc.. that can be easily picked up outside, as well as other kitty diseases. (Aids, Leukemia...)  TRUST ME, If I could go back & get through the meowing, I would've made mine stay indoors a lot sooner, but because he was a very independent boy, outside for the first 5 yrs. of his life, is why I take him out on a leach, It's my compromise for him. (BTY,harnesses should be used w/ cats on leaches).

The reason I say trust me on this, is because a couple of yrs ago, my cat got a parasite, & that was not cheap at the vet. He had diarrhea for 3wks!  TWO  rounds of antibiotics, & Probiotics,

plus the vet visit fee, & prescription food, & that's only from getting a parasite, which is easy to pick up outside. If he got a disease, (Thank God, all test were negative), Then, that would've been BIG bucks!!  So, really, really think about all that, for the safety, & health of your cat, From one "Meowmy," to another, just offering some advise that I hope will help.

Everyone on this site is very friendly, & you can ask any question you need help with.

Welcomw to TCS!
 

siberian kitty

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You may want to go back to the litter you were using before as this may be the problem. If 2 new room mates have moved in he may feel scared around people except you as he has had a bad start. You might want to get your cat feeling comfortable around them by your room mates holding one of his favourite toys and letting him come to them, eventually your cat will become friends with your room mates the more he sees them. There are also many products you can buy to get your cat to relax in your house such as feliway.
 

lorie d.

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You're not even sure if this cat is really a male.  Anytime someone gets a new cat it's always best to have the cat checked out by a vet.   I understand your concerns about money, but this isn't a dumb thing to do and  a simple well-cat exam shouldn't be very expensive.  It might even be possible to arrange to make payments. 

The problem with the litter could be that the courser litter is too uncomfortable on your cat's paws and he's avoiding the litter box because of this. 
 
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willow12

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You're not even sure if this cat is really a male.  Anytime someone gets a new cat it's always best to have the cat checked out by a vet.   I understand your concerns about money, but this isn't a dumb thing to do and  a simple well-cat exam shouldn't be very expensive.  It might even be possible to arrange to make payments. 

The problem with the litter could be that the courser litter is too uncomfortable on your cat's paws and he's avoiding the litter box because of this. 
 thats what im thinking. he occasionally pee's in it and i think i saw poop 1nce in the new coarse litter
 

angels mommy

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You're not even sure if this cat is really a male.  Anytime someone gets a new cat it's always best to have the cat checked out by a vet.   I understand your concerns about money, but this isn't a dumb thing to do and  a simple well-cat exam shouldn't be very expensive.  It might even be possible to arrange to make payments. 

The problem with the litter could be that the courser litter is too uncomfortable on your cat's paws and he's avoiding the litter box because of this. 
 
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