Sometimes it seems like 7 month old cat doesn't realize she's pooping. Help!

Hi all - back again with another yet health question! These cats are keeping us busy!

Our seven month old cat keeps having poop related accidents - she will frequently drop a small piece on her way in to or out of the litter box but on a couple of occasions we've found them further away from the box. It's almost as if she doesn't realize she's pooping. This is a bit gross, but I've also noticed a few times when she's lifted her tail that it seems like she has a piece ready to come out but she won't go to the box and it will go back in (sorry, TMI!).

In the past I've been worried that maybe she's constipated but she does go to the bathroom every day, sometimes twice. Sometimes it's in smaller pellet like pieces but the litter always sticks to it so it doesn't seem to be too hard or dry and she never cries out in pain while she's going. Any insight on what the issue could be? I was just a bit worried that perhaps it's something serious (megacolon, nerve issues?). 

I've also noticed over the past couple days that her third eyelids are becoming more prominent again. Last time this happened both cats had it and both also had diarrhea. We treated them both and their stools/eyes went back to normal. She digs around in this potted bougainvillea we have on our balcony, could the soil and/or plant be causing some kind of reaction?

Sometimes littles "cling-ons" get stuck on their fur and then drop off as they are exiting the box, or even as they run or jump elsewhere.  As to you noticing stool almost exiting, then going back in, that doesn't really sound normal to me.  AND her third eyelid showing often doesn't seem normal to me either. 

What are you feeding her?  If it's all dry, then you might consider adding some canned food to her diet.  If it's already canned, you might consider adding some canned pumpkin just in case.  AND you might mix in a little water into her canned food just to get more water into her.  Pumpkin helps both with constipation AND diarrhea, so it might just help with whatever her bowel issues might be, IF she has any.  

I would definitely keep an eye on that third eyelid though.  That's normally a sign of health issues, unless you're seeing it when she's just awoken.   I checked on the bougainvillea, and it's not considered poisonous to cats, however, the leaves and any berries can cause irritation, which could  (I suppose) account for her third eyelid showing.  Do the time frames match?

These definitely aren't cling ons. They are the small pellet like pieces. I think she may be constipated even though she goes everyday. The cats are fed mostly wet food but I'll start adding pumpkin to hers again.

So I've seen it happen now a couple of times and they definitely are not cling ons. She has an accident a few times a week now where she'll go outside the litter box. Usually she'll drop small pieces and then later go to the litter box so I know it's not an issue with the box or the litter. There doesn't seem to be any one specific place where she is doing this. if i try to pick her up to put her in the box when this is happening she gets really stressed out and will immediately jump out of the box. 

I've picked up the pieces with tissue after her accidents and they don't feel too hard and she doesn't seem to be struggling to get them out. The only major change in the house is that we went from three litter boxes down to two since the two cats seemed to be mostly using two of them anyway. 

She's still active and eating/drinking normally. I'm wondering if this calls for a vet visit or if we should wait things out with the pumpkin? I'm just worried there is some more serious underlying issue. 

When you've witnessed her going outside the box, does she seem to be aware that she is doing it?  You stated above that she may not be aware she is dropping these "pellets", but now that you've seen her do it, is she getting into the "stance", the "pooping position" as it were?  If so, that is definitely one sign of constipation, especially if she appears to be straining at all. 

are you noticing any trend on the out of the box poops with the cleanliness of the boxes?  Some cats only want to use a box if it's freshly cleaned out.  One of mine will wait until we are done cleaning it to use it.  Every morning he's right there loitering.  As soon as we're finished scooping, he jumps in.  Like clockwork.  Heaven forbid if we ever get off schedule .   I always remind him he COULD use another box, but noooooo, he likes that one.  But my point is that perhaps your little one is pooping outside the box only when the boxes have something in them already?     Just guessing it different things here.

Bottom line, if you're witnessing her just walking around and stool falls out of her without her doing anything at all ....yes, Vet visit.  If she is purposefully pooping outside the box, could be constipation or (in her mind) an issue with the box AT THAT TIME.   Did this issue just start when you got rid of that 3rd box, even though it was seldom used?  If so, I'd consider putting it back.   

She doesn't get in to the pooping stance when she's not in the box. It will start to come out without her being in the stance and when this happens and she's not in the box she'll immediately start scooting on the floor to get rid of it. Sometimes she'll go finish up in one of the boxes later. I'm not sure what that could mean and why she's doing that.

The boxes are well-kept. I clean at the very least twice a day and when I'm home and hear hem use it will immediately go scoop.

I know scooting can be a sign of other health issues but I'm pretty sure she doesn't have parasites. Both cats had a bout of diarrhea a month or so ago and cleared up after a round of Metronidazole for ten days. She also had coccidia when we first adopted her at about 10 weeks old but that cleared up too after a couple rounds of different medications.

Her anal/rectal area looks normal and she never excessively licks herself there. I also don't mind the clean up so much because it's always smalll solid pieces when it happens, I'm just worried that there may be a more serious underlying issue.

Hmmm, at this point, I don't know what to tell you.  It kind of sounds like it's uncontrollable.  Perhaps just put a call in to your Vet and discuss?   See if they think it's worth an exam or not?

Hello,

I was reading the above posts about poop.   My baby 5 yr old maine coon mix, has always been severely constipated.  She will strain so hard, and just a tiny little poop , 1 poop, will come out.   Sometimes she will RUN to the box and again 1 little poop.  I am finally on track with miralax for her. IT WORKS.   Vet says he thinks she has IBS with constipation.  Now if I can only find a wet food she will eat.

Good luck to you Piacat.

Keep in touch.

Karen

Thanks. We did take her to the vet and she checked out fine health wise although the vet said to try giving her a bit of Metamucil so we are doing that and hopefully it will resolve the problem!