Reassure a new cat owner -- questions on health, behavior

Hi. New here. Hope this is the best place for this.

I just adopted a 9-month-old cat from a rescue organization. She was a mother at 7 months and has since been spayed. She has been in my home now for 2 days, and seems to be adjusting well, for the most part. (I live alone in a studio apartment, which helps.) There are just two things we're having small problems with.

1. litter box behavior -- I have a small open litter box in the bathroom, with her preferred litter (according to the rescue) in it. She will urinate in the litter box, but will not defecate in it -- any thoughts on why this might be? I've had to wash my bathroom rug twice already because she will only defecate near and around the box. Would it help to put the box in a long hallway where she'd have more privacy?

2. illness -- she was vaccinated and fixed by the rescue, but she came home with a cough, which has worsened somewhat, and she's sneezing often, her eyes are filling up, etc. I was pretty sure this was a respiratory infection, and we have a morning appointment with the vet to see what can be done for her about this. But not only do her lungs sound fairly full of mucous, her feces, with which I am already intimately familiar, are getting more and more liquid. So I'm worried that the respiratory issues might be the sign of a larger problem -- in any case, good that we're going to the vet, right?

Any new-cat-owner reassurance would be welcome. I grew up with cats but this is my first adoptee of my own. Considering her NYC street kitty origins we are doing wonderfully, I think -- she responds to me, and will let me pet her periodically, and is very docile when I hold her to check her health. She's staked out some private space in my walk-in closet which I try not to disturb, other than to check on her after a sneezing fit. I just want her to be happy and healthy. I worry that having to take her out to the vet tomorrow will not help her feel safe around me.

I am not an expert, but you may need try some things before she will use the litter box all the time. Maybe it is your location of the litter box, Maybe she wants a closed litter box? or maybe she wants 2 litter boxes one for urine and one to defecate in? I have heard that some cats require one litter box for each function. 2. It does sound like your cat has URI, maybe she has worms also? My female was adopted from a rescue group and she came to me fine and then 2 days later developed a bad case of cocidia(worms), but now she is fine. Go to the Vet. and see what happens. Good luck and hope your kitty is ok. , Cat.

I can appreciate your concerns about your new kitten's health, as well as her feeling safe around you. Right now, it is important that she sees the vet since her condition is worsening so it is very good that you have the appontment tomorrow. You can reassure her and comfort her while there and when she gets back, but she does need to see the vet. It does sound like either an Upper Respiratory Infection or just as possible, a severe parasite infestation or both - and the vet is the only one who can tell you which one it is. The diarhhea is of concern and may be related to the same medical problem, or it may be something else all together. Is she eating and drinking well? Sometimes cats will stop eating when their noses get stuffed up - they don't eat when they can't smell.

About her litter box habits, you mention that you have a small box - perhaps it is too small for her and she feels too confined in that space. Try picking up a second bigger litter box - she may want to use one for urination and the other for defecation. You will be able to tell if she uses the second box properly, and if she starts doing both in it, then you know she felt the other was too small.

Good luck with your vet appointment. I hope he is able to set her up for a quick recovery and that both of you can continue on your 'getting acquainted' routine. She is a lucky little kitty to have found you.

Kathryn

I would get her to a vet right away ....I feel the same way when taking anyone in, like they will hate me for it. lol

and honestly, I think I would speak to the rescue. There is no reason why a cat with these signs should have been adopted out. All cats that have any signs of respitory issues are quarantined with the rescue we aid with. Did you get any background info on this cat? Usually rescues do a lot of work on a cat before adopting them out.

As far as the catbox, remove the rug from the bathroom and offer a larger box. See if that helps.

2. illness -- she was vaccinated and fixed by the rescue, but she came home with a cough, which has worsened somewhat, and she's sneezing often, her eyes are filling up, etc. I was pretty sure this was a respiratory infection, and we have a morning appointment with the vet to see what can be done for her about this. But not only do her lungs sound fairly full of mucous, her feces, with which I am already intimately familiar, are getting more and more liquid. So I'm worried that the respiratory issues might be the sign of a larger problem -- in any case, good that we're going to the vet, right?


She may have kennel cough, a vet visit is exactly the right thing to do! The loose stools could be worms or stress from the new enviroment. Try giving her a larger box or even a second one, I have a couple cats that use one only for potty and the other for poop. Let us know how it goes!

Her cough and other symptoms sound like kennel cough. My kitten had it when we got him from the humane society. They need antibiotics, so you need to get her to the vet.

Hey, another Queens person! Welcome and congrats on your new kitty!

A sort of left field question, but are you feeding her the same thing she was eating at the rescue? If not, her tummy might be a little upset from the abrupt switch in food, which could account for the loose stools.

Regardless, I echo what everyone else has said--it's good she's seeing the vet. Keep us posted!

Thank you very much for all of the responses. Her breathing has greatly improved overnight, and the sneezing has diminished, and her eyes have cleared. The loose stool is still an issue, but I'm thinking it's probably a function of diet. I had to cancel the vet appointment because I myself have been laid low by serious flu, and can't do much other than sleep. There's no one else to get her to the vet. But if the loose (and smelly) stools (which just appeared within the last 24 hours) don't change in the next couple of days, I'll call the vet again and try to make it over there.

Thanks a lot for all of your help.