Poop everywhere, Eats everything

stupidcatowner

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My cat has been a problem since I've had it.

Got it from the pound (was a kitten) about 12 years ago. I have 2 major problems with this cat...

1) It poops everywhere. I've tried 2 litter boxes, no help. I put newspaper all around the box, which is where it poops most the time (never poops in box, but does pee). About the other 1/3 of the time, it poops on the carpet. I'm always cleaning it up. I put boxes and furniture in the way of where it poops most the time, but will just poop somewhere else. I clean the box regularly, as well as put down clean newsspapers (as this is where it does most the pooping). I'm just getting sick of coming downstairs (where we keep it) and walking through a "minefield", fearing stepping in cat poop.

I've shoved the cats face in the poop on the carpet and yelled no for a while whenever it did it, but that didnt help at all. It kept pooping where it wasnt supposed to like it was it's job. The other thing.... is when it actually poops on the newspaper around the litter box, it runs off because of the noise of the poop hitting the newspaper. As it runs, most the time a smaller poop ball still stuck to the cat will end up falling off on the cat's escape and randomly end up over the basement. So not only do I have to worry about big poops, but little balls all over the carpet as well!

2) The cat eats everything. We have to keep in locked in the basement (finished) b/c it will get into pretty much everything. It chews through the plastic on the bread and gets to that. I feed it regularly, to the amount my vet specified. It has done this since it was a kitten, comdemned to a life in the basement. Even if I bring food down to eat, the cat will try to take it from me.

Any suggestions on any of these problems would be appreciated. I'm getting sick of putting up with my stupid cat.

BTW- My cat is a "runt" and is small. It is also very affectionate and loves to be pet and held. I can't figure my cat out. I'm beginning to thing it is mentally handicapped or something
 

hissy

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Ok I am going to try and stay cool here, because it is obvious you are quite upset. But I do have questions so please bear with me.

This cat you have had for 12 years? Yet you refer to the cat as "it" Are we talking about a male or female here? Is the cat intact? Or spayed, or neutered? When was the last vet visit for "it?"

Does the stupidcat have a name?

Sorry but your attitude definitely puts me on the defensive to try and save your cat.


Originally Posted by stupidcatowner

My cat has been a problem since I've had it.

Got it from the pound (was a kitten) about 12 years ago. I have 2 major problems with this cat...

1) It poops everywhere. I've tried 2 litter boxes, no help. I put newspaper all around the box, which is where it poops most the time (never poops in box, but does pee). About the other 1/3 of the time, it poops on the carpet. I'm always cleaning it up. I put boxes and furniture in the way of where it poops most the time, but will just poop somewhere else. I clean the box regularly, as well as put down clean newsspapers (as this is where it does most the pooping). I'm just getting sick of coming downstairs (where we keep it) and walking through a "minefield", fearing stepping in cat poop.

I've shoved the cats face in the poop on the carpet and yelled no for a while whenever it did it, but that didnt help at all. It kept pooping where it wasnt supposed to like it was it's job. The other thing.... is when it actually poops on the newspaper around the litter box, it runs off because of the noise of the poop hitting the newspaper. As it runs, most the time a smaller poop ball still stuck to the cat will end up falling off on the cat's escape and randomly end up over the basement. So not only do I have to worry about big poops, but little balls all over the carpet as well!

2) The cat eats everything. We have to keep in locked in the basement (finished) b/c it will get into pretty much everything. It chews through the plastic on the bread and gets to that. I feed it regularly, to the amount my vet specified. It has done this since it was a kitten, comdemned to a life in the basement. Even if I bring food down to eat, the cat will try to take it from me.

Any suggestions on any of these problems would be appreciated. I'm getting sick of putting up with my stupid cat.

BTW- My cat is a "runt" and is small. It is also very affectionate and loves to be pet and held. I can't figure my cat out. I'm beginning to thing it is mentally handicapped or something
 
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stupidcatowner

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The cat is a "she" and name is Duffy....

She has been "fixed" for over 9 years now. She had been going to the vet since we had her. The vet doesn't know what to say about the problems. These problems of pooping have only been going on for about 7 years now, before she would always poop on the paper (which I didn't have a problem with).

I treat the cat very well, I've never abused her. I'm just getting sick of putting up with these problems every day.
 

valanhb

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A cat is not a dog. You do not rub a cat's nose in it, or yell at it. Cats are not pack animals and they do not have the innate desire to please the alpha in the pack. Yelling at the cat and rubbing her nose in it will only cause her to fear you and fear defecating.
 
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stupidcatowner

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Originally Posted by valanhb

A cat is not a dog. You do not rub a cat's nose in it, or yell at it. Cats are not pack animals and they do not have the innate desire to please the alpha in the pack. Yelling at the cat and rubbing her nose in it will only cause her to fear you and fear defecating.
Well then, what is a good idea to let it know I'm not happy with it pooping all over the place? I'm open to any ideas, thats why I posted this
 

hissy

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There are levels of abuse, and sadly, you are abusing Duffy. Pushing her face into the poop, yelling at her, are all acts that should never be done to cats. Cats don't process things the same as dogs. Yelling, shouting, clapping scaring your cat creates more problems than they solve.

Think about it for a minute, this kitten was a runt, meaning others pushed her out of the way to get to mom's milk. She was stepped on trod on, hissed at. Then she was put into a family to be loved and because of them not understanding cats, she is now banished to live down in the basement, with no one to keep her company. My guess is she is reacting to the environment IF you have taken her to more than one vet to have fecals and blood work and full work ups done to rule out any health issue. Runts quite often are born with underdeveloped organs, she may be unable to "hold it" long enough to get to the litter pan. So you would put out more pans for her. She eats plastic. I have a recent rescue prowler that eats plastic, bread is not safe around here! LOL I bought a bread keeper and I keep my plastic bags up out of the way.

If Duffy is long hair and poop is sticking to her bum, you need to clip the back leg hairs, and spray them lightly with pam cooking spray. Problem goes away. I would definitely give her more litter pans. I would experiment with different litters. I would stop yelling, scolding, losing your patience. I would put new toys down there, buy a cat condo, maybe even get an older cat for her to have company? There are answers to this, it is sometimes a puzzle, you just have to put it together. She is doing what she is doing for a reason. My guess is as she is getting older she is losing the ability to keep control of her functions. And being a runt, it is likely she has fought this her entire life.

Also a point that is important is the cleanliness of the litter. How often do you scoop? How often do you scrub? How often do you change the litter? Do you keep bags of stinky waste near the pans to take outside another time? Cats are scrupulously clean creatures. What we think might be clean to us, might not be the same for them.
 
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stupidcatowner

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That "runt" theory makes a lot of sense. Our basement is big and nice, I wouldn't even mind living down there. I had only yelled at her a few times, it's not a normal thing. I've even bought some spray to put on the carpet after I clean up the poop that was supposed to detur cats from pooping there again, no help.

I don't know how much age is effecting her. She still loves to play and is always running around. Like I said, she has been doing this since she was about 4 or 5. I'm going to have to try clipping off come bum hairs to prevent the "danglers" from falling all over the place.

As for the box experimenting, I will try that as soon as I move (in a few weeks). Any suggestions on smell eliminations? Since she poops on the floor and paper, it smells wicked even after 1 poop. Any kind of super powerful plug in air freshener or smell elimator?
 

cirque

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If her poo smells terrible it could suggest worms or diet problems. Please look into that as terrible smell poo is not normal for the average cat in my experience. Sometimes even the vets will tell you that they didnt find any worms or eggs in the samples, but that you would be perfectly within rights to deworm a second time with a stronger med. From my own experience that has helped some with stinky poo with Buddy..
 

hissy

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Your moving? That will effect her. Once she starts seeing familiar things placed in a packing box she is going to start stressing. This is what I would do if I were you. First of all I would calm down. Again, you show a lot of anger and frustration in your posts even though you insist you are not. I would take her to the vet and ask for a full blood work up and a fecal check. If you keep her flea treated, she shouldn't have parasites. I would go and get a large rubber mat, and place in in an area that is protected, but has an easy escape. I would give her three litter pans, not one, not two but three, and all brand new. I would clip her back hairs, and brush her with a light spray of PAM. I would also invest in black light and search the room at night for urine stains. My guess is you will find them. You can get good black lights at this website and you can order stain removers from the second link.

http://www.blacklightshop.com/

http://www.odordestroyer.com/pet-odo..._for_Cats.html

I would also suggest you invest in a feliway comfort zone room disfuser_ I would get two
www.biovet.com
 

deb25

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Although you sound angry and frustrated right now, I am going to gamble that since you have had Duffy for 12 years that you are pretty devoted to her. Listen to hissy, and don't give up on your cat. Hissy has a million and one good suggestions and will help you and Duffy get through this.
 

devlyn

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How frustrating having to clean up poop everyday! I bet you've stepped in it more than once too. It is all too easy to just get angry and frustrated when you are at the end of your rope.

You've been putting up with this for the past 7 years and trying to work with her. That says a lot. With the move you are making, it will bring stress on Duffy, but it will also bring new opportunities to make a change in her behavior.
I don't have any great suggestions, but I do have one question. Is Duffy declawed?
My cat, Morris, was declawed and has very tender paws because of it. We've never had a problem with him pooing on the floor, but I know that many declawed cats have that problem. Probably because it hurts them to dig in the litter. If she is declawed, you might want to try some different kinds of litter that would feel better on her paws.
If she's not declawed, all I can offer is support and encouragement. Hissy seems to have a lot of great ideas.
With dogs it's all about correction and reward. Cats can be difficult because they are kinda drama queens. There's a lot of psychology with figuring out why they start doing things and how to get them to stop.
Probably the last thing you want to hear is about getting another pet, but I have to agree with that. While not pack animals, cats are very social creatures and like to have buddies around to hang with.
From personal experience, I'd recommend an older, male, neutered ginger tabby. I've always found them the most laid back, easy going and friendly kitties who adapt to new animals well.
At any rate, good luck! And give Duffy hugs and head bumps from me and my crew.

Devlyn
 

jen

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Ya I don't know what it is about orange tiger cats but I agree that everyone I have come across has been really cool and laid back. Of course that doesn't say much bc it all depends on the individual cat.
 

darkeyedgirl

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I have an older cat (12 yrs old) who 'used to' poo in odd places... corner of the bedroom, foyer, etc. Other than the box, basically.

K.C. stopped doing this out of the blue when I got new carpeting. I no longer find little brown presents waiting for me. For 12 yrs, I saw the brown presents, and would just clean them up.

As cat owners (or rather, humans owned by cat), you sort of have to put up with certain quirks of a cat's personality. I have another cat who still to this day, at age 12 also, pees next to the litter box. I don't get aggravated, even though this is brand new carpeting she is peeing up. It's just how she always was. I just deal with it (and buy gallons of PetZyme).

When you move -- this will get worse and/or just not stop -- trust me!!! I moved into my house 1.5 yrs ago, and well KC poo'ed in the bedroom & Jess peed in the spare bedroom (she still does) no matter what. Moving is highly stressful for cats!

IF you do happen to send Duffy to another home: please make sure it is someone who is very understanding. My 2 most recent babies came to me last October "out of the blue" just like my other 4. Snickers is turning 14 yrs old this year and Dusty is going to be 13; their previous owner, a friend of mine --- just said he was giving up on cats altogether; hated dealing with cat fur everywhere, hated dealing with pee and poo outside the box. He claimed Snickers poo'ed outside the box all the time and Dusty puked too much.

So I took the beauties in, very happily, and guess what? Snickers has NEVER had an accident and is just about the happiest, sweetest cat on earth; and Dusty pukes "on occasion" but it is because she is high strung around the other cats. Normally she pukes after Hammie gets done playing with her.

Anyway Please don't yell or rub faces into poo. As was stated above cats are NOT like dogs. Snickers & Dusty used to get the crud beat out of their previous owner beat Snickers every single time he would find poo next to the box. Amazing to think that Snickers stopped pooping outside the box as soon as he found a loving, cat-friendly home.

I'm not saying you are not loving or cat-friendly, I'm just saying, maybe you need to find Duffy another home? Just an idea.
 
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