help with fecal problem

Clinton is 5 months old. He uses the litter box like a very good boy, even tries to cover all his "presents," however, we sometimes have a problem with him scooting on the floor. He's been to the vet and they can't find anything wrong, but it's like he forgets to squeeze the poop out and it gets stuck in his fur, so he scoots on the floor. I try and be home when I know he eliminates, to help catch the problem, but I know it hurts him when I have to get the leftover fecal matter out of his fur. I know it's not his fault, but I also know that it's tough on our relationship because I'm always cleaning kitty poo out of him and the carpet.

Thanks for the help!

Is his fur on the longer side?? You may want to get his fur shaved so the poo won't stick as easily. Additionally, I was reading another message board where someone recommended multiple boxes for kittens (different boxes throughout your place) since they are very active and can't alway "know" ahead of time that they need to go poo...just think of working with a toddler...except you don't have the ability to walk your kitten to the bathroom.

Katie

Originally Posted by TNR1

Is his fur on the longer side?? You may want to get his fur shaved so the poo won't stick as easily. Additionally, I was reading another message board where someone recommended multiple boxes for kittens (different boxes throughout your place) since they are very active and can't alway "know" ahead of time that they need to go poo...just think of working with a toddler...except you don't have the ability to walk your kitten to the bathroom.

Katie

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That sounds like a good idea!

Also, I'm guessing you've already done this, but make sure that there's no possibility of him having worms--sometimes it takes a couple fecal flotations to find them. If you're finding little grains of rice-looking things in his #2s, then he's got worms. Make sure, if he does have worms, that the vet gives him a prescription dewormer and doesn't just have you buy an over the counter one from the pet store--they just plain don't work!

Anyways, chances are he's just not an expert "pincher", lol.
My parents have a young male kitten with a similar problem, but he doesn't even try to wipe off the little dingleberries, just walks around with a nasty butt. His name is Riley, but they've nicknamed him "Crusty"-

Good luck with Cap'n Poopypants, keep us posted!

could he be getting distracted before finishing his duty? Maybe relocate his box and good luck

Have you taken a fecal sample to the vet? If not, you might ask the vet about the consistency of your kitty's solid waste. If it is too hard or too soft, that may explain why it is getting stuck to him.

hey y'all-

thanks for your comments so far. here's the update, hope it helps... Clinton has had two clean fecal samples over the past two months, and clean blood work. He is technically a short-hair but is a little fluffy and i did have his tushie shaved about two weeks ago. He always starts his business in the box, so he knows where to go, it's just the leftovers he forgets to pinch off. I'm a little confused as to whether he is distracted or not, because he meows for my company when he needs to go. Apparently he doesn't like to go by himself, that and I always tell him what a good boy he is afterward.

The only other thing I did notice in cleaning him up last night was that there appeared to be some of my hair in his fecal matter. I manage to keep a pretty clean house, but he does love the bathroom, and he does take naps around my ponytail and kneeds my hair. Could his eating my hair be making the poop stick? If so, is there anything I can do to curb this?

Thanks a bunch!

Hi, we had a similar problem, and first the vet said he was fine, but he turned out to have an anal gland problem which the vet said was rare in cats, so didn't think it was the trouble... only it was, and it needs taking care of if it is the problem. Get him checked out again.

Hair could certainly keep the poop from coming out normally. Spot has had that problem too, since I have relatively long hair. You could try giving weekly doses of Laxatone or Petromalt to ease things along.

I've wondered about the anal glands too, because that is what much of my research has led too. Right now, I'm hoping it's just the hair munching that's causing his problems because he doesn't have the problem everyday (only when I find my hair in his stool). Therefore, I picked up some Laxatone (tuna flavored, because he likes fishy treats) and Petromalt treats as a back-up/easy solution. So far, he's not interested in either of them. How has everyone else gotten their cats to like these?

thanks again for all your help!

I've got one who loves it and one who couldn't care less. If you smear it onto their front paws, they will usually lick it off. Just be sure that you actually smear it or they'll shake it off, and you'll be cleaning the walls!