Messy Hind Legs; not coverd anywhere in forum!

[schpadoikle]

I have a male cat, about one year old. He is not neutered, but my problem isn't with him spraying or not using his litterbox.

My problem is that he makes a mess on his back paws, at least everyday, and then tracks it all through the apartment. I think this just started a couple months ago, if I remember right. The box is in my bathroom closet with roughly an inch or so of extra room around the box; I was thinking he was feeling like it was a too tight a space for him, but I don't know. He also has a tendency to throw his litter all over outside the box, and not just a little here or there but he piles it out onto the floor. I don't know if the two things are related. I don't really think this is something I need to visit a vet for, so I'm haveing a hard time finding information on this specific problem.

Thanks in advance.

 

[purity]

Welcome to TCS

Alfie kicks litter all over the place, I find piles of it outside the box, but I don't think there's much you can do about it except maybe try getting a box with taller sides. He tends to think he needs to dig to Australia in order to bury anything

The messy legs problem, does he have diarrhea? I can't imagine that normal solid stool would be able to make that much mess (but I stand to be corrected!).

 

[schpadoikle]

No, it's solid "enough". It's like he steps in it with his back paws and gets clumps in his paws and then gets paw prints of waste all around the apartment! Or he gets urine all down his leg.

Whenever it happens he runs out of the litterbox and hids, which he only does when he's messy which tells me he knows what's wrong because it always ends in a paw bath, which he "loves".

I have used a spray bottle to train for "off-limits" areas (kitchen table) but when it comes to the litterbox I don't want him to think the litterbox is off-limits so I don't know how to solve this.

Thanks so much for the response!

 

[purity]

Maybe he doesn't like the feel of the litter on his paws so he's standing/squatting at a funny angle. Have you tried different litter?

 

[jennyanniedots]

LOL! Our Henry gets "poopy foot" every once in a while, when he's a little "loose." He's tailless, so sometimes that's a problem with that type of cat, but I'm not sure about yours, especially since you say that it's not solid. Do you have a vet that you can call with questions? Mine's good that way--they'll tell me not to worry about it or to "definitely bring him in."

We used to have to chase Henry around with a wet rag and we started putting a towel (imagine the Red Carpet to the Litter Box) leading to the box. Helped a bit, but when it's loose, he can't help it.

Good luck!

 

[cloud_shade]

It might be worth either moving the box to an area with more space or getting a second box to see if that helps.

 

[tourmaline]

My 12 week old kitten had very loose stool for the last couple of weeks (its clearing up now) and he was always stepping in his poo and leaving poo tracks through my apartment and once on my bed (ugh!). Now that he is feeling better and his poo is solid there isn't that problem. So maybe you could find a way to make his poo more solid. Perhaps slowly move to a different food? I found that my 9 month old cat has looser stool on one food and was more solid on a different food. One thing that is wierd is that your cat is getting urine on his legs... How is that happening? You may have cause for concern about that. Is your cat long haired?

 

[ryobious]

I suggest buying a covered litterbox or one of those round ones with a big ramp getting into it, they track litter less. Also, I would also try changing litter because some cats either don't have enough space, the box isn't clean enough or they just don't like the feel of litter and it ends up making them step in it.

 

[pushylady]

Oh I'm so glad I'm not the only one to have to put up with this! Poopy paw prints over the apartment = very gross. Worse thing was the other night at 3 am I woke with a start because the place was reeking. Turns out Wiggies had an episode and tracked it onto our bed, right on my pillow.

Super gross, and of course we couldn't get back to sleep after that.

Poor boy though, there's obviously something wrong if he's always got loose stools, right? I wish I could recommend a brand name of food for you to try, but unfortunately we haven't had much luck yet finding one.

 

[girlieq]

I'll echo what the others have said about trying a different litter.

And my cats love their covered litter boxes. I had the lid off of one, to teach them how to use the door, and they actually stopped using it while the lid was off. It helps so much with them not being able to throw litter everywhere, too. And how much litter are you using in the box? You could try using less, so he doesn't have so far to dig to reach the bottom. Did you declaw him? That can cause changes in litter box behavior.

How big is your box? Has he outgrown it?

Outside of one box, I have a carpet square with shag-ish carpet (I got it from a carpet store that was going out of business. It was a sample), and I need to get something for the second box, because they do tend to track litter out. I'm not sure that it helps with Rowan tracking poop (he doesn't do it every day, but when he does, he makes a b-line for my pillow), but I figure that it can't hurt.

Rowan tends to be a smelly little boy, no matter what I do. He likes to play in the boxes, though. He'll hop in and out of the box in the bathroom, to make sure that my feet get coated in the clay as soon as I step out of the shower. I just give him bi-weekly baths. He's getting another one tonight, just as soon as I finish doing the dishes.

 

[schpadoikle]

Well, there was a shelf above the litterbox, there was enough room but maybe Free Sample (my cat) didn't think so. I removed the shelf and it's been a cleaner few days. But I'm going to try new litter. I used to give him wet food and dry food and I don't remember there being a problem, so I'll start doing that again and see what happens.

He's a short haired cat and the urine problem seems to be the same as the poop on the paw problem. he doesn't like to cover his urine, which I'm trying to break him of, so I think he just steps in it.

But WOW thanks for the response, this is a great community here!

 

[mrod1]

Originally Posted by pushylady

Oh I'm so glad I'm not the only one to have to put up with this! Poopy paw prints over the apartment = very gross. Worse thing was the other night at 3 am I woke with a start because the place was reeking. Turns out Wiggies had an episode and tracked it onto our bed, right on my pillow.

Super gross, and of course we couldn't get back to sleep after that.

Poor boy though, there's obviously something wrong if he's always got loose stools, right? I wish I could recommend a brand name of food for you to try, but unfortunately we haven't had much luck yet finding one.

Oh No!!, what an awful thing for you to wake up to. Thats the last thing I want is cat poop where I'm sleeping, and then waking up and having to clean up when you're half asleep.

 

[mrod1]

I live in a small 2 bed apt. I keep a covered litterbox in the bathroom. The cover keeps the litter in, helps a little with odor, and best of all myself and any guests don't need to see my kittys business. I would try a different litter, Maybe a bigger litter box! Maybe the box is too small for him and he has a hard time covering the litter, and ends up stepping in it and peeing on himself. Good Luck

 

[schpadoikle]

Well, I'm moving to a bigger apartment next month where he might be getting "His own room" (walk-in closet). Then I'll have room to get a grand litterbox with a roof etc. I'm just worried because the new place has some carpeting.

He is a little loopy, which I love. I found him in a box on the highway. He was about 3 months old and barely bigger than my hand! He was the runt and he was extremely malnourished and sick. His hair was falling out and the tips of his ears where falling off. He was in bad shape. Why anyone would do that is beyond me. A visit to the vet earlier in the year determined him to be completely healthy, hyper-activity aside.

 

[powertrax]

If you get a larger litter box when you move to a larger place, I highly recommend a covered litter box. Then the only mess you have to deal with is a small amount of littler from his paws right out side the box. And if you get a litter mat in front of that it should keep the carpet plenty clean, all you'll have to do is shake out/clean the mat occasionally.

Best of luck

 

[gizmocat]

Oh, isn't he beautiful? What is his name?

I'd change the litter first of all. Get one that clumps fast so the scat will dry out quickly.

 

[goldenkitty45]

First, get him neutered. The urine smell will get worse before it gets better. And he WILL start spraying if he's not neutered.

Try getting a covered litter box or a deeper pan. What kind of litter are you using? Is your cat long or short hair? Long hair cats have a tendency to be more messy on the feet/tail because of the longer fur.