Yes catowner, please post the what the vet says. So many times no one follws up with their posts and leaves us all hanging. I am having a similar problem with my cat.
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Grrrrr.......
- Thread starter catowner
- Start Date
Both of my cats were on Science Diet dry kibble for years before I knew better, and they were fat, not to mention all of the digestive and skin problems they were having. About four months ago I switched them over to wet food and now I'm and slowly transitioning them to raw food, they've never looked or felt better. We're starting to see a waist line again.Originally Posted by Catowner
Off the top of my head, Science Diet brand dry food. Not sure if this is right, but we've always mixed urinary tract with Weight control formula. I guess this is another reason we assumed it wasn't UTI. No promises when using this stuff, eh?
Dry food is very high in carbs, which cats have trouble processing, this can lead to diabetes. An obese cat who pees a lot and has been eating dry food, could very well be diabetic. It is one of the first things I would check for.
Regarding the humping of everything in site, I have heard that some male cats who are neutered after reaching sexual maturity may continue to exhibit those undesirable behaviors. I really don't know what to tell you other than, talk to the vet, and search for books and articles on how to correct this behavior. Hopefully your vet will be able to point you in the right direction.
You could also try this web site to find a behavior specialist http://www.animalbehaviorcounselors.org/
1. He's been de-clawed for at least 4 years now. The urinating issue didn't crop up until about a year ago. May I ask why a cat would decide to start acting out about not having claws by not peeing in the box years after the deed was done? In all honesty, the 2 going hand in hand doesn't sound logical.
I doubt it is from being declawed, Especially after that long. Cats that develop litter box problems because of declawing is within the first couple of weeks of surgery and that is because the litter is uncomfortable for them while they are healing. Not that it can't happe it's just highly doubtful. Similar but not the same as when you get a cat neutered. That is why they ask you to use shredded newspaper for the first little while after that. With the research I have done just as many cats that are declawed start to have litter box problems as cats that aren't declawed. This is not because I declaw my cats I have never had a declawed cat myself. I have however had cats with litterbox problems. I just know people that do and I like doing research.
I would however take it to the vet. There are so many things that could be causing it.
Do you have more then one litter box for your cats? Some cats decide that they don't like to share. Is your litter box cleaned everyday? Sometimes cats don't like going in a box that isn't clean.
Is the cat getting older? Some times as they get older they develop more problems. Anyway it could be health problems as well. Maybe you could try getting a larger litter box or maybe putting a huge rubber mat under the box so it is easier to clean.
I doubt it is from being declawed, Especially after that long. Cats that develop litter box problems because of declawing is within the first couple of weeks of surgery and that is because the litter is uncomfortable for them while they are healing. Not that it can't happe it's just highly doubtful. Similar but not the same as when you get a cat neutered. That is why they ask you to use shredded newspaper for the first little while after that. With the research I have done just as many cats that are declawed start to have litter box problems as cats that aren't declawed. This is not because I declaw my cats I have never had a declawed cat myself. I have however had cats with litterbox problems. I just know people that do and I like doing research.
I would however take it to the vet. There are so many things that could be causing it.
Do you have more then one litter box for your cats? Some cats decide that they don't like to share. Is your litter box cleaned everyday? Sometimes cats don't like going in a box that isn't clean.
Is the cat getting older? Some times as they get older they develop more problems. Anyway it could be health problems as well. Maybe you could try getting a larger litter box or maybe putting a huge rubber mat under the box so it is easier to clean.
I'll touch on the "self-love" issue.
I had a perfectly healthy neutered male who loved inanimate objects. He had special fondness for a white teddy bear of our daughter's (when you pressed on the chest it would play Christmas Carols - hubby said the cat liked it so much because it sang to him when he "loved" it). He also was fond of our daughter's bunny slippers. He would grab an ear in his teeth and drag it all over the house and often having his way with them.
See I always heard that cats develop litterbox problems later in life due to declawing because the rough litter is too hard on their feet. BUT I have never had a declawed cat so I am not positive. My roomate and her declawed cat lived with me and my 6 clawed cats a few years ago and she was fine with the litterbox. So who knows really?
As for your questions he already answered them all. The main things we suggested is a bigger rubbermaid container with a hole cut in the top, and having the cat checked for a UTI/crystals, and for Diabetes due to his weight and age and excessive peeing.
A quick comment I wanted to make on the OP's comment on spaying/neutering versus declawing and them all being for human benefit. Spaying and neutered is in one way for human benefit, so the earth isn't overrun with cats reproducing again and again, but it is also very much for their health. An unspayed/unneutered cat can develop all sorts of cancers and females willl get Pyometra which is a deadly infection without being treated (the treatment is to spay the cat). With declawing there is no health benefit to it. There are possible negative side effects, but nothing to even begin to compare it to a spay/neuter. Does that make sense? Entirely different, uncomparable things.
Oh and I keep forgetting about your problem with him humping everything...Some male cats just do that
Gross I know, but I really don't thinkn there is much you can do. Was he neutered after he reached sexual maturity? That can be it. But not necessarily, some cats just do it
I havent' done any research on litter box problems and declawing but there's just one thing that doesn't make sense to me. I could understand the litter hurting the cats paws if it just happened and it continued through out the cats life. But why would a cat later in life have it's paws hurt from the litter because it's declawed after so many years of being fine with it. It doesn't make any sense.
My inlaws cat was declawed and he pee'd all over their living room but I think that was more of the fact that he was like 17 yrs old and didn't want to go down the stairs into the basement where his litter box was. Not that it hurt his paws.
My inlaws cat was declawed and he pee'd all over their living room but I think that was more of the fact that he was like 17 yrs old and didn't want to go down the stairs into the basement where his litter box was. Not that it hurt his paws.
I guess it doesn't make a ton of sense, I sure there is something there that would make it happen later in life, but again, I am just going by what I have heard. I have never owned a declawed cat (nor will I ever
Sorry I didn't realize they were all answered. he he
as far as my comment and spaying and neutering vs declawin. Sorry if it was misunderstood. I never said or meant to imply that it was the same I said the reasons for litter box problems right after surgery are similar not the same. In the aspact that is causes irritation to the cat so for that vets will tell you to use shredded newsaper until they are healed.
It is complety correct and valid that the surgerys are in no way the same and in no way can you compare the actually surgery of declawing vs getting a cat fixed. It's just to totally different surgeries.
Sorry I didn't realize they were all answered. he he
as far as my comment neutering vs declawing. Sorry if it was misunderstood. I never said or meant to imply that it was the same. I said the reasons for litter box problems right after surgery is similar not the same, In the aspect that is causes irritation to the cat, so for that your vet will tell you to use shredded newspaper until they are healed. Declawing is way more drastic and it would be correct to say that fixing the cat is mainly for the benefit of the cat declawing is most likely for the benefit of the owner and is something that I in no way will do to my cats.
It is completely correct and valid that the surgery's are in no way the same and in no way can you compare the actually surgery of declawing vs getting a cat fixed. It's just to totally different surgeries. Declawing shouldn't be done at all but if you are going to do it should only be used as a last resort if at all after you have tried everything else of course.
I think the reason given for declawed cats developing litter box problems later in life is due to arthritis. Supposedly they are more prone to arthritis in the paws that have been declawed, which makes pulling them through the litter painful, so they start to go elsewhere. (granted, I don't have any research to back this up, it's just what I've read).
But I don't think that sounds like the OPs problems. i think he's just got a super big cat who needs a super big box to contain him!
~Julia
But I don't think that sounds like the OPs problems. i think he's just got a super big cat who needs a super big box to contain him!
~Julia
That is it! That is what I heard too, about arthritis. Taht is why some cats don't use the box later on in life because the arthritis hurt bad enough that they don't want to drag their paws through the litter or even walk over it.
And I agree completely on your second paragraph. Just gotta realize though that litterbox problems CAN be an issue with declawed cats. So be aware of that if he DOES in fact start going all over your house.
he he sorry againOriginally Posted by Jen
No not you Krazycatlover, It was the OP said that was trying to compare the two, so I was just trying to explain that that is entirely not true and they are absoutely no way the same type of thing.
Sorry
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #34
Actually, you can compare the 2 surgeries on the level that I presented them. My argument was that getting a cat spayed/neutered was to the benefit of the owner, much like de-clawing. People will get their cats fixed to prevent male spraying, stop female cats from going into heat (and yelling for a mate for days on end) or to simply stop them from re-producing. None of these things are needed for a cat survive and thus, places the direct reasoning for getting them done strictly for the owner's benefit. If there is a legitimate medical reason for the procedure, then you have an exception, but one could still argue that you're playing God by having them done. There are very similar debates with Dog lovers that swear neutering a Dog is the most vile thing an owner could do. We'll never settle this topic, so lets all just agree to disagree
He will be visiting the Vet very soon and I'll report the outcome as soon as I know something. Oh someone asked if I had him fixed before sexual maturity. We had him neutered the first day the Vet said he was old enough
He will be visiting the Vet very soon and I'll report the outcome as soon as I know something. Oh someone asked if I had him fixed before sexual maturity. We had him neutered the first day the Vet said he was old enough
Have you considered that the cat might be bored?
If he doesnt get on with the other cats so much (my assumption as you havent mentioned their interaction with him.) then food might be the only exciting thing in his life. That and humping anything he can find!
Just think, in our modern world full of distractions, sex and food are still our (human) biggest addictions.
The same could be said for the litter box problem, once uti's are ruled out..
Picture this, the first time he might have been a bit sick, missed the box or just not reached it in time. You saw the mess and made a huge fuss. ok, it wasnt a good reaction, but it was a reaction and he got some drama in his otherwise dull life.
You could work towards making him happier by investing in a feliway plug in and by making his enviroment more stimulating with comfy perches, cat toys, a fish tank to watch and some more one on one time playing and loving on him. (One of my cats seems greedy as she is always begging by the fridge. the truth is, she isnt very food motivated but loves the interaction and the attention of being thrown food for her to 'hunt' and catch).
Playing with him more would also help him lose weight.
(I am sorry if i have got it completley wrong, i dont know you and your house could be kitty heaven for all i know
all my advice is based on assumptions)
If he doesnt get on with the other cats so much (my assumption as you havent mentioned their interaction with him.) then food might be the only exciting thing in his life. That and humping anything he can find!
Just think, in our modern world full of distractions, sex and food are still our (human) biggest addictions.
The same could be said for the litter box problem, once uti's are ruled out..
Picture this, the first time he might have been a bit sick, missed the box or just not reached it in time. You saw the mess and made a huge fuss. ok, it wasnt a good reaction, but it was a reaction and he got some drama in his otherwise dull life.
You could work towards making him happier by investing in a feliway plug in and by making his enviroment more stimulating with comfy perches, cat toys, a fish tank to watch and some more one on one time playing and loving on him. (One of my cats seems greedy as she is always begging by the fridge. the truth is, she isnt very food motivated but loves the interaction and the attention of being thrown food for her to 'hunt' and catch).
Playing with him more would also help him lose weight.
(I am sorry if i have got it completley wrong, i dont know you and your house could be kitty heaven for all i know
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2006
- Messages
- 524
- Purraise
- 1
After all that the last post is what I've been thinking all along in reading this. Try spending more time playing with him. Buy him some good catnip and really have at it, as well as trying some of the suggestions in the post above mine.
If he gives you a clue right before he starts the humpfest maybe you can distract him with something like catnip. My cat likes some things that smell good, like fresh rosemary--pull a piece off a live plant, crush it up and rub it on his bed. She also LOVES to freak on my pain cream, which is primarily menthol. She acts like it's catnip, but it's a new and different smell for her. I rub some on a towel and put it down for her to relish.
Try playing hide and seek with him too. Or, hide his treats all over the house. Heck, hide his dry food around, and see if he enjoys hunting for it!
If he gives you a clue right before he starts the humpfest maybe you can distract him with something like catnip. My cat likes some things that smell good, like fresh rosemary--pull a piece off a live plant, crush it up and rub it on his bed. She also LOVES to freak on my pain cream, which is primarily menthol. She acts like it's catnip, but it's a new and different smell for her. I rub some on a towel and put it down for her to relish.
Try playing hide and seek with him too. Or, hide his treats all over the house. Heck, hide his dry food around, and see if he enjoys hunting for it!
Actually I think I have heard that too come to think of it. I havent looked into it much though. I guess there is statistics that go both ways on pretty much any subject thats why I like getting different views from different people.
i would like to apologize...one of my hot buttons is declawing...obviously. but i had no right forcing my opinion on you, catowner.
i realize that i have the RIGHT to remain silent...i just don't always have the ABILITY to.
i hope everything turns out for you and your kitty. again...i'm very sorry. you came here for advice and i went off half-cocked. i shouldn't have. misplaced aggression on my part.
i realize that i have the RIGHT to remain silent...i just don't always have the ABILITY to.
i hope everything turns out for you and your kitty. again...i'm very sorry. you came here for advice and i went off half-cocked. i shouldn't have. misplaced aggression on my part.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #39
Vet confirmed that he DOES NOT have UTI. Nothing abormal found in his blood work, either. I also took the advice here and changed him over to wet food. I'm just going to live with his humping problem. As long as we put all the clothes away and close the closets, he can't get to the stuff. Only thing left to do is get an appropriate litter box.
Latest Posts
-
Palliative care cat won't take gabapentin ... painkiller alternatives?- Latest: FeebysOwner
-
-
-
