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OK, so today presented a couple... not really 'issues - more like situations that I have been contemplating and I am curious as to what some of you might do in my position. None are life-threatening; just little differences in the 'normal' routine around here.
1. They Boys recieved treat dispensers for Christmas and they love them. However, my daughter's roommate and 3 yr old daughter joined us here for Christmas and the Boys were given more than their usual dose of treats. (I noticed too late that the 3 yr old had been doling out treats while sitting behind the arm chair - my mistake). Late last night I was alerted to a heavy green fog eminating down the hall from the bathroom, followed closely by a slinking Keeker. I went to investigate and found a moderate pile of poop in the litter box that was slightly unformed (unlike his normal firm logs - more like soft-serve ice cream), completely unburied, and smelled like 3 day old rancid road kill! No changes in his behavior, food or water intake, activity or anything else. Just one helluva wretched poop! This morning, he one more episode - not quite as large - but still stank to high heaven and left unburied. He left the box immediately after he made his deposit. I assume he was trying to escape the green fog before it got him!
Since then, he has had one 'normal' poop with no odor and he buried it. YAY! Dare I assume he was just affected by the extra treats and keep an eye on him?
2. The Boys share a covered litter box (their preference to share since they were babies, as extra boxes have been totally ignored and sat completely unused for a few weeks before I put them in storage). Keep in mind they each weigh approximately 15 pounds and are no longer little kittens. I noticed Keeker has been entering the box, turning around inside and then squatting with his head outside the door. Bingo! I am thinkingthat maybe they are too darn big for a covered box, so I removed the lid today. My only issue now is that when I walk into the bathroom, I feel like I am at the beach! Litter is everywhere! I have a fairly small area in which I can keep their box, but I am going to have to come up with an ingenius idea as to how to keep the box open, yet keep the litter in the box! Any ideas? (It sits perfectly between my vanity and the bathtub and I don't want to move it to the bedroom or elsewhere because I prefer to keep it on a hard surfaced floor raher than carpet for easier clean-up).
3. A few weeks ago I was in the bathroom and Keeker came in to join me in our 'morning ritual'. While he was in the box doing his thing, Kricket came flying in in a panic and attempted to hop in the litter box but, of course, it was occupied. He backed up after getting a paw to his face. Frantic, he looked at me, looked at his occupied box, made a second attempt to squeeze in with Keeker and after a second swipe to the face and a bold, "Can't you see I'm IN here?", immediately jumped into the bathtub, scratched a couple times and peed his brain out! Then he looked at me and said, "What else was I supposed to do, Mom? I HAD to go!". That was 3 weeks ago and today, while Keeker was creating his 'green fog', it happened again. Kricket needed the box and was rebuked, so he peed in the tub! I immediately cleaned and sanitzed it after he left the room - didn't not disipline him because I didn't feel it was done out of malice, but more of necessity. Not to mention, I was grateful he didn't use the throw rug to pee on! He has used the litter box twice since then and things have returned to 'normal' once again.
So, I am not one to panick and whisk them off to the doctor as I truly don't believe any of the circumstances warrant a visit to the vet, but what would any of you do in similar situations?
a.)I am contributing the ghastly poops to over-indulging on treats and since things seem to have reestablished themselves, I will just observe over the next 24 hours.
b.)The too-small litter box is something I will have to consider in more depth. The lid is going to have to go because it truly is too confining for them and I don't want any bad habits to develop because of it. But what am I going to do to retain the litter when I don't have room for a feasible option? Unless someone out there comes up with a miracle solution, I am at a loss and fear I am going to be wearing out my broom and dust pan on a regular basis because they both sling litter like all their 9 lives depend on it! (That was the original purpose of the covered box).
c.)Kricket peeing in the tub isn't much of an issue with me at the moment. As I said, it has only happened twice in the last 3 weeks and neither time was done with malice. He is continuing to use his now uncovered box with no problem, so I don't believe his behavior was triggered by a medical condition or anything other than desperate measures in a time of need.
I have probably answered my own questions here, but I would like to hear what you think of the mentioned situations. Note: Both are neutered males, 20 months old, raised together since they were 6 weeks, no changes in food & water habits, personalities, activity or alertness, or other behavioral changes.
1. They Boys recieved treat dispensers for Christmas and they love them. However, my daughter's roommate and 3 yr old daughter joined us here for Christmas and the Boys were given more than their usual dose of treats. (I noticed too late that the 3 yr old had been doling out treats while sitting behind the arm chair - my mistake). Late last night I was alerted to a heavy green fog eminating down the hall from the bathroom, followed closely by a slinking Keeker. I went to investigate and found a moderate pile of poop in the litter box that was slightly unformed (unlike his normal firm logs - more like soft-serve ice cream), completely unburied, and smelled like 3 day old rancid road kill! No changes in his behavior, food or water intake, activity or anything else. Just one helluva wretched poop! This morning, he one more episode - not quite as large - but still stank to high heaven and left unburied. He left the box immediately after he made his deposit. I assume he was trying to escape the green fog before it got him!
Since then, he has had one 'normal' poop with no odor and he buried it. YAY! Dare I assume he was just affected by the extra treats and keep an eye on him?
2. The Boys share a covered litter box (their preference to share since they were babies, as extra boxes have been totally ignored and sat completely unused for a few weeks before I put them in storage). Keep in mind they each weigh approximately 15 pounds and are no longer little kittens. I noticed Keeker has been entering the box, turning around inside and then squatting with his head outside the door. Bingo! I am thinkingthat maybe they are too darn big for a covered box, so I removed the lid today. My only issue now is that when I walk into the bathroom, I feel like I am at the beach! Litter is everywhere! I have a fairly small area in which I can keep their box, but I am going to have to come up with an ingenius idea as to how to keep the box open, yet keep the litter in the box! Any ideas? (It sits perfectly between my vanity and the bathtub and I don't want to move it to the bedroom or elsewhere because I prefer to keep it on a hard surfaced floor raher than carpet for easier clean-up).
3. A few weeks ago I was in the bathroom and Keeker came in to join me in our 'morning ritual'. While he was in the box doing his thing, Kricket came flying in in a panic and attempted to hop in the litter box but, of course, it was occupied. He backed up after getting a paw to his face. Frantic, he looked at me, looked at his occupied box, made a second attempt to squeeze in with Keeker and after a second swipe to the face and a bold, "Can't you see I'm IN here?", immediately jumped into the bathtub, scratched a couple times and peed his brain out! Then he looked at me and said, "What else was I supposed to do, Mom? I HAD to go!". That was 3 weeks ago and today, while Keeker was creating his 'green fog', it happened again. Kricket needed the box and was rebuked, so he peed in the tub! I immediately cleaned and sanitzed it after he left the room - didn't not disipline him because I didn't feel it was done out of malice, but more of necessity. Not to mention, I was grateful he didn't use the throw rug to pee on! He has used the litter box twice since then and things have returned to 'normal' once again.
So, I am not one to panick and whisk them off to the doctor as I truly don't believe any of the circumstances warrant a visit to the vet, but what would any of you do in similar situations?
a.)I am contributing the ghastly poops to over-indulging on treats and since things seem to have reestablished themselves, I will just observe over the next 24 hours.
b.)The too-small litter box is something I will have to consider in more depth. The lid is going to have to go because it truly is too confining for them and I don't want any bad habits to develop because of it. But what am I going to do to retain the litter when I don't have room for a feasible option? Unless someone out there comes up with a miracle solution, I am at a loss and fear I am going to be wearing out my broom and dust pan on a regular basis because they both sling litter like all their 9 lives depend on it! (That was the original purpose of the covered box).
c.)Kricket peeing in the tub isn't much of an issue with me at the moment. As I said, it has only happened twice in the last 3 weeks and neither time was done with malice. He is continuing to use his now uncovered box with no problem, so I don't believe his behavior was triggered by a medical condition or anything other than desperate measures in a time of need.
I have probably answered my own questions here, but I would like to hear what you think of the mentioned situations. Note: Both are neutered males, 20 months old, raised together since they were 6 weeks, no changes in food & water habits, personalities, activity or alertness, or other behavioral changes.
