I have a 7 year old male, and all his life he has been needing to be on low protein food, due to he was found about 3 years ago, he had high protien in his urine. He does have a sensitive stomach and as the vet told me ... "he eats too much too fast and vomits it up" I am considering putting him on a anti-emetic.
He has started defecating around the house. We recently had a 'break down' of their automatic cleaning kitty litter box and decided not to replace it with the same, but to replace with 2 boxes and we are cleaning them every 2 days. We have now had these boxes for 2 months and he is STILL doing the same thing. It did start when we made the change over of boxes, and was told by the vet he will get used to the new boxes eventually.
He is active, he seems not to have any personality changes - could he STILL be mad about the kitty litter boxes?? Or do you think there could be something really really wrong with him??
Im and worried, but the vet keeps telling me his is fine. I am really concerned about him and would LOVE to have some other opinions of what peoples past experiences.
Thanks in advance!
Defecating and Peeing problems
Defecating and Peeing problems
2 FurBabies
Muggsie -Pure Bred Calico Long Hair Persian
Mr.'Jinxy' Boots - Black/White Dom. Short-haired
Muggsie -Pure Bred Calico Long Hair Persian
Mr.'Jinxy' Boots - Black/White Dom. Short-haired
You need to see a new, more experienced vet, preferrably feline-only.
The first problem is feeding low-protein food. If protein was found in the urine, the vet should have tested extensively for the underlying cause for the excess protein. Feeding a low-protein diet long term in a young cat is detrimental to the cat's health and organ function. Young, healthy adult cats require a specific amount of protein in the diet to ensure they are getting necessary vitamin/nutrient content and for energy. Low-protein diets should only be fed when there is an underlying health condition such as renal or liver or heart failure that requires reduced protein and phosphorus and sodium.
YOU said he has a sensitive stomach, but your VET said he eats too fast. This is the second problem. There is a reason for the sensitive stomach and your vet needed to address that in the very beginning, with a more appropriate diet, and you needed to ensure he wasn't gorging on food, by either providing small portions more often, or schedule his feeding and watching him so that he didn't gorge on his food. Sensitivity problems can stem from various factors, such as inappropriate diet or ingredients in the diet, to other more serious concerns such as parasitic infection, gastrointestinal imbalances, imbalances in normal GI flora, bacterial overload, poor digestibility, inflammatory conditions, undue stress in the environment, etc etc. These are all things that were and still are, imperative for the vet to investigate so that it gets resolved and so that your kitty is on a more appropriate diet for the long-term.
Do NOT put kitty on any anti-emetics and do not do any such thing on your own. And if your vet told you to do so, see a new vet, NOW. Which I recommend anyway.
The litterboxes should be scooped daily, and thoroughly cleaned and rinsed at least once a week. The boxes should be placed in easily accessible areas, as well as quiet and private areas. Do not place them in heavy foot traffic areas, nor near any appliances, nor where any area is dark, cold, or noisy.
Stress could also be an indicator to the problem, what is going on in his environment? What is he unhappy with?
Again, see a new, more experienced, feline-only vet, NOW. Ask for a fecal exam, and discuss a more appropriate diet, pending testing for other underlying health problems.
The first problem is feeding low-protein food. If protein was found in the urine, the vet should have tested extensively for the underlying cause for the excess protein. Feeding a low-protein diet long term in a young cat is detrimental to the cat's health and organ function. Young, healthy adult cats require a specific amount of protein in the diet to ensure they are getting necessary vitamin/nutrient content and for energy. Low-protein diets should only be fed when there is an underlying health condition such as renal or liver or heart failure that requires reduced protein and phosphorus and sodium.
YOU said he has a sensitive stomach, but your VET said he eats too fast. This is the second problem. There is a reason for the sensitive stomach and your vet needed to address that in the very beginning, with a more appropriate diet, and you needed to ensure he wasn't gorging on food, by either providing small portions more often, or schedule his feeding and watching him so that he didn't gorge on his food. Sensitivity problems can stem from various factors, such as inappropriate diet or ingredients in the diet, to other more serious concerns such as parasitic infection, gastrointestinal imbalances, imbalances in normal GI flora, bacterial overload, poor digestibility, inflammatory conditions, undue stress in the environment, etc etc. These are all things that were and still are, imperative for the vet to investigate so that it gets resolved and so that your kitty is on a more appropriate diet for the long-term.
Do NOT put kitty on any anti-emetics and do not do any such thing on your own. And if your vet told you to do so, see a new vet, NOW. Which I recommend anyway.
The litterboxes should be scooped daily, and thoroughly cleaned and rinsed at least once a week. The boxes should be placed in easily accessible areas, as well as quiet and private areas. Do not place them in heavy foot traffic areas, nor near any appliances, nor where any area is dark, cold, or noisy.
Stress could also be an indicator to the problem, what is going on in his environment? What is he unhappy with?
Again, see a new, more experienced, feline-only vet, NOW. Ask for a fecal exam, and discuss a more appropriate diet, pending testing for other underlying health problems.
..........Traci
Re: Defecating and Peeing problems
Yes, I agree with everything Traci has said, especially about the anti-emetics. You should never medicate your cat without your Vet's advice.
Are you using the same litter in the new boxes that you used in the old? Sometimes a change of litter can deter a cat from using the box.
You should also make sure that you clean the places where he is now defecating thoroughly to get rid of the odour. It may not smell to you, but you know how sensitive a cat's nose is. Try using a cleaner that is made specially to get rid of the odour.
Are you using the same litter in the new boxes that you used in the old? Sometimes a change of litter can deter a cat from using the box.
You should also make sure that you clean the places where he is now defecating thoroughly to get rid of the odour. It may not smell to you, but you know how sensitive a cat's nose is. Try using a cleaner that is made specially to get rid of the odour.
Re: Defecating and Peeing problems
I took him to the vet and they did all the tests, x-rays, urine tests, fecal tests, blood tests (I just told them to do the works) and it came up with NOTHING ... so my mind has been cleared ... The vet believes that he just has a behavorable problem.
I might just have to 'suck it up' and go buy a new kitty litter box, same to the one they were always used to, The Automatic Littermaid kitty box, to make him happy. Since that is the ONLY thing we have changed.
Since the vet visit, mind you, he has not been doing anything and using his box! We moved one box to upstairs and one box still remains in the same place in the basement.
The vet suggested putting him on some medication, but now that I know it is behavoir alone, and nothing medically wrong with him, I am going to try to discepline him when anything occurs. I dont like the idea of putting him on a medication for attitude!
We did get a new food for him, and it seems to be suiting him well, NO VOMITING in a week!!! We just feed both of the cats, more often in the day, but smaller portions. Seems to be working well *knock on wood*
Thank you so much for the recommendations on seeing a new vet, it sure made a world of difference, especially a Feline only doc. They gave me alot better information, and I felt SO MUCH MORE confedient in this doc instead of our old one.
Thanks Again!
Jenn Lindsey
I might just have to 'suck it up' and go buy a new kitty litter box, same to the one they were always used to, The Automatic Littermaid kitty box, to make him happy. Since that is the ONLY thing we have changed.
Since the vet visit, mind you, he has not been doing anything and using his box! We moved one box to upstairs and one box still remains in the same place in the basement.
The vet suggested putting him on some medication, but now that I know it is behavoir alone, and nothing medically wrong with him, I am going to try to discepline him when anything occurs. I dont like the idea of putting him on a medication for attitude!
We did get a new food for him, and it seems to be suiting him well, NO VOMITING in a week!!! We just feed both of the cats, more often in the day, but smaller portions. Seems to be working well *knock on wood*
Thank you so much for the recommendations on seeing a new vet, it sure made a world of difference, especially a Feline only doc. They gave me alot better information, and I felt SO MUCH MORE confedient in this doc instead of our old one.
Thanks Again!
Jenn Lindsey
2 FurBabies
Muggsie -Pure Bred Calico Long Hair Persian
Mr.'Jinxy' Boots - Black/White Dom. Short-haired
Muggsie -Pure Bred Calico Long Hair Persian
Mr.'Jinxy' Boots - Black/White Dom. Short-haired
Re: Defecating and Peeing problems
Oh and the new vet assurred me Mr. Boots did not have excess protein in his urine this time around .... so YEAH!!!
2 FurBabies
Muggsie -Pure Bred Calico Long Hair Persian
Mr.'Jinxy' Boots - Black/White Dom. Short-haired
Muggsie -Pure Bred Calico Long Hair Persian
Mr.'Jinxy' Boots - Black/White Dom. Short-haired
Re: Defecating and Peeing problems
Why would you discipline him when he has an accident? He's not doing this on purpose, he's doing it to get your attention to some matter that is bothering him...the litterbox, stress in the environment, maybe even the prior food,.....something is displeasing to him, reprimanding him for this is not going to resolve the situation. You could be right that he is stressed due to the litterbox change, so try to keep things consistent as possible....cats do not like change and even the simplest things in our opinion are very stressful for them.
What is the food you're feeding now?
What is the food you're feeding now?
..........Traci
Re: Defecating and Peeing problems
You make it sound as if I am going to abuse him.
Discipling him, for me, is the spots where he was marking, I have layed down the plastic carpet protector, the stuff where it has the pokeys in the bottom, upside down, so they dont walk on it. It seems to have been working for the past week, so I am confident things are getting better. Also, with the combination of moving the one litter box upstairs is seeming beneficial.
The vet recommended a science diet for sensitive stomach formula, and if that didnt help, we can try a hills prescription diet. I am also feeding the cats, more times a day, smaller portions.
I also bought this product Feliway ... what are your opinions on that?
Discipling him, for me, is the spots where he was marking, I have layed down the plastic carpet protector, the stuff where it has the pokeys in the bottom, upside down, so they dont walk on it. It seems to have been working for the past week, so I am confident things are getting better. Also, with the combination of moving the one litter box upstairs is seeming beneficial.
The vet recommended a science diet for sensitive stomach formula, and if that didnt help, we can try a hills prescription diet. I am also feeding the cats, more times a day, smaller portions.
I also bought this product Feliway ... what are your opinions on that?
2 FurBabies
Muggsie -Pure Bred Calico Long Hair Persian
Mr.'Jinxy' Boots - Black/White Dom. Short-haired
Muggsie -Pure Bred Calico Long Hair Persian
Mr.'Jinxy' Boots - Black/White Dom. Short-haired
Re: Defecating and Peeing problems
Feliway doesn't work for all cats, and I doubt it would work for elimination problems...it is usually used for urinating/spraying issues.
If he's using the new boxes, and if nothing else has changed (other than the diet), then it could be stress from introducing new litterboxes and litter type and the issue may be resolved, but if he continues to eliminate in areas other than the litterbox, then you need to rule out stress factors in the environment. Pay special attention to his environment, routine, what happens directly before an elimination event, etc. Watch him in the litterbox to determine if he has an adversion to the box or the litter. Also watch the consistency of his stools....were or are they soft or hard, diarrhea or is/was he ever constipated, straining?
Keep a log of the elimination and vomiting incidences, and if either continue, notify the vet. The current diet may or may not work, and if it doesn't and if the vomiting continues, see the vet immediately and rule out inflammatory disease or continued food allergy, etc. If it comes to prescribing a specific veterinary diet and the vomiting continues, then ruling out inflammatory disease would be crucial. (i.e., IBD, megacolon, GI tract problems, lymphoma, etc)
If he's using the new boxes, and if nothing else has changed (other than the diet), then it could be stress from introducing new litterboxes and litter type and the issue may be resolved, but if he continues to eliminate in areas other than the litterbox, then you need to rule out stress factors in the environment. Pay special attention to his environment, routine, what happens directly before an elimination event, etc. Watch him in the litterbox to determine if he has an adversion to the box or the litter. Also watch the consistency of his stools....were or are they soft or hard, diarrhea or is/was he ever constipated, straining?
Keep a log of the elimination and vomiting incidences, and if either continue, notify the vet. The current diet may or may not work, and if it doesn't and if the vomiting continues, see the vet immediately and rule out inflammatory disease or continued food allergy, etc. If it comes to prescribing a specific veterinary diet and the vomiting continues, then ruling out inflammatory disease would be crucial. (i.e., IBD, megacolon, GI tract problems, lymphoma, etc)
..........Traci