I have a male cat about 1.5 - 2 years old. He was neutered about six months ago (he has had considerable weight gain since then) and the spraying immediately stopped.
I have three cats, the other 2 are females and both are spayed. About three weeks ago I noticed poop on the floor but did not know which cat had done it. This has happened off and on for about 3 weeks. A week ago I caught the male cat pooping on the floor, then urinating on a rug. He did the same thing (both) today, poop on the floor and urinate on a rug. It has been off and on, not every day. He does not have diarrhea. Until this began happening about three weeks ago, he had never done this before. He does not seem to be sick, has a good appetite and is fairly active (he is more laid back than the females).
Any suggestions?
Male Cat Using Bathroom On Floor
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Laurie and Tasha
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2003 8:26 pm
- Location: Sheffield Lake, OH
Re: Male Cat Using Bathroom On Floor
Jefferson, I would take your guy to the vet for a thorough medical exam. He may be experiencing a bladder infection or problem with his bowels - even though he is not acting sick. They are such experts at hiding when they are sick. Try getting a urine sample and bring a fecal sample, too.
Cats are creatures of habit, and if they start doing something different, it usually means something is wrong. Have you moved the boxes lately? Used a different brand or type of litter? Is he seeing other cats through a window and this is upsetting him? Try cleaning the spots he soils with an enzyme cleaner, and this might make him less likely to go back to those spots.
I have a 10 year old cat who refuses to use the box under any circumstances. Her health is fine; I think she doesn't like the feel of litter on her special, special paws. I put pee pads next to the litter box, and those she uses fine. You never know what quirky thing is going to start this behavior, but I would definately start with a trip to the vet. Good luck!
Cats are creatures of habit, and if they start doing something different, it usually means something is wrong. Have you moved the boxes lately? Used a different brand or type of litter? Is he seeing other cats through a window and this is upsetting him? Try cleaning the spots he soils with an enzyme cleaner, and this might make him less likely to go back to those spots.
I have a 10 year old cat who refuses to use the box under any circumstances. Her health is fine; I think she doesn't like the feel of litter on her special, special paws. I put pee pads next to the litter box, and those she uses fine. You never know what quirky thing is going to start this behavior, but I would definately start with a trip to the vet. Good luck!
Re: Male Cat Using Bathroom On Floor
Laurie has given you excellent advice. Vet FIRST, please.
Also, other than what Laurie presented, has there been any other changes in the home, such as your routine? Furniture recently rearranged? New people in the home? Are you stressed and the cats are picking up on your stress? Even if you think nothing or not much has changed significantly, you might have to think back as far as 6 months ago or so because cats don't often react to their stress immediately, they can and do sometimes withhold their stress and it can remanifest itself months later.
I too have a female cat who refuses to use litter in her box. For her, I use folded over paper towels. If I don't place paper towels in her box, she is sure to leave me a surprise on the floor somewhere. As long as there are paper towels in her box, she is faithful in using her box. Sometimes you have to accomodate their needs, no matter how insane it sounds.
In any event, the vet exam is most important, please make the appointment immediately.
Also, other than what Laurie presented, has there been any other changes in the home, such as your routine? Furniture recently rearranged? New people in the home? Are you stressed and the cats are picking up on your stress? Even if you think nothing or not much has changed significantly, you might have to think back as far as 6 months ago or so because cats don't often react to their stress immediately, they can and do sometimes withhold their stress and it can remanifest itself months later.
I too have a female cat who refuses to use litter in her box. For her, I use folded over paper towels. If I don't place paper towels in her box, she is sure to leave me a surprise on the floor somewhere. As long as there are paper towels in her box, she is faithful in using her box. Sometimes you have to accomodate their needs, no matter how insane it sounds.
In any event, the vet exam is most important, please make the appointment immediately.
..........Traci
Re: Male Cat Using Bathroom On Floor
I took my cat to the Vet yesterday. They want a urine sample (he didn't have enough urine in his bladder yesterday so they kept him over night to get one) and will get a stool sample and go from there.
There have been no changes in anything as far as his enviornment is concerned.
There have been no changes in anything as far as his enviornment is concerned.
Are you certain there have been no changes? Have you tried to look to the past within the last 6 months or so to determine any such changes? Remember that what seems mild to you might seem extremely stressful for a cat, they cannot tolerate changes and stress like humans can.
Have you recently changed his diet?
When cats inappropriately eliminate outside of the litterbox, it generally means there is stress going on or a health condition. Very rarely do cats do this for any other reason.
Is there, by chance, any conflict between the cats of any sort?
Have you recently changed his diet?
When cats inappropriately eliminate outside of the litterbox, it generally means there is stress going on or a health condition. Very rarely do cats do this for any other reason.
Is there, by chance, any conflict between the cats of any sort?
..........Traci
There have been ZERO changes. No change in diet. His urine was completely normal. No temperature. Weight 11 pounds. Now have to take the Vet a stool specimen when he uses the bathroom - he did not use it at the Vets. Vet suggested I put in a second litter box (she has 2 cats herself) and thinks it's a behovioral problem.
Re: Male Cat Using Bathroom On Floor
Yes, it is always a good idea to provide more litterboxes. The rule of thumb is generally one box per cat, but for multiple-cat households or small homes and apartments, that might not be entirely feasible for some people. Be creative and put a new box (or even two), in other areas of the home, easily accessible, yet in private areas that are AWAY from heavy foot traffic, and large, loud, noisy appliances and dark or cold places, cats don't like these areas!
..........Traci
Re: Male Cat Using Bathroom On Floor
Last night he URINATED on the SOFA. You know how bad that is! This cannot continue.
I took a stool sample to the Vet this morning. Will know the results tomorrow. I am getting desperate. I am almost wishing he has some kind of parasite problem that is causing him to do these things, as opposed to it being a behavior problem.
He does see cats through the window. Before he was neutered at about 1 year of age, and there was an outside cat in heat, he SPRAYED until he was neutered. That solved that problem. I raise a window and allow the 3 cats to sit in the window sill. They love it. This has never before been a problem with any of them.
There is also a male cat (feral, and not fixed) that rubs against my leg sometimes when I go outside. Then when I come inside, Tiger (my problem cat) sniffs my pants leg, but this has not been a problem with him since he was neutered. [/b]
I took a stool sample to the Vet this morning. Will know the results tomorrow. I am getting desperate. I am almost wishing he has some kind of parasite problem that is causing him to do these things, as opposed to it being a behavior problem.
He does see cats through the window. Before he was neutered at about 1 year of age, and there was an outside cat in heat, he SPRAYED until he was neutered. That solved that problem. I raise a window and allow the 3 cats to sit in the window sill. They love it. This has never before been a problem with any of them.
There is also a male cat (feral, and not fixed) that rubs against my leg sometimes when I go outside. Then when I come inside, Tiger (my problem cat) sniffs my pants leg, but this has not been a problem with him since he was neutered. [/b]
Re: Male Cat Using Bathroom On Floor
Sorry but I'm going to repeat, this sounds like a stress problem, pending fecal test results or even might consider a second urinalysis in the event bacteria has been missed and might be colonizing that wasn't detected on the first sample.
You're the only one who knows what occurs in the cats' environment. Is there any intimidation between the cats? Are YOU stressed for any reason that might be reflecting on kitty? The fact that this has occured rather suddenly, to me, indicates a stress problem (again, unless there is another health problem going on undetected).
You're the only one who knows what occurs in the cats' environment. Is there any intimidation between the cats? Are YOU stressed for any reason that might be reflecting on kitty? The fact that this has occured rather suddenly, to me, indicates a stress problem (again, unless there is another health problem going on undetected).
..........Traci
Like I said, this problem developed gradually over about a three week period. First, he defecated on the floor every 3 days or so. Then he began urinating (squating) on the floor every 3 days or so. Now, it is an every day occurance for both., including urinating on the SOFA last night after bedtime.
The Vet mentioned giving Tiger some kind of drug that is given to people for stress/emotional problems. I asked if there were bad side affects, and she said yes, possibly, "but let's not talk about that until we rule out a physical problem."
The Vet also never mentioned doing any blood tests. I guess I will ask her about this if the fecal test comes back negative.
Also, Tiger has, three or four times, left a thumb nail size stool on the floor. I mentioned this to the Vet, and she more or less thought it insignificant. I think that it is definitely unusual for this to happen.
I'm hoping, I guess, for some kind of minor physical problem that can be cleared up with medicine, instead of an emotional problem. I never knew until about a year ago that so many cats had "emotional" problems.
The Vet mentioned giving Tiger some kind of drug that is given to people for stress/emotional problems. I asked if there were bad side affects, and she said yes, possibly, "but let's not talk about that until we rule out a physical problem."
The Vet also never mentioned doing any blood tests. I guess I will ask her about this if the fecal test comes back negative.
Also, Tiger has, three or four times, left a thumb nail size stool on the floor. I mentioned this to the Vet, and she more or less thought it insignificant. I think that it is definitely unusual for this to happen.
I'm hoping, I guess, for some kind of minor physical problem that can be cleared up with medicine, instead of an emotional problem. I never knew until about a year ago that so many cats had "emotional" problems.