Hi everyone,
We had really been doing well up to this point with Max. He has been gaining more freedom, and has been urinating in the box all of the time. However, now it seems we have the opposite problem. He has been pooping in odd places. The vet has said that it is behavioral - that some sort of stress is causing that. He was not as concerned at the time (he did it once about a month ago and I asked our vet) because he said that is not as bad as urinating outside of the box. He pooped under our couch, in the dining room, and on the basement floor. He did this all while having full freedoms around the house. He is confined to the entire basement at night, because of the previous issues, and he seems to not mind it down there. In fact, we give him an hour or so at night to run around the whole house before putting him down and he does not run when we go to get him. Anyways, my 11 month old is very mobile at this point - crawling all over the place. I wonder if that has anything to do with this new issue. Otherwise, he seems to be doing OK. Any ideas (other than take him to the vet - please) on what could cause this new behavior? This really is the last straw for my husband - he wants to find a new home for him this week, and I would like him to stay, but not if he can't poop in the box.
Thanks, as usual
Pooping outside the box - Max again
Re: Pooping outside the box - Max again
When was Max's last urinalysis and did your vet ever offer to culture the urine for a potential infection that may be developing? (i.e, some infections may not respond to mild antibiotics)...so, you need to rule out the possibility of a newly forming infection that could be causing him pain and stress (yes, this can correlate with defecating outside of the box as well)
Otherwise, yes, it's entirely possible that the baby is a continued stress factor for him....remember that Max was the sole "child" in your home before, and the new addition, drastic changes in his environment, the hospitalization he endured, the recovery and all the other changes have been extremely stressful for him.
You have to be comitted to getting he and the baby acclimated to one another so that he can eventually feel NON-threatened by the new addition. This has to be done slowly and patiently, with plenty of your attention also spent with Max specifically (I would advise your husband also take time with Max, since if he is outwardly showing his distaste, frustrations, etc, Max is picking up on this, and reacting). Try to imagine this from Max's view...he's undergone alot of changes, alot of stressful events, he is relying on you and your husband to be equally committed to ensuring a peaceful environment, because cats view their environment as their safe havens. When disrupted, or when there are sudden drastic changes, then stress occurs, and cats cannot handle stress as humans can.
Please remember, when you adopted Max, you adopted him for life and comitted yourself to his welfare, happiness and security. It isn't his fault that he has endured so much stress, but it is crucial you and your husband both work with him patiently, and give him the time and committment he deserves.....with time and patience, the situation CAN be resolved.
Otherwise, yes, it's entirely possible that the baby is a continued stress factor for him....remember that Max was the sole "child" in your home before, and the new addition, drastic changes in his environment, the hospitalization he endured, the recovery and all the other changes have been extremely stressful for him.
You have to be comitted to getting he and the baby acclimated to one another so that he can eventually feel NON-threatened by the new addition. This has to be done slowly and patiently, with plenty of your attention also spent with Max specifically (I would advise your husband also take time with Max, since if he is outwardly showing his distaste, frustrations, etc, Max is picking up on this, and reacting). Try to imagine this from Max's view...he's undergone alot of changes, alot of stressful events, he is relying on you and your husband to be equally committed to ensuring a peaceful environment, because cats view their environment as their safe havens. When disrupted, or when there are sudden drastic changes, then stress occurs, and cats cannot handle stress as humans can.
Please remember, when you adopted Max, you adopted him for life and comitted yourself to his welfare, happiness and security. It isn't his fault that he has endured so much stress, but it is crucial you and your husband both work with him patiently, and give him the time and committment he deserves.....with time and patience, the situation CAN be resolved.
..........Traci
I also think that because of your baby crawling around now Max is showing his discomfort through pooping ... he is trying to make his (top) position clear to the baby. Stool is sometimes used by cats as a marking of their territory.
How does he otherwise react to the baby?
Could you try playing and cuddling with the both of them together?
Maybe he doesn't really like being confined to the basement at night, and tries to make sure his present is known when he's upstairs. I would stop confining him altogether and see if that helps.
Please don't give Max to a shelter!
Remember, he CAN poop in the box, he just doesn't want to, and it's up to you and your husband to find out and eliminate if possible the reason for his discomfort.
How does he otherwise react to the baby?
Could you try playing and cuddling with the both of them together?
Maybe he doesn't really like being confined to the basement at night, and tries to make sure his present is known when he's upstairs. I would stop confining him altogether and see if that helps.
Please don't give Max to a shelter!
Remember, he CAN poop in the box, he just doesn't want to, and it's up to you and your husband to find out and eliminate if possible the reason for his discomfort.
Re: Pooping outside the box - Max again
Sid & Max,
Our cat also poops outside the litterbox. On consulting with a Vet, it could be one of three things:
1. It may not like the litter - try using clumping litter
2. It could be a bowel infection
3. It could be an anxiety problem, for which a Vet will prescribe an anti-depressant (I was surprise by this Vet's comment, but anti-depressants also alleviate anxiety).
Hope this is some help
Our cat also poops outside the litterbox. On consulting with a Vet, it could be one of three things:
1. It may not like the litter - try using clumping litter
2. It could be a bowel infection
3. It could be an anxiety problem, for which a Vet will prescribe an anti-depressant (I was surprise by this Vet's comment, but anti-depressants also alleviate anxiety).
Hope this is some help
Eric,
Toronto, Canada
Toronto, Canada