My cat isn't cleaning himself properly - what should I do?

Question

Hi,

I have 2 cats, and recently one of them has stopped cleaning himself properly after using the tray. First I noticed he kept having a dirty bum, so I had to clean it for him. Then I also noticed a strong odour of urine. I decided to try using baby wipes to help, but I read that they shouldn't be used because the cat will lick off the chemicals from them. Should I stop using them? If so, can anyone recommend anything else that's more pet-friendly?

My cat is slightly overweight and I've been told this may be why it's hard for him to clean himself. However, he is 5 yrs. old and has been overweight for a while and this only began recently. I'm worried that he may have some sort of infection. What are some other signs that I should look for that may indicate this? I'll probably go to the vet if this continues, but I just thought I'd ask for some advice from others who may have been in a similar situation. Thanks in advance for any help!

Answer 1

Cats will sometimes stop grooming themselves if they are feeling ill, but you will usually see other signs like lethargy, not eating or drinking, vomiting or diarrhea. However, it is very common that overweight cats will stop grooming and probably the reason. For health reasons alone he should go on a diet, but for cleanliness as well. As far as wipes go, i've never heard of them causing a problem, but they do sell pet wipes at most pet stores.

Answer 2

There are a lot of good answers here that I agree with. You say that you have 2 cats, is the second cat a new addition? Besides a possible physical illness, your cat may be having some psychological issues. He may be upset with the addition of the second cat. Cats are usually a clean animal and spend a lot of their time preening, regardless of weight, unless they are extremely overweight. You should definitely take him to a vet and have him checked out to eliminate any physical problems. If there are none, then chances are it is psychological. Has your routine changed drastically? Has there been any major changes in your household, such as someone leaving or perhaps someone moved in? As for the baby wipes, I'd never use a product designed for humans on a pet. If you must use any sort of a wipe, it would be best to use a face cloth with plain old warm water or go to a trusted pet supply store and look for wipes designed for cats. The chemicals on baby wipes is not good for any animal. Also, after cleaning your 5 yr. old cat, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before handling your other cat in order to decrease the chance of spreading any infection/disease .

Answer 3

I'm worried about a couple things.

Those being " Why does your cat need cleaned?" either to clean themself or be cleaned.

Their diet may be makeing them sick >.>

As for smell, that may be something they are eatting, they are sick, or they weren't (atleast properly) neutered.

My male cat Sprays the litter box some times. He is quite content with the smell and would happily roll in his spray if given the opertunity. It says he owns stuff. Spray is alot harder to clean and smells awful.

I still am wondering if it may be something your cat is eatting. Like he is haveing dhiaria or there are things in his feces.

Worms and other parasites create similar situations.

But this strays from your question, sorry but the needing to be cleaned each use isn't normal. You may anwser with your cat is long haired and it make a little more sense.

Answer 4

have you checked what the cat has been eating? sometimes it was the wrong food and they have digestion problem that the stool was dry and hard, the cat can't clean it easily from the bum. Yes I think you should go to the vet immediately.
I only use regular toilet tissue roll and plain water to clean my cat's bum if she had diarhea. But she never had that strong urine odour though. I think the vet is the best idea.

Answer 5

I would recomend taking the kitty to the vet as there may be a dental problem which in turn leads to inability to chew and eat properly as well as groom properly such as removal of dirt bits and fleas. Also perhaps you could take a damp rag and rub gently in several directions over the kitty. This would pick up loose hair, dirt and such as a quick fix

Answer 6

When a pet's behaviour changes, I say it's time for the vet. Sorry, I know it is an expense. Smelly urine is a sign of infection.

Answer 7

Hey sweetie no need ta worry.. All u have 2 do s put an artifcial fish which looks realistic in d bath tub n put ur cat in it.. by d time he realise it ur work wld b ovr..
Cheers

Answer 8

I've heard that baby wipes are bad for cats too. I have these wipes I got at Petsmart that are especially for cats. I would recommend these. They look like baby wipes, but these aren't bad for cats.

Answer 9

Cats are usually very clean animals, I would seek the advice of your veterinarian.

Answer 10

Try going to the website> peteducation.com you may find some information on the subject...