I love my cat, but...?

Question

First, I should stress that I am 100% committed to solving this problem, and that I'm a responsible pet owner and so on. But my cat is suffering from the most horrendously foul smelling poop you can possibly imagine. What's more, he has recently started defecating outside of his litter box on the bathroom floor, several times a day! At first I thought it was an accident "positioning" his body correctly in the litter box, but yeserday I came home to find that he'd gone in the bathtub, which is just grotesque. (He's a big boy, around 20 pds, so these aren't exactly rabbit pellets we're talking about.) His litter box is always clean, with fresh litter, and I've tried several different brands and types. He eats like a pig, but his stool is always soft, never firm. I've tried several different hard foods. At the moment he's on Science Diet Sensitive Stomach formula. The good news is that he hasn't had any accidents outside the bathroom. Help?

Heh, some of these responses are rather funny, but seriously it's a major problem. I'm not going to get rid of the cat, sheesh, I adopted him from the shelter 3 years ago and he's otherwise an awesome cat. I live in a large apartment but there's no garden so outside is not an option here. I don't "feed him like a pig" but he gets fed twice a day, 1/2 cup each, and gobbles it all up. And I only recently changed his food because of this problem (which just started), I've not been switching it constantly. He's got a super large litter box and I've tried with and witout a hood. Sounds like a trip to the vet is definitely in order, but I did this because of the foul smell years ago and they didn't find any medical abnormalities in his fecal sample, so I'm not optimistic this is anything but a behavioural problem.

Answer 1

My cat often has gut problems and poops in the wrong place and the only way I've found of sorting them out is to give him a good brush!! For some reason it really works!

Answer 2

This is something we have had to deal with as well, some sugggestions:

First, get the Vet to check him over, just in case there is smething physically wrong with him.

Try keeping him away from the areas he is choosing to go in, shut the doors etc, while at the same time making his litter tray really easy to get to. Ours used to like to use the bathmat, especially if it was damp so we pick it up now and he has stopped.

Maybe as suggested he does need a bigger tray as he is a big cat, we got a bigger tray which helped.

Cats like privacy so maye a hooded tray or put a shield around it somehow. A big cardboard box would do.

Always keep the litter tray clean (I am sure you do) however washing it too well, will wipe out all the smells that attract him to the tray in the first place. I would scoop the litter everyday and maybe empty and wash the tray only once a week. Ours only likes clay based litter as well and wont use anything else in his tray.

Try different diet, though try not to chop and change the diet too frequently as this would upset his stomach.

Hope some of this helps

Answer 3

First of all, it sounds like you are overfeeding your cat. He should only be eating about 1/2 cup of food a day. Feed him twice a day 1/4 cup of food, I recommend Iams Weight Control. Stop switching brands and types, this tends to make them more finicky. Also, him being such a large cat, use an uncovered litter box that is plenty big. If you're using a covered one, he may feel really cramped. Also, I would recommend you consult your vet to make sure he's not having other problems that makes the litter box uncomfortable for him. Good luck!

Answer 4

First, I would check there is nothing wrong with his health. Going outside the litter box and in the bathtub often indicates some discomfort, either during urination or during defecation. The soft stools and bad smell and many times per day also indicate that. So, it is best to have a stool analysis and urine analysis (you put a sterile cup under his tail when he urinates) first of all. Also, try for some time as food "intestinal" by Royal Canin or Eucanuba. Or i/d of Hills. Oh, and don't punish him with rubbing his nose in the poop or anything, I am sure he is not doing it because of bad manners, looks like something's wrong and he can't help it.

Answer 5

Since you got him from the shelter, you can only guess at how old he is. My cat stopped being able to hit the litter box about two years before she died. She did at least try, and was a small cat, but it was still a mess and a half. I'd suggest the vet, just to rule anything out that might be treatable. I cannot imagine a better diet than the one you are giving him, but maybe he is dining out?

What we did was basically cover the floor with newspapers so that the litter box sat in the middle of a sea of newspapers on top of plastic garbage bags. We cleaned it all up at least twice a day. We also had to tape newspapers to the wall, as her condition worsened.

And keep loving your cat. I hope something works.

Answer 6

Like the answered before, diet will help the smell, and have you tried one of the hooded litter trays, have you changed your brand of litter, if you have he may not like the new kind, my 3 cats only like the wood based pellets. If your at all worried phone your vet and get advise.

Good luck, theres is nothing worse than coming home to an accident!!!

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Hi, I seriously suggest you should go to the vets, as he is quite ill. I cannot remember what with, but I saw a cat with similar problems and he had to be put on some "anti-laxitives" (can't remember the word for that is either) - but its some type of steriod. Which gradually was reduced over time and corrected the problem. This cat also was defaecating around the house in abnormal places and was rather loose and smelly. Good Luck, hope he gets better soon.

Answer 9

My mums cat goes through stages of hiding from & ignoring my mum (shes the soul carer of the cat) especially if she has been left for a day whilst mum is at work, even though she gets lots of attention from my stepdad!! or if she has been frightened by something ie a noise. so mum gives her lots of attention & cuddles to reassure her. it sounds like your cat is either doing this coz he has a behavioural problem, or he has a runny tummy due to a reaction from his cat food which means he doesnt make it to the litter box in time, you sound like a caring person & i dont doubt that you always change his litter box. you did not say how old he is but if he is getting on a bit he may not remeber where his litter box is. hope this helps!!

Answer 10

Take him to the vet asap. Also look at these other factors -

Have you changed his litter type lately? If so he might not like the new type and be making a dirty protest!

Where is his litter tray? Maybe its not private enough for him and he doesn’t feel secure using it

do you have another cat? If so maybe he is stopping this cat from using the tray?

Hope the situation resolves it self soon and your cats ok