I found this stray cat last week that i plan on keeping.I brought him to the vet and had all his shots done and had him wormed.The problem is for the last 2 days he has had diarrhea and has had a few accidents around the house.He has a litter box and uses it for the most part but sometimes he acts like he wants to go out to go to the bathroom.When he does this and i don't let him out he has a accident on the floor.It's like he forgets how to use the litter box.He mostly has pee accidents but has pooped in the house too becuase he could not get out.Why would he do this? I clean his litter box everyday to keep it clean.
2006-12-12 06:25:36 · 13 answers · asked by Michelle B 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
he is a 10yr old neutered male
2006-12-12 06:29:19 · update #1
I had an experience of bringing a male 12 yr old stray into my house. What type of litter are you using with him? The first type that I got and worked very very quickly was called "Cat Attract" and it's made for kittens and for training outdoor kitties to use the litterbox because I guess there's something in the litter that attracts them to the box. My stray was peeing in the house, which was really frustrating. We had to keep an eye on our stray and the second he looked like he was about to hunch over and pee or poop, we would scoop him up and drop him in his litterbox. Sometimes they were false alarms, but after the first time he actually used his box, he knew that the box was where he was supposed to go and we didn't have a problem after that!
Also give him lots of praise everytime he uses the box. After hearing your praises enough times, he should associate going in the box as a good thing.
Since he was a stray, you should try leaving him in your bathroom with his litterbox so that if he does need to use the bathroom and chooses not to use the box, it should be easier and more contained to clean up. Plus he won't have as much freedom. It's a lot easier to train them in a small confined area than letting him roam free in the house. Once he has mastered the litterbox, then it should be safe to let him roam again.
Before you let him back out into the house to roam, make sure you re-clean all the areas that he has had accidents. Even though we are unable to smell it after we clean it, the cat sure can! They have super noses! I would recommend "Nature's Miracle" because i've used it and it works at removing any lingering odors.
Good luck to you! =)
2006-12-12 06:34:57 · answer #1 · answered by bosnjgal 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have had cats my whole life and I have 4 right now.
My advice is as follows, I hope its helpful.
FIrst consider that what you're feeding him is making him have diarrhea, he may just have to get his system used to it. I would suggest Iams or generic equivalent from Walmart.
I would check with your vet, just call and ask someone there.
It could be that the cat is a little traumatized for whatever reason he was a stray. You just never know what they have been through.
He may have only used the outside to go to the bathroom, he might prefer it. One of my cats refuses to use the kitty litter, he only goes out to go to the bathroom in the flower bed, then he comes right back. He is a male at 15 years of age.
He might just need to get used to his food and adjust to his new home. Try to be patient, and maybe keep him in an isolated area of your home, in a laundry room or a bathroom with a kitty litter box. And visit him every couple hours and sit with him. Its probably very over whelming, and he could have been a stray for a long time.
This will help re-familiarize him with his litter box and keep him from going in undesirable areas.
I am going by my experience, most of my cats over the years have been strays, including 3 out of my 4 now.
He probably just needs some love, understanding and time.
Good luck!
2006-12-12 07:39:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The diarrhea could be a reaction to the shots. Or if you're giving him milk, that'll do it, too. Never give him milk. He'll get diarrhea and they get dehydrated. Maybe he's not using the litter box because he doesn't like the brand of litter you are using. Cats are funny that way. Or if you wash it out with soap, it could be that he still can smell the soap. As far as letting him out, cats should be kept indoors. I'm sure I don't have to tell you everything that can happen to a cat if it's left outside. It's just the responsible thing to do.
2006-12-12 06:59:17 · answer #3 · answered by November 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take him back to the vet. He could have a intestinal or kidney problems. Getting his shots and having him wormed doesn' t mean the poor thing doesn't have a bacterial infection (that's probably the diarrhea). He may have incontinence problems if he's 10 (that's probably the weeing). If he doesn't have a bacteria or virus, and his bladder is fine, then it probably is just a matter of him being used to being outside and needing to adjust. Also, some cats are extremely particular about their litter boxes being totally clean.
2006-12-12 06:35:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I go with bosnjgal on the Cat Attract litter. I have had success with that. Pet Smart carries it here and since they are a national chain you should be able to find it at their store (call first to be sure).
When you bring in a cat who has lived outside sometimes putting a layer of garden dirt on top of the litterbox will smell like what the cat is used to using. I would definitely suggest you get two boxes also.
2006-12-12 06:42:51 · answer #5 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let him go out to do his business. You said that he's a stray so he's used to going outside to do his thing, not some litter box. Cat's are very stubborn when it comes to these things and it's always their way and almost never yours. Don't worry, he'll come back since he's already marked his territory inside your house.
2006-12-12 06:34:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is not a young cat, 10 years old and was living outdoors,
and then you bring him indoors he is not littered trained, that's
why he wants to go out when he has to do his business.
Just be patient with him and take control of the situation,
try to keep the litter box close to the door so when he wants
to go out he has to pass the box, and eventually he'll take
the hint. good luck!
2006-12-12 06:41:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anita chiquita 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is a stray so used to going outside, He has an upset stomach causing diarrhea, maybe because a change of diet, males do tend to mark their territory, so that a part of it.
2006-12-12 06:35:48 · answer #8 · answered by Calais 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when he stands by the door, bring him to the litter box, he'll get the picture quick enough. He most likely just wants to go outside and not in your house.
2006-12-12 08:54:12 · answer #9 · answered by cadillacrazy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He may just be stubborn, my cat when he doesn't get his way he gets so angry he finds something that belongs to my dog (her bed) and pees on it. He may also have a sensitive system since he is old and the food you are giving him may be causing this. Try buying food for sensitive cats. Didi you have him tested for diseases? or he may just trully not remember. you vet my be able to help you solve some of the problem
2006-12-12 07:35:22 · answer #10 · answered by Marian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋