3 legged kitten... litterbox issues?

Question

I have this kitten that is missing one of her back paws due to a birth defect. She has her leg so she can kind of walk on it (it's like a little pirate peg leg). She's sick with a URI and her meds are causing her to have diarrhea. Because of her little leg, when she uses the litter box she comes out COVERED in liquidy poop and particles of litter. I need sugestions!!! I have had her almost a month and she gets "butt baths" atleast every couple days. She was off the meds for a week and her poop situation got better, but her cold got worse so she went back on the meds, hense the return of the poop wars. PLUS, she's medium haired... so that only makes the situation worse. Any suggestions? I desperate here!! Help!

She's sick, but she's only sneezing... she plays and eats and (of course) poops as normal. I don't want to confine her since she is doing fine otherwise. I keep a really close eye on her and normally catch her right as she's coming out of the litter box to wash her. So she's never running around covered in poop. I don't think the pads will work as most cats want to cover up their poop. She does cover it up... she just does a great job of covering herself in it as well.

Answer 1

Try buying a litterbox made for a small dog - the sides are lower and usually theres an entrance.

Answer 2

Can't your vet give her another kind of med. Sounds like she isn't tolerating the meds very well. She must be miserable with the "poop war" she's having to put up with. Not to mention you.

I had a long haired cat too, so I know what you mean. Would literally have to cut the poopies off of her. There just was no other way. Talk about a delicate situation! Gets even harder when they don't really like the whole process. Who would. Oh, the things we have to do .... makes you wonder sometimes.

You sure have your hands full of poopies. I just can't think of any better way then what you are already doing. At least she has a very clean butt. You should be proud of yourself. You are now the "official butt cleaner."

Another thought here, could you put a little less cat litter in her box? Do you think that would work in regards to her "pirate peg leg?"

You're doing an excellent job considering what you are going through.

Call the vet and ask if there is another med she could take. The side effect of this med is just making things worse.

Good luck, job well done "official butt cleaner."

Answer 3

You have some good suggestions here. Try the litter box with lower sides and put a little less litter in it. That way she's not "sitting" in it when she goes. Also the shredded newspaper usually works pretty good. Trimming her fur in back will also help, I have one here that has no tail and has the same problem when she has diarrhea, we trimmed the hair on her back end and she was able to manage much better. We also had to do the "butt baths", but we also got some baby wipes without alcohol and those were good for quick clean ups. The yogurt suggestion will help balance her system and may shorten the life of the diarrhea. Try to buy the organic, not low fat and my cats like most of the berry flavors. Make sure it has live active cultures. I would also feed her a raw egg yolk, it helps settling stomach issues, I have one here that I have to give it to once a week or she gets digestive problems. Make sure to give her only the raw yolk, not the white.
I must say I applaud your efforts, I have a cat that has the same problem on a front leg. She had part of the main pad but no toes. She's now 8 years old and does fine.

Answer 4

If your area only has one shelter and it is the homes of the volunteers that run it, you may be limited as well in the number of vets available. Still, you can call around to the available vets and see if one of them will take this kitten in. Alternatively, one of their office workers might take the kitten, or be willing to care for her there in the office until she is well enough to adopt out. That really is your best bet. You will be surprised what vets are willing to do to help save a little life like this. But she definitely needs immediate veterinary attention, today if possible. If she has been favoring this leg for a while, it is not going to heal well or possibly at all without intervention. So call around first and see if you can find a vet who is willing to keep her, socialize her and find her a home. If you have no luck 'placing' her, maybe your in-laws have an out building, a shed or a garage where you can keep her enclosed. You know, you can just turn a cardboard box on its side, put some clean rags in it, and put one of those handwarmers under the rags, and that will keep her warm and cozy. Don't try to 'keep her wild'. If you are going to get her to the vet for care, you are beginning the socialization process. You are teaching her that people are loving and want her to feel better, and that food that comes from people is delicious food. You may as well go ahead and teach her that people love to give her ear scratchings and tummy rubs too. Once you have gotten her some care for her leg, maybe you can check around the neighborhood. There might be someone of the neighbors who would be willing to give her a home, once you have dealt with the leg. If this is a rural area, there are field mice, and they are coming inside about now, so that would make her an attractive addition to a household. So try the vet, check out the neighbors, and look into keeping her (on the Q-T) in a shed or garage -- or a neighbor's shed or garage. I think something in there will work for you. But do get her to a vet for that leg, and don't withhold the loving if you're already feeding her and getting her leg cared for. There's no point. Good luck. And thanks for caring for this little life.

Answer 5

Have you spoken to your vet about the diarrhea? Perhaps they can give you a different set of meds.

If the sneezes and any discharge are clear then it indicates there is not an infection. Perhaps she has an allergy.
To help with the sneezes, you can give her echinacea. Buy the capsules and open then and pour the contents onto her wet food. Or get the drops and put just one drop in her food. Once a day for both.

One of my cats has allergies and some days will sneeze and sneeze, so he gets his echinacea.

Hopes this helps a bit and gives you an alternative

Answer 6

okay calm down my cats three legged too and she does the same thing. what you need to do is watch her going in the litter box
she comes out if she has poop on her butt pick her up and
put her back in the litter box. if this dosent work then tell a vet

Answer 7

Just bathe her until she is better. There is really no "fix" for the poopy leg problem other that to wash it off. I had a kitten who was crippled in all four legs and his tail. I had to bathe him all the time! He could get around pretty good, but he had the same problem as yours when it came to poop. Well, what can you do? He is no longer with us(sad). Just keep up the good work, and bless you.

Answer 8

If your cat is on antibiotics, the meds are killing off the good as well as the bad bacteria. Trying giving her a little yogurt with live cultures and no aspertame to help replace and encourage the growth of the good bacteria. This will work with animals and also with people. Acidophilus also works.

Answer 9

You might want to trim the fur on her hind end and leg while she is on this medicine. This will be easier to manage. She needs to be on medication. Ask the vet if there is something that is just as effective without causing diarrhea. If not, you will just have to manage until she is off the medicine.

Answer 10

what about the pee pads for dogs..they are flat and don't require a box. I would make sure she had a pen of some sort with the pee pads on the bottom. Rather to have her isolated when sick than let her run free.