Question:
I have five cats. Three are 11 years old, one is 9 and one is 5. We've had the youngest for four years; he is a joy!
One of our 11-year-old females, Minnie, has been pooping in inappropriate places for about a year. We had X-rays taken and then were referred to a specialist for an ultrasound, but the vet could not find anything internally wrong with her.
Minnie has been the shy one, and she hides out more than normal. I placed a litter box in the area where she stays the most, but just the other day she pooped in the closet, which is near the litter box. We think Minnie is stressed from Snowball, the youngest. He just wants to play, but he does try and chase her.
The only thing I've changed in the last year was cat litter, from clumping clay to whole-kernel corn. Someone thought it might be the change of litter, but said I also should take Minnie to someone who talks to animals. Minnie has been getting lactulose and pumpkin in her wet food twice a day since September 2010.
I am at the end of my rope with her, and, given her condition, I can't find someone to take her. Can you offer any suggestions?
D.S., Sequim, Wash Nov 05, 2011
Answer:
In my opinion, Minnie is indeed a stressed cat. She needs a timeout from the younger cat who chases her and wants to play. Many cats who get stressed in this way will become house-soilers, but there are other reasons for pooping outside of the box for you to consider. Do you need more litter boxes, and do you need to clean them more often? Cats avoid dirty boxes, and some develop an aversion to new cat litter. Give Minnie her old brand of cat litter and a new box, or try her on Swheat cat litter
, a wheat-based product.
Minnie could also be chronically constipated, so continue to give her the supplements she's on, plus a few drops of Nordic Naturals fish oil for cats. Petting, grooming, daily abdominal massage and some catnip for Minnie may also help. Good luck!
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