? 8/28 Rosie AMPS 233 +3 134 - The great poop mystery

[Carol in Chicago]

Since DM Dx Rose has had LB issues. Constipation has been an ongoing problem. She is closely monitored. I use Cisipride, Miralax, and probiotics to keep things moving. She also gets Adequan for arthritis to help her mobility in general and also getting in and out of the LB. I have added multiple LBs and also strategically placed several pee pads in various locations. This has been working OK for the last few months.

The great poop mystery is why has she suddenly started to poop on the couch? This started a couple of days ago and is now a daily occurrence. I though she might be sleeping on the couch overnight and had a sudden urge and just had to go, but yesterday she did this in the middle of the day. I never saw her get up on the couch, she did this when I was in another room.

This is a big mystery because she hasn't been able to even get on the couch recently. Why would she suddenly jump up on the couch to poop? There is a litter box and pee pad in the same room - 3 feet away. She is still using both the pee pads and litter box, but also making a sizable statement on the couch (solid, cylindrical, well form). What is she trying to tell me?

She was last seen by a vet about 1 month ago to confirm UTI had cleared up. Complete blood work was done in April with no issues other than DM. So far, I have stopped meds and supplements and purchased a washable cover for the couch but I'm at a total loss for what she is trying to tell me.

Thanks for any ideas or suggestions!

Previous.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I have no wonderful insights other than cats use litter box avoidance to tell us they're unhappy about something. I also wonder whether, like not eating, it starts for one reason and then takes on a life of its own. I wonder whether her bouts of constipation lead to painful poops and now she's stressed when the urge to poop arises. Feliway diffusers? Anti--anxiety meds?

 

[Mandy & Rex (GA)]

She could be going there because she can smell her previous eliminations there? Have you cleaned the couch? Cats!

 

[Gill & George]

Deffinitely try and make sure you have got rid of all odour traces from the couch.

Anything stressing her out?
New cat/dog in the neighbourhood??

 

[Carol in Chicago]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Yes - everything has been cleaned (after each occurrence). I can't think of any new environmental stress. It troubles me to think that she is unhappy. The only thing I can think of is her food schedule has been a bit erratic lately. I'll work on getting back to a scheduled routine of mid-day snacks and see if that helps. If not, I guess it will be anxiety meds (for both of us!).

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Are you using an enzymatic cleaner (e.g., Nature's Miracle)? I'd also think about switching the litter you're using to Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract type of litter and see if that helps. Cat's can be particularly fussy about not peeing and pooping in the same box. For who knows what reason, Gizmo decided to take a couple of poops in one of my bathtubs. Fortunately, that was short lived and easily cleaned.

 

[Carol in Chicago]

I have machine washed the couch cushion covers and new couch cover I purchased. I used regular laundry detergent because this was a solid soil and no liquid was involved.

This is a multi-cat household, so keeping 1 box private won't be possible. I focused on making the new boxes accessible (on the main level - no stairs), but that has also encouraged others to use them out of convenience.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I'd still try a few squirts of an enzymatic cleaner. Just because we don't smell anything, those kitty noses may be a whole different story. I wouldn't worry about keeping a box private. Do you happen to know if any of the other cats are disturbing Rosie when she tries to go to the box? That can sometimes be an issue. Likewise, I'm assuming there is some "privacy" where you've positioned the boxes and there isn't anything like a noisy washing machine that would interfere/scare her from using the box.

 

[Carol in Chicago]

Thanks. I will add an enzymatic cleaner at my next opportunity. I haven't seen her be bothered in the litter box by the other cats, but she does want more privacy. There is nothing like a noisy washing machine, but it might be good to add a partition or wall to make it seem more private. When she was hospitalized for constipation, all eyes were on her and her poop. The vet even commented that they needed to use a curtain so she would "go".

Time to take a break from cleaning and work on a craft project.