It’s not getting better…Traumatized by manual testing… pooping and peeing outside the box

[Brittanif]

Every time I feel like I figure something out, something else happens and gets worse.

My cat has been pooping outside the box on and off for the last 2.5 years. I’ve seen several vets and behaviorists. We tried Solensia with no improvement. Now that I’ve increased manual testing again in the last week, she’s been pooping on my bed. Just now, she peed on the carpet- her BG has still been high due to several missed shots because I can’t manually test because she’s hiding. Her litter box was slightly more dirty today (I usually clean it 1-2x/day, but haven’t cleaned it yet today).

She has a Libre but I’m not sure what the point of it is since it’s always 50-80 points high.

We have tried many behavioral protocols including a “spot”, clicker and treats (she was already clicker trained), “surprise testing”, so she wouldn’t anticipate where or when, and trying to avoid it when I can, to make manual testing better. I genuinely feel like her hiding is due to the manual testing, but now I’m also worried something else is wrong. I have a ketone meter coming tomorrow (yay more manual testing).

I’m so worried about her, and so exhausted, and just don’t know what to do anymore.

 

[Connie & Parker & Moonie]

I’m so sorry Brittani. That sounds really tough. Have you gotten her checked out recently?

Multiple people here including Staci and Elaine use Libres for their kitties, and while there’s occasionally a technical snafu here or there, it works very well for them. I’m sure they’d be happy to help if you have specific questions about how to use it and interpret the numbers.

You may have already tried this but if you’re open to it, you may want to consider trying Prozac for Phoebe. Moonie’s anxiety improved so much on a micro dose, and when she’s not anxious, it makes it much easier to test. It helped both her and us a lot.

If she’s resistant to a pill, there is also a transdermal version but we usually slip it in inside a churu or worst case a thin layer of pill wrapper.

 

[Brittanif]

I’m so sorry Brittani. That sounds really tough. Have you gotten her checked out recently?

Multiple people here including Staci and Elaine use Libres for their kitties, and while there’s occasionally a technical snafu here or there, it works very well for them. I’m sure they’d be happy to help if you have specific questions about how to use it and interpret the numbers.

You may have already tried this but if you’re open to it, you may want to consider trying Prozac for Phoebe. Moonie’s anxiety improved so much on a micro dose, and when she’s not anxious, it makes it much easier to test. It helped both her and us a lot.

If she’s resistant to a pill, there is also a transdermal version but we usually slip it in inside a churu or worst case a thin layer of pill wrapper.

Thank you, I had asked about gabapentin but not Prozac- she is resistant to pills. I had to ask for the chew and liquid version of gabapentin. And yes I took her for an exam a couple weeks ago to do a pancreatitis lab and new Solensia injection. I feel like taking her in if there’s nothing wrong will be the final straw in her anxiety.

 

[Connie & Parker & Moonie]

Thank you, I had asked about gabapentin but not Prozac- she is resistant to pills. I had to ask for the chew and liquid version of gabapentin. And yes I took her for an exam a couple weeks ago to do a pancreatitis lab and new Solensia injection. I feel like taking her in if there’s nothing wrong will be the final straw in her anxiety.

Honestly testing Moonie before/after Prozac was like night and day, and there is a version you can rub onto her ears. IDK where you're located but we have a spare I can send your way if you're in the US. Gabapentin could be a good option too.

If she has pancreatitis, you may also want to ask for a buprenorphine prescription. Pancreatitis flare-ups can be very painful and it's possible that she's acting this way because she's in pain.

 

[Brittanif]

Honestly testing Moonie before/after Prozac was like night and day, and there is a version you can rub onto her ears. IDK where you're located but we have a spare I can send your way if you're in the US. Gabapentin could be a good option too.

If she has pancreatitis, you may also want to ask for a buprenorphine prescription. Pancreatitis flare-ups can be very painful and it's possible that she's acting this way because she's in pain.

Omg that would be amazing, thank you! I’m in New York City. She was acting a lot more normal last night but I think in general she’s just very stressed. I just did the pancreatitis lab for her recently- should I do it again? I’m also genuinely running out of money- I’m about to max out my insurance benefits.

 

[Connie & Parker & Moonie]

Omg that would be amazing, thank you! I’m in New York City. She was acting a lot more normal last night but I think in general she’s just very stressed. I just did the pancreatitis lab for her recently- should I do it again? I’m also genuinely running out of money- I’m about to max out my insurance benefits.

I'll DM you . @JoM is a pancreatitis subject matter expert so she'll probably be able to advise you better on this. Was this a fPL test?

 

[Brittanif]

I'll DM you . @JoM is a pancreatitis subject matter expert so she'll probably be able to advise you better on this. Was this a fPL test?

Yes!

 

[CORKY]

Honestly testing Moonie before/after Prozac was like night and day, and there is a version you can rub onto her ears. IDK where you're located but we have a spare I can send your way if you're in the US. Gabapentin could be a good option too.

If she has pancreatitis, you may also want to ask for a buprenorphine prescription. Pancreatitis flare-ups can be very painful and it's possible that she's acting this way because she's in pain.

Make sure that if you are exchanging personal information, such as addresses to do this thru a Private message

 

[JoM]

Yes!

Its very unlikely with this spec fPL result that she has Pancreatitis, but not impossible if she has symptoms. Is she eating ok, acting ok except for the pooping issue?
Just to give you some reference, my cat Karamelle has never peed in the box and poops outside the box frequently. Shes been on Prozac (for something else entirely) and Ive had her checked several times in the past for any issues that might cause it. Ive just resigned myself that its just "her thing". What I do is I put a pee pad next to every litter box and also have one in a litter box by the front door, because thats where she was going. She now uses all the pee pads exclusively to urinate. Pooping is hit or miss. But most of it ends up in the same place. Either in the box in the guest bathroom or on the floor in that same bathroom behind the toilet. its a tile floor so easy to clean. I think maybe "directing" them to where you want them to go is about all you can do if its behavioral. Im sure somebody might have better solutions, but this has worked for Karamelle.
To add, I also had another cat that just didnt like litter. I would put out boxes with just a pee pad in them and she would pee and poop in there, so that might be an option as well.

 

[Brittanif]

Its very unlikely with this spec fPL result that she has Pancreatitis, but not impossible if she has symptoms. Is she eating ok, acting ok except for the pooping issue?
Just to give you some reference, my cat Karamelle has never peed in the box and poops outside the box frequently. Shes been on Prozac (for something else entirely) and Ive had her checked several times in the past for any issues that might cause it. Ive just resigned myself that its just "her thing". What I do is I put a pee pad next to every litter box and also have one in a litter box by the front door, because thats where she was going. She now uses all the pee pads exclusively to urinate. Pooping is hit or miss. But most of it ends up in the same place. Either in the box in the guest bathroom or on the floor in that same bathroom behind the toilet. its a tile floor so easy to clean. I think maybe "directing" them to where you want them to go is about all you can do if its behavioral. Im sure somebody might have better solutions, but this has worked for Karamelle.
To add, I also had another cat that just didnt like litter. I would put out boxes with just a pee pad in them and she would pee and poop in there, so that might be an option as well.

Hi JoM- thank you for your response! She’s also been hiding a bit more recently but my instinct tells me it’s because of the manual testing. Now that I’m relying on the libre the last couple days she’s hiding less. The poop has been going on for a while but it’s the BED pooping that’s traumatizing- I’m getting spiky mats to put on the bed during the day. But, she pooped right next to my boyfriend’s face on his PILLOW at 4am the other night It’s never been that bad. She was pooping on pee pads in the past but now won’t anymore. I’ve tried putting the pads in the litter box as well. Thank you for your help!

 

[JoM]

Hi JoM- thank you for your response! She’s also been hiding a bit more recently but my instinct tells me it’s because of the manual testing. Now that I’m relying on the libre the last couple days she’s hiding less. The poop has been going on for a while but it’s the BED pooping that’s traumatizing- I’m getting spiky mats to put on the bed during the day. But, she pooped right next to my boyfriend’s face on his PILLOW at 4am the other night It’s never been that bad. She was pooping on pee pads in the past but now won’t anymore. I’ve tried putting the pads in the litter box as well. Thank you for your help!

Oh my gosh thats rough, her pooping on your BFs pillow! I dont know what to say. Im so sorry. Has he always lived there or is he a new addition? It would be nice if she could tell you why she did that.

 

[Brittanif]

Oh my gosh thats rough, her pooping on your BFs pillow! I dont know what to say. Im so sorry. Has he always lived there or is he a new addition? It would be nice if she could tell you why she did that.

Ha, I know right! The poop problem started before I started dating my bf she’s also never pooped on the bed.