need advice on poop outside litter box..irritable bowel syn?

[Martica and Fred]

Need advice on...irritable bowel syndrome?...Sebastian (formerly Shane), my diabetic, has had diarrhea ever since I got him..back in late Dec 2011.

For the first 3 months, I tried different foods, the vet tested a stool sample and said it was negative. The diarrhea was putrid--could smell it across the apt...tried FortiFlora and other probiotics etc.

Finally I started giving him some raw with his canned and for a long time...over a year, as long as he gets raw in his food his diarrhea is pretty much under control.

BUT the past month or two he has started pooping outside of the litter box, often it's a bit soft...someone suggested it might be intestinal issues...which it probably is. I"m going to take him to the vet..but wanted to get a sense of what this would ential if indeed he does have...crohns? irritable bowel?, whatever...what tests are done? what treatment?

I don't think it's pancreatitis because he never really throws up--or rarely...This is one disease I've never dealt with and I was trying to hold off on trying to give him drugs if I could in fact treat it with the raw food. But the raw food may not be working anymore. I could try to give hiim MORE of it, but he's not that crazy about it in the first place...

thanks
Martica

 

[BJM]

Re: need advice on poop outside litter box..irritable bowel

Martica

Are you aware of the Yahoo Feline IBD group? They have lots of tips and tricks, plus extensive experience with the vet stuff.

Also, here is a list I compiled previously. Some of the items may not apply (like gender!)

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You might try an integrated approach using multiple options from the list below on a consistent basis:

* start with crating, using a medium large crate (30" long is big enough for cat and a litterbox) until progress. She probably won't go where she'd have to lie in it ... but if she does, something is wrong and it may be medical.

* tarps and newspapers may be easier on clean up if you don't crate her

* feeding on a schedule and then placing her in the litterbox (maybe in a crate) within 15-20 minutes after eating, until she goes, then praising and letting her out.

* Feliway/Comfort Zone - friendly facial pheromones which reduce stress and may reduce marking behavior. Cheapest prices are usually on the net (ex http://www.LambertVetSupply.com ) I've used it and it helps.

* Cat Attract litter - supposed to help attract cat to litter box

* rule out arthritis or constipation - pain causes box avoidance

* watch if the other cats ever attack her in the box and if so, you may need to keep her separated from them. I've got one the others attack, completely unprovoked.

* littebox should be 1.5 times length of cat, litter cleaned frequently, but avoid really strong smelling cleaners as cats may avoid them due to the scent.

* you've got to get residual odors out from areas which were 'nailed' - Nature's Miracle is one option and has good reviews. It _can_ require repeated applications.

* regular play sessions of about 15 minutes to reduce stress and promote bond with you

* reward desirable behaviors - if you see her use the box, praise and treat her

* put unpleasant textures in places she has peed to encourage avoidance

* read some of this author's books: http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/ she's pretty good - ex "Starting from Scratch"

Good luck.

 

[Martica and Fred]

Re: need advice on poop outside litter box..irritable bowel

Thanks BJ. Well most of these things don't really apply. He used to go in the box for a year, and it's new that he's not. I did try Nature's Miracle yesterday...but later in the day had 2 sets of poops. He's the bully, I have 3 of the very largest litter boxes. I have not tried the Cat ATtract litter but I have 2 different types of WBCL, neither have been a problem in the past...I think this is probably beyond behavioral and probably something medical. Thanks for the yahoo group suggestion, not on that one, I'll go on and see what they have to say.

 

[BJM]

Re: need advice on poop outside litter box..irritable bowel

Note: Nature's Miracle can take repeated applications.

There's a product posted in Community (Fission) which is getting some good review here.

For carpet, sometimes you have to roll the carpet up and treat the backside, plus the pad, to really get the odor out.

Sometimes, it can help to put a litterbox right there, for the moment, then gradually move it to a preferred location