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Cat defecation

eknorr Nov 10, 2003 03:15 PM

My cat is just over one year old. He has never had a problem using the litter box. But within the past month to 2 months he has decided to stop defecating in the litter box. Oddly though he continues to urinate in the litter box. He defecates in the same spot. I have moved the litter box to that location and he defecates just outside the litter box again. Please help.

Eric

Replies (1)

PHMadameAlto Nov 10, 2003 10:19 PM

Many times cats prefer one box to pee in and one to poop in. Do you have room for two litterboxes?

Also a vet check is in order just to be sure there is no underlying medical reason for this problem.

If all is clear on the health front, then the problem is behavioral. You will need to take steps to retrain the cat to the box. Basically this involves confining him to a small room with just the litterbox, food and bedding. As the cat begins to use the litterbox consistantly, you widen the area he can roam in.

You need to thoroughly deodorize wherever the cat has been peeing. It is the smell of the "accidents" that causes a cat to reuse the place and an enzyme cleaner will do away with the smell. Nature's Miracle is highly recommended and is available at most large pet supply stores.

Check into using Feliway, a spray that mimics the happy scent cats leave when they rub their check against something. You can get it from your vet or from Cat Faeries at http://www.catfaeries.com
If you visit the website, you will see a phone number that you can call and for a fee discuss your cat's problems with someone. The person who does this is very knowlegeable and it may be worth the $$ for you. There is also a Feliway plug-in available at http://www.drsfostsmith.com and there is a Feliway website at http://www.feliway.com. The plug-in might be a good option for you, but I think perhaps the spray would be more effective!

Finally, if all else fails, ask you vet about using an antianxiety medication such as Buspar or Prozac. These very often work, however the decision to prescribe them will rest solely with your veterinarian who will be able to monitor the dosage and side effects.Good luck to you!
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