Cowboy woes

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reggie - 27 Dec 2004 23:27 GMT

Cowboy, our cat, has always had 'digestive issues'...baaaaaaddd gas,
diarreah...though I have been assured by many veterinarians that he
does not have worms. I have tried every fancy pure dry food on the
market and even fall back on tuna mixed with white rice...though to no
avail. The worst of it is that now he not only has these issues but
also poops all over the yard (and does not cover anything up) as well
as under our house in the 'crawl space' storage area.

Cowboy also has always had issues with scratching and biting since I
rescued him (he was around 6months old, I think) from the shelter. He
bites to show affection, he bites to tell you he wants something...not
a nibble but a bite. And scratches anytime he wants to be alone, or to
play or for apparently no good reason at all. But he is gentle in every
other way, and we think he means well.

Admittedly, Cowboy is perhaps a little simple minded and he is
terrorized by another cat in the neighborhood, but the problems existed
before we lived here.

I have had many cats through the years but none with such issues. And
do not know what to do. We have a toddler who is now being bit and
scratched, though he is very gentle with Cowboy the cat. Also our son
can not play in the yard because it is COVERED in cat poop.
We would like to help poor Cowboy, but are at a loss. Please help.

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Sherry - 28 Dec 2004 00:02 GMT

>I have had many cats through the years but none with such issues. And
>do not know what to do. We have a toddler who is now being bit and
>scratched, though he is very gentle with Cowboy the cat. Also our son
>can not play in the yard because it is COVERED in cat poop.
>We would like to help poor Cowboy, but are at a loss. Please help.

What might help with the pooping issue is to provide Cowboy a litterbox, even
if it's outdoors. You'll have to keep it changed, and put it in a dry spot, but
at least, if he uses it, you won't have poop under your crawl space & yard. It
might be worth a try.
About the biting..it's hard to re-train a biter. Some cats actually respond to
"time out"...when he bites, put him immediately in the bathroom for a couple of
minutes. At the very least, when he bites, try completely ignoring him and
immediately stop petting him. It takes a lot of repitition, but cats are smart,
and some do respond very well.
Also, I've had cats who bite and scratch when they're over-stimulated. You can
tell by the swishing tail that Frank has had enough petting, and he's about to
bite.
Good luck with Cowboy.
Sherry

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Judy - 28 Dec 2004 06:08 GMT

> Cowboy, our cat, has always had 'digestive issues'...baaaaaaddd gas,
> diarreah...though I have been assured by many veterinarians that he
> does not have worms.

Worms are not the only cause of digestive issues. Have other possibilities
of the cause been investigated?

> I have tried every fancy pure dry food on the market and even fall back on
> tuna mixed with white
> rice...though to no avail.

Perhaps switching to a good quality canned might be worth a try.

>The worst of it is that now he not only has these issues but
> also poops all over the yard (and does not cover anything up) as well
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> bites to show affection, he bites to tell you he wants something...not
> a nibble but a bite.

When my brothers shelter cat did this, he and his wife started saying "OW"
in a loud voice and it wasn't long before the biting changed to nibbles. :c)

>And scratches anytime he wants to be alone, or to play or for apparently no
>good reason at all. But he >is gentle in every other way, and we think he
>means well.

You can save yourselves from scratches by familiarizing yourselves with
feline body language. When that tail starts to "swish" stop what you're
doing.

> Admittedly, Cowboy is perhaps a little simple minded and he is
> terrorized by another cat in the neighborhood, but the problems existed
> before we lived here.

> I have had many cats through the years but none with such issues. And
> do not know what to do. We have a toddler who is now being bit and
> scratched, though he is very gentle with Cowboy the cat.

Sadly, not all cats are toddler friendly.

>Also our son can not play in the yard because it is COVERED in cat poop.

Just curious, how come you haven't been "stooping and scooping?" There's no
reason why your yard should be COVERED with cat poop!

> We would like to help poor Cowboy, but are at a loss. Please help.

Here's wishing you good luck with this!

In all my years of having a cat as a companion, I have never had a problem
with poop in my yard, but a few years back, me cat started going to the
house two doors down, and was leaving her "business" in an outdoor planter.
Much to the dismay of the home owner, and rightfully so.

The problem was resolved by me dumping a bag of top soil in a corner of my
yard and introducing my cat to it. Once the soil was down, I picked up
Matilda, plopped her in and said, "Here Matilda, this is for you." She
"went" instantly and I haven't heard another thing.

I don't know what your yard is like, but if there's no soil, perhaps adding
some will be of help.

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Monique Y. Mudama - 28 Dec 2004 17:22 GMT

>>And scratches anytime he wants to be alone, or to play or for apparently no
>>good reason at all. But he >is gentle in every other way, and we think he
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> feline body language. When that tail starts to "swish" stop what you're
> doing.

I wish I could use this as a signal with Oscar. She always swishes her tail,
even when she's purring. I'm petting, she's purring, all's well and good, and
then, inevitably, and usually without any change in her body language, she
bites my hand or swipes with her claw. She usually runs away after that.

Saying "OW!" doesn't help. I think she's getting over-stimulated, like being
tickled too much gets upsetting, but there's no way for me to tell, and there
seems to be no time limit. Sometimes it's after ten minutes, sometimes after
45 seconds ...

Signature

monique, who is sometimes allowed to pet Oscar, a grey^H^H^H^Hblue-cream DLH
with an attitude!

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Karen Chuplis - 29 Dec 2004 01:17 GMT

>>> And scratches anytime he wants to be alone, or to play or for apparently no
>>> good reason at all. But he >is gentle in every other way, and we think he
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> seems to be no time limit. Sometimes it's after ten minutes, sometimes after
> 45 seconds ...

I can tell by Pearl's eyes. Her tail also always goes, but if you watch her
eyes, you can just tell.

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Monique Y. Mudama - 29 Dec 2004 01:36 GMT

>> Saying "OW!" doesn't help. I think she's getting over-stimulated, like
>> being tickled too much gets upsetting, but there's no way for me to tell,
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I can tell by Pearl's eyes. Her tail also always goes, but if you watch her
> eyes, you can just tell.

Oh. Your cat is nice enough to face you when you pet her.

Oscar always turns herself around so that her butt is facing you when you pet
her =/

Signature

monique, who is sometimes allowed to pet Oscar, a grey^H^H^H^Hblue-cream DLH
with an attitude!

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Mathew Kagis - 28 Dec 2004 08:12 GMT

> Cowboy, our cat, has always had 'digestive issues'...baaaaaaddd gas,
> diarreah...though I have been assured by many veterinarians that he
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> can not play in the yard because it is COVERED in cat poop.
> We would like to help poor Cowboy, but are at a loss. Please help.

Reggie: Has Cowboy been on antibiotics? Like humans, cats have certain
bacteria that live in their digestive system that help digest food. If they
have been depleted (as antibios are want to do) this may be the source of
the problem. Yougurt or Acidophilus (available at any health food store)
mixed in with your cat's food could help. It's worth a shot & it certainly
won't hut your cat.

Mathew
Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat
En Vino Veritas

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Dick Peavey - 28 Dec 2004 13:44 GMT

snip

> Cowboy also has always had issues with scratching and biting since I
> rescued him (he was around 6months old, I think) from the shelter. He
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> every
> other way, and we think he means well.

Squeaky used to bite and scratch for the same reasons. He didn't
understand that biting and scratching are painful to humans. One evening
in bed he snapped at me. I said "NO" in a really angry voice, and wagged
my finger at him. Squeaky was taken aback - there was no mistaking the
anger - and retreated to the catnip bowl on my dresser, one of his
reassurance stations. As it happened, I had cleaned the bowl and there
was nothing in it. Squeaky huddled on the dresser, then left as soon as
the bedroom door was opened. I was a little worried he might not show up
for a while, but he did.

A couple of days later, he was in bed with me at night, and when he
tired of my petting him, he gently, ever so gently, put his teeth on my
arm, with no pressure to puncture the skin, but so that I could feel his
teeth.

We have had no problems since. He hasn't bitten, and I pay attention to
when he has had enough, or wants to transform the petting into play,
which would include biting and scratching.

Try a really firm NO! Then do your part and watch for when he's had
enough or wants to play kitten.

Dick

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Mary - 28 Dec 2004 16:34 GMT

> snip
> > Cowboy also has always had issues with scratching and biting since I
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> Dick

What an intelligent and kind way to deal with this.
I have found that cats do want to please us--they
have emotions like children--so this makes sense to me.

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Rhonda - 29 Dec 2004 02:02 GMT

I agree with trying a good quality canned food, one without dyes and
chemicals. There are natural pet food stores out there, or sometimes you
can get it at a people health-food store.

Some have even suggested a raw diet for cats with mystery digestive
issues. You have to follow a recipe to get the correct amount of
nutrients, there's a website out there somewhere. We have a natural pet
food store near here that sells frozen raw diet.

Good luck!

Rhonda

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