Cat Don't understand how to cover her poop

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Shari H - 20 Jul 2005 04:34 GMT

I have 3 cats (Aged: 8-10).
The two older cats always covered their poop.
When I took in a stray, she understood to use the litterbox after a few days,
but never understood how to cover her crap or pee. Now thats not a huge deal
if she was well.
About a year ago, my cat has gotten diareah & doctors do not have a clue.
When she uses the litterbox, she stands anywhere & lets it gush out (on the
wall, on the sides, on the carpet) & then she steps in it. She tries to
cover it, but doesn't grasp the concept. she smears her paw into it instead
of pulling fresh litter towards it. She reaches for sides & the carpet
thinking she covers it. then, she gets crap all over the carpet from her paws
& drags her butt all over the carpets too!!
Does anyone have a cat like this?
I love her. She is my daughter, but I don't know how much more I can take of
this.
I bought a house & I feel as though its ruened with her skidmarks.

My other cats won't cover most of the time either.
I have tried everything. Please help!!!!!!

Reply to this Message

Mary - 20 Jul 2005 04:56 GMT

> I have 3 cats (Aged: 8-10).
> The two older cats always covered their poop.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> I love her. She is my daughter, but I don't know how much more I can take of
> this.

Shari,

First her diarrhea needs to be taken care of. Are you saying she has had it
for a solid year? What are you feeding her, and what tests has the doctor
done?

Second, when I had the problem of my cats not covering her poo, I
would find her as soon as I noticed the uncovered poo, pick her up,
take her to the litter box while praising her, and very gently take her
paws and cover up the pile. It worked after just a few times. However,
I cannot imagine you doing this while she has the runs.

Is she an indoor-only cat, or does she go outside? If you can tell us
a bit more about her we might be able to help you.

Reply to this Message

Shari H - 24 Jul 2005 21:21 GMT

Hi & thank you everyone for your comments.

The vet has taken almost all the tests possible & he says she looks healthy.
He does not see a problem. No lukimia or anything obvious.
I live in Iowa (moved here a couple of years ago) & its extreamly hard to
find a good vet. I have brought her to 2 now. The one she goes to now seems
to be pretty good. When we lived in Massachusetts or anywhere else, the vets
always seem to cure my cats of anything. Here.........they haven't. Makes me
wonder. I know they deal with much larger animals & so maybe they don't know
too much about small pets.

Anyway, yes she's had diareah for close to a year .
about 8 years ago, she was an outside stray in CA for only a few months.
I took her in shortly after & she has been strictly an indoor cat.
She eats mostly crunchies (hard food) & occasionally wet food.
We have 2 litter boxes for 3 cats. They all go in both. There's no possible
way make sure they use their own litterbox.

I am now, watching her food intake.
I monitor everything & she don't crap as much, but she still has diareah.
I have an appointment this week for them to run more tests.

She acts normal & so I just don't know.

you said to help her cover her poop? I have tried that & she just doesn't get
it.
She's a really smart cat, but when it comes to that, she don't understand.

Sincerely, Shari

>> I have 3 cats (Aged: 8-10).
>> The two older cats always covered their poop.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>Is she an indoor-only cat, or does she go outside? If you can tell us
>a bit more about her we might be able to help you.

Reply to this Message

Candy Cane - 20 Jul 2005 05:01 GMT

> I have 3 cats (Aged: 8-10).
> The two older cats always covered their poop.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> paws
> & drags her butt all over the carpets too!!

Perhaps it's time you sought other opinions. Seeing as she drags her butt
all over the carpet, sounds to me like her anal glands need to be expressed.

If your vets can't resolve the problem, perhaps you should be seeking
another opinion?

How many litter boxes do you offer your cats?

I have one cat and two litter boxes.

> My other cats won't cover most of the time either.
> I have tried everything. Please help!!!!!!

So they are not covering up their poop. Take this as a sign that there is a
problem.

You say you have tried everything - just curious as to what you have tried.

Reply to this Message

John Doe - 20 Jul 2005 05:10 GMT

> I have 3 cats (Aged: 8-10).
> The two older cats always covered their poop.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> cover it, but doesn't grasp the concept. she smears her paw into it instead
> of pulling fresh litter towards it. She reaches for sides & the carpet

You can buy vinyl carpet covers at a hardware store. Put it under
the litter box.

Keep the litter box sides and the vinyl carpet cover clean.

Good luck.

Reply to this Message