My kitten POOED on my bed! (long-sorry!_

[pixiesis]

Hi all! I have two 7 month old kittens (littermates, boy and girl). The boy, Gaspard, has had some urinary tract trouble in the past. I thought it was coming back recently, so I've increased his wet food meals to 2x/day (he was just eating one). He eats Wellness wet and dry for kittens, which is supposed to good for the urinary tract. I'm also giving him a daily supplement for cat urinary tract health. He's gone back to peeing in his box and shows no sign of distress so I think that is getting better. The urine that I did find in the bathtub (where he goes when not in the box) was a good color and felt free of crystals. I will take him to the vet if it gets worse, but in the past though the vet hasn't been too helpful. He was on two rounds of antibiotics that seemed to do nothing but give him a belly ache. He got better immediately after we switched him to the Wellness diet (2 wet meals/day seemed to do the trick--I shouldn't have decreased to only 1 I think).

BUT, for the past 2 days he's pooed on the bed in the basement spare bedroom. This is a new behavior. Any ideas as to why? There haven't been any litter changes or anything. He's been acting like a normal kitten--super energetic and playful and cuddly. Good appetite. He's not drinking as much water but then again I've upped his wet food. The poo seems totally healthy (solid, no worms or blood--I know, this is gross).

I think it might have something to do with the possum that was stuck in the egress window area of the same bedroom. We found him there last Sat and had someone remove him (they released him on their 80 acres of property). The poor thing could've been down there for as long as a week, and I'm sure he left some "scents" that the kitties can detect (not me though). Do you think Gaspard is trying to cover up the possum smells?

Thanks in advance for your theories/advice!

Amy

 

[kathryn]

IMO, in appropriate pooing is often behavioral (while inappropriate peeing is often health based). It's his way of marking the territory somehow.

First, are you sure it's him and not the other kitten (or both? vying for territory?)

Also, cats usually cover their feces, but if they think they are the Alpha cat, they will not (the human they live with should be the 'Alpha cat'). I once knew a stray male cat (whom I refered to as "Studly"--because unfortunately he had probably fathered many litters) who would poop right in the middle of my yard (I was renting at the time) and never even attempt to cover it. He was no doubt marking his territory, and proclaiming that he was the top male in the neighborhood.

 

[pixiesis]

IMO, in appropriate pooing is often behavioral (while inappropriate peeing is often health based). It's his way of marking the territory somehow.

First, are you sure it's him and not the other kitten (or both? vying for territory?)

I'm not totally sure. But he's the one with the history of litter-box issues. Also, this started right after he started peeing outside the box again. Last night I did see him sniffing at the bed and he almost did poo on it. I but him in his box and he went there. Both cats cover their number 2s in the box (obsessively). Someone has been going in the litterboxes too. They have 4 litterboxes, 2 on each floor. So I know this was very deliberate and not an accident.

I'm happy to hear though that this is not usually a health based issue. I get so worried about that kitty since he was so sick before.

Oh, what do you think about the possum theory? Thanks Kathryn!

Amy

 

[lrayburn]

Also, this started right after he started peeing outside the box again.Amy

He may be associating the litter box with discomfort when peeing and now avoiding it for both purposes.

Patricia McConnell has a great pamphlet called "The Fastidious Feline: How to Prevent and Treat Litter Box Problems" that is great. You can find it on Amazon for about $7.

Lisa

 

[goldenpath]

When he had urinary problem, did he ever pee on the bed before. If so, maybe the scent is still there.

I heard you can use vinegar to get the smell out. Not sure how well it would work on a bed.

 

[pixiesis]

He may be associating the litter box with discomfort when peeing and now avoiding it for both purposes.

Patricia McConnell has a great pamphlet called "The Fastidious Feline: How to Prevent and Treat Litter Box Problems" that is great. You can find it on Amazon for about $7.

Lisa

Thanks Lisa! I'll check this out.

Amy

 

[pixiesis]

When he had urinary problem, did he ever pee on the bed before. If so, maybe the scent is still there.

I heard you can use vinegar to get the smell out. Not sure how well it would work on a bed.

He did pee on the bed a few times, a really long time ago. But it was different blankets/sheets. And I used a special cleaner for cat urine and washed everything really well. And it stopped after that. This time I sprayed the bed with the same cleaner. I'll have to wash everything tomorrow (duvet cover and sheets). For now they are not allowed in that room!

Amy