Cat problems...digestive?

[ladyphantom81]

I'm kind of new to this board, and I'm hoping that some of you other cat lovers will be able to relate to my kitty problem.

My cat has a problem, from time to time, where he won't finish his business in the litter box. He will begin his business there, then shoot out of the box like lightning and run around the house, ultimately leaving a "rolling present" for Mom and Dad to find.

We're getting fed up with having to watch where we walk around the house and cleaning up after him...and it doesn't help that nearly all of the carpet in the house is brown! He doesn't do it all the time. We've been concerned that maybe he is actually suffering from some form of dehydration. But his litter box doesn't give any kind of suggestion of this...believe me! We're wondering if it may have something to do with a digestive problem, but there isn't any irregularity at all in its appearance.

AGH! Please help! Has anyone else had this problem with their cat?

[lvpets2002]

:) Welcome to PT & enjoy the talks & pictures

Ok how old is your cat && where is the litter box located?? Then we can note from there..

[ladyphantom81]

Thanks for the welcome! I guess I should just give you a background on my kitty, to start off.

My fiance "adopted" Melvin as a kitten back in college. Melvin was part of a litter of four that a friend's cat had. They lived on a farm and had a HUGE amount of cats. Melvin's mom was hit and killed on the road not long after she had given birth to him. So, the friend's mom (being a vet assistant) began taking care of the litter. Once they all came of age to be weaned from the bottle, my fiance and I were invited over to pick one out. Melvin seemed to be the most mischevious and curious of all the kittens, and my fiance fell in love with him at first sight. After getting all of his required shots, we were able to take him home with us.

Melvin is a little over 4 years old. He was neutered when he was old enough. He's also the only cat, taking full advantage of that! He is more of an indoor cat than an outdoor cat, though we do go on little walks. We don't like allowing him outside without supervision since we're not quite sure just how well he can see. When his mother had died, he suffered from underdevelopment of his eyes from malnutrition. And now he has something like a brown haziness to his eyes. The vet said that there is no reason to worry about it, but we feel really skeptical since we're so close to a busy road. We'd rather he not go the way of his mother.

As for the litter box, it's located just inside the opening door to the basement. He has full access to it whenever he wants without any obstacles. We have a flight of stairs that goes off of the dining room and then into the basement. He's situated right at the top of the stairs. We had tried putting him in the bathroom, but he wound up kicking litter EVERYWHERE. It was messy...especially when you stepped out of a wet shower and into a pile of litter on the floor.

Hope this helps narrow things down a bit! Thanks!!!!!!

[lvpets2002]

:) How funny about the wet feet & litter & I can relate to my cats dipping their paws in water & then going to the litter box..
Ok I have raised cats all my life & have six indoor ones now.. I do not think you have a digestive problem.. However it is always best to have your baby get checkups from the Vets.. Now he is at the age to do the hopping out of the litter box premature.. I think it is a oh I forgot to wipe issue & or someone or something has distracted his consentration.. Also if you have a litter box to close to house traffic & or too close to food/water bowls they will do that.. It seems to make cats nervous & want to leave quickly.. Hope this helps.. Now we need pictures of your baby Melvin..

[ladyphantom81]

Thanks for the info. I'm still just a bit confused as to his behavior, though. It may just be the whole "I forgot" issue, like you said. The litter box is placed so that it really isn't in the middle of traffic. We have a kind of a sliding door to the basement stairs that I leave slightly opened enough for him to get in and out. And his food and water dishes are in a completely different room. So, I don't know what's wrong with our freak! LOL As for the pic, I'll see if I can post one up on here. If that doesn't work, the avatar beneath my name is kind of small, but that's him.

[ladyphantom81]

http://www.geocities.com/ladyphantom81/melvinonmybed.jpg

[lvpets2002]

;) ;) Awee Melvin your are just a sweetheart & just adorable..

Ok now meowmie go to main menu & scroll to Cat General & start New Thread & put the web page with Melvin on with the title of Welcome my Melvin boy to PT && that will let everone else go to your thread & veiw him & make post..

[barncat]

If this only happens sometimes it may be a problem that occurs at my house sometimes too. I know this sounds gross, but sometimes the cats are eliminating a pooper that has a hair in it and "won't let go"...when thios happens they go through what you describe until time and gravity drop the "stringer."

If Melvine has longish fur or if he gets a human hair in his system this might be what is going on.