A complaint from a friend...please help!!!

**Rocky'smomma** · 05-31-2003, 11:03 PM

She says her cat is nasty...Noo..cat's aren't nasty..sometimes there are other issues going on...Health problems, constipation, lack of getting groomed and this is why her poo is sticking to her furr...I am no professional but I know alot of you can pinpoint some problems going on....thanks in advance and please help me let her know her cat is NOT skanky!!!

I have always bragged on cats to dh about how clean they keep themselves, etc. so we get one for Brooke and this is the skankiest cat I've ever seen!

Not only will she not cover up her poop in her litter box, she gets in there and LAYS IN IT!!!!! And she has long white fur so you can imagine what a mess that is!

Yesterday morning, I awoke to find my bathroom covered in poopy pawprints! (we had locked her in the bathroom because Dylan had a friend over that is a little allergic to cat dander)

And she still had it all over her! I gave that cat a bath! Boy did she not like that!

Why is she doing this?

**Rocky'smomma** · 06-01-2003, 08:52 PM

just wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom here.....

thanks...

**AngelZoo** · 06-01-2003, 09:41 PM

Rocky's, If your friend is not willing to groom this poor cat all of the time, just advise her to get it shaved.
Doesn't sound like she wants to put much effort into this.

Some cats just lay in litter boxes, a familure smell, familure place, does she have better alternative spots to lay about?

What about the stools themselves, are they firm, do they look healthy? If not, bring him to the vet for a check up.

You can also revert back to kitten hood, teach her how to scoop in the litter box, you can show her, or get another cat to show her. Perhaps she doesn't like the feeling of that particular litter between her toes when she scoops.

**Tonya** · 06-02-2003, 01:34 AM

A cat that doesn't groom itself may be sick or have some sort of psycological problem according to my vet. Your friend should get it a check up to be sure. I too have a nasty cat. Her health is fine, but she's always been gross for some reason. When we got our second cat, she finally started looking clean. We thought the new cat had taught her grooming habits...Until we caught him cleaning her one day. lol. I guess he didn't want to hang out with a nasty cat.

**Karen** · 06-02-2003, 02:28 AM

I agree that a vet check is in order. Her "poop" should not be runny enough for her to leave poop-prints everywhere ... and the only cats I have ever known that didn't groom themselves were very sick.

**BastetsMum** · 06-02-2003, 03:45 AM

Sounds like kitty needs the whitecoats. Kitty's who don't clean themselves and are *dirty* need attention. Even if you find out its psychological its better than not knowing.

**IttyBittyKitty** · 06-02-2003, 03:57 AM

Definitely sounds like kitty needs a visit to the vet. We had a cat that used to be a bit like that as she was mistreated before we rescued her. She once pooped on the bed whilst I was lying in it!!! All we could do was constantly reinforce that she needed to use the cat litter or go outside. Also, remember that positive re-inforcement can work a treat. If you see kitty doing the right thing, give her a snacky treat.

Whatever you do, DO NOT rub kitty's face into her poopy to try and "teach her a lesson." Also, don't punish unless you catch her in the act.