Needs Advice On Changing Type Of Litter

My Pumpkin is a male, probably about 9-10 years old. I don't know his exact age because he's a rescue kitty. This is the vet's estimate.

I've had Pumpkin for over 6 years and we always used Tidy Cat non-clumping litter. He never seemed to have a problem with it except sometimes he will actually eat some of it.

The vet told me not long ago it would be a good idea to switch to a different kind of litter. After doing alot of research I ordered several bags of pine pellets from Walmart. Just got them yesterday.

I made an immediate switch which Pumpkin apparently didn't like. He peed, from what I could tell, twice but no poop.

At first I thought it was the box was too tall. I got out the spare box yesterday, which is a bit larger than the other one and he's used before. I set it aside several months ago because it's difficult to handle when it's heavy.

Anyway, I filled the spare litter box with the pine pellets and eagerly waited for Pumpkin to use it. He seemed reluctant and the first time he peed in it, he stood with his front paws on the floor and his backside in the box. At least he used it.

I'm positive he used it a second time overnight but I was sleeping & didn't get to see him go potty.

This morning I sifted the pine litter and put it back in the other box, thinking that would help. It did not. Pumpkin started acting very upset and I figured it might have been the change.

I then got the spare box and filled it with the clay Tidy Cat litter.

He immediately used it. Didn't poop much but he did pee too.

Problem with his poop is, he's now on Miralax for constipation. The lactulose wasn't working as he refused it.

The poop he popped out this morning seemed small and dry. I'm wondering if he held it because of the litter change?

I feel horrid that my attempt to do something to help him did the exact opposite.

I'm positive that he will poop again since he had his Miralax a short time ago. I just could kick myself for causing him stress when I was only trying to help.

Being stressed out over other things myself - i.e. my health issues, etc, doesn't help. I try to make sure my issues don't impact Pumpkin but at times like this I feel as though I'm a failure as a kitty mommy.

I just want Pumpkin to be happy and healthy. is there a way I can get him to switch to the pine pellets?

Btw, when he walked away from his box it looked like he was smacking his lips as though he just ate some of his litter. I was in the other room when he finally went potty.

Sorry this is so long. Please help! Thanks.

You're not a failure as a kitty mommy. You just made the change to something better too quickly. Try continuing to use the Tidy Cats litter for a while longer, and slowly add in the new stuff. Hopefully that will help Pumpkin adjust to the change.

Here's a TCS article with more info: When And How To Switch To A New Type Of Litter

I switched to pine pellets and Oliver held back a little for a day or two but then got used to it. Wood pellets are so much better IMO as they're cheaper and almost odour free.
My other cats couldn't have cared less.

rubysmama said:

You're not a failure as a kitty mommy. You just made the change to something better too quickly. Try continuing to use the Tidy Cats litter for a while longer, and slowly add in the new stuff. Hopefully that will help Pumpkin adjust to the change.

Here's a TCS article with more info: When And How To Switch To A New Type Of Litter

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I read that article but am still confused as to how to best go about this:

I've got two boxes now. The spare box has the Tidy Cats, the older box has the pine pellets.

It's impossible for me to go to clumping litter because he likes to eat it sometimes.

Would it be ok for me to take some of the pine pellets tomorrow morning, for example, and add them to the other box every day? Should I put them on top or on the bottom - underneath the Tidy Cats?

How many days - for five as the article suggested, or longer?

Thank you!

mightyboosh said:

I switched to pine pellets and Oliver held back a little for a day or two but then got used to it. Wood pellets are so much better IMO as they're cheaper and almost odour free.
My other cats couldn't have cared less.

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At least Pumpkin used the new litter yesterday a couple of times, so I am hopeful that I can get him to make the switch. I'll just have to do it gradually.

Thank you!

I recently changed to pine pellets and from ny point of view they are much better. I had two litter boxes, one with pine pellets the other with the usual litter. Each day I added some pine into the usual, a little more each day until it was all pine. Mix the pine in well so its not too obvious.

I will try that. Thank you!

I'm at wit's end with this litter issue and don't know what to do. I haven't posted in several days because so much is going on at home (not litter-related), but now I'm wondering if the switch is making Pumpkin not want to poop?

It's about 5:45 am Eastern time. I got up about a half hour ago and noticed it looked like he didn't poop in his box, which he normally does by that time. He peed a couple of times, which is normal.

I emptied the box out, gave it a good scrubbing and filled it with just clay litter.

I'm hoping Pumpkin will be more willing to do his business. Pooping has always been an issue for him. He used to take Lactulose, which he absolutely hated and over which we'd do battle. His vet took him off it and I'm giving him Miralax as needed.

He had two doses yesterday because he didn't poop much the day before. I'm getting worried. He's eating, drinking & acting ok. I just thought the Miralax would have kicked in by now. I can give him up to 1/4 tsp a day.

I divided it into two doses per a discussion I had with his vet a few days ago, during which we talked about what to do should his bowels slow down.

Well, they did. Again. And I'm wondering if it's the litter change? Maybe he's refusing to poop in his box?

Not only that, I'm stuck with all of the pine litter I ordered. I've got lots of that, and a couple of bags of Yesterday's News which I can't stand. It's sitting in the closet barely used (this was before the pine litter). I'm going to have to order more clay litter because I am nearly out.

Should I just give up on the pine litter? I don't know what to do. Maybe he'll poop later, I don't know. I'm just plain exhausted and very stressed out.

Since he's had bowel issues before, it might just be a coincidence that it's happening again with the new litter. You could try leading him to the litter box with the old litter and digging his paws in the litter and saying "Pumpkin, go poopie".

Does he eat canned food? If so, you could add a bit of water to that, to get more liquid in him.

About the pine litter, maybe put it aside for now, then when Pumpkin's bowels are back to normal, try adding just a tiny bit to the regular litter each day. But keep another litter box with just the original litter, just in case he really hates the pine stuff.

About the Yesterdays News, since you hate it, perhaps you can donate it to a cat shelter.

Meanwhile, fingers crossed for poop today.
Oh, and try not to stress so much, yourself.

rubysmama said:

Since he's had bowel issues before, it might just be a coincidence that it's happening again with the new litter. You could try leading him to the litter box with the old litter and digging his paws in the litter and saying "Pumpkin, go poopie".

Does he eat canned food? If so, you could add a bit of water to that, to get more liquid in him.

About the pine litter, maybe put it aside for now, then when Pumpkin's bowels are back to normal, try adding just a tiny bit to the regular litter each day. But keep another litter box with just the original litter, just in case he really hates the pine stuff.

About the Yesterdays News, since you hate it, perhaps you can donate it to a cat shelter.

Meanwhile, fingers crossed for poop today.
Oh, and try not to stress so much, yourself.

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I'll try and encourage him to use the box. I'm giving him more Miralax this morning but before that, I'll plop him in there and ask him to do some business! lol

Pumpkin will eat canned food but only if I put treats in it. I sprinkle some on top and try to blend it in as much as possible so when he picks out the treats, he gets soft food too. I could add water to it but I don't know if that would help. He doesn't always touch his canned food.

Pumpkin's got three dishes - one for canned food, one for dry (Purina Gentle formula) and another with his dry food with water mixed in, which I call his "soup." Pumpkin doesn't eat his soup very often but I give him some every day just in case.

I realize this is alot of food, but I'm determined to keep him healthy. I'm hoping it's just a coincidence this happened at the same time as the litter change like you said.

He's due for a check up soon and may even need dental work. I'm just an overly concerned Mommy who loves my baby dearly. He is spoiled rotten!

I'll see if I can get someone to pick up the Yesterday's News. We have several shelters in the area.

Thank you!

dianajune said:

I'll try and encourage him to use the box. I'm giving him more Miralax this morning but before that, I'll plop him in there and ask him to do some business! lol

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Any luck?

dianajune said:

and another with his dry food with water mixed in, which I call his "soup." Pumpkin doesn't eat his soup very often but I give him some every day just in case.

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Just wanted to mention that I've read different opinions on adding water to dry food. Some websites suggest it. But I've also read that, like canned food, it shouldn't be left out too long.

Here's some TCS threads where it was discussed, if you want to read more on the topic:

Moistening Dry Food?
Adding water to dry food?
Question regarding softened dry kibble
Moistening Kibble

rubysmama said:

Any luck?



Just wanted to mention that I've read different opinions on adding water to dry food. Some websites suggest it. But I've also read that, like canned food, it shouldn't be left out too long.

Here's some TCS threads where it was discussed, if you want to read more on the topic:

Moistening Dry Food?
Adding water to dry food?
Question regarding softened dry kibble
Moistening Kibble

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No luck yet. Pumpkin got up a few minutes ago and had some canned food and just got back into bed next to me. I've been staying close to him much of the day. He's not acting sick. I just want him to poop!

I heard that wet food shouldn't be left out too long. I do his dishes first thing in the morning. Any leftovers get tossed, the dishes then get washed thoroughly and refilled.

Before I have supper I'll do his wet dishes again. He gets fresh canned food and "soup" twice a day because I don't like it to stay out too long. Dry food usually lasts until the next morning.

If he doesn't poop by morning I'm calling the vet again.

I forgot to mention he has two water bowls and a huge fountain. His vet suggested several years ago that I set up several water sources as that would encourage him to drink more and he's right. I think sometimes he doesn't drink enough anyway. At least he got his usual litter back!

dianajune said:

No luck yet. Pumpkin got up a few minutes ago and had some canned food and just got back into bed next to me. I've been staying close to him much of the day. He's not acting sick. I just want him to poop!

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Paging Mamanyt1953 , who is a purr-sonal friend of the Poop Fairy.

In all seriousness though, I hope he poops today, so you don't have to call the vet.

He finally left Mommy a present in his litter box! Volume-wise, it could have been more but it's better than nothing.

I may \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\lppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp

Oopsie.....Pumpkin decided to stand on my laptop. Now he's playing with the charger so I have to say this fast.....

I may give him more Miralax tomorrow depending on whether or not he poops before tomorrow morning.

I could sure use some advice from the Poop Fairy! lol

Thanks!

As requested!

Happy to see that Pumpkin left you a present in the litter box. And that the Poop Fairy stopped by. Fingers crossed for more progress today.



Oh, and Pumpkin, stay off Mommy's laptop when she's on TCS.

Thank you! I'm glad he finally pooped but I would like to try and make the transition from clay to pine litter! Will keep you posted!

Mamanyt1953 said:

As requested!
View attachment 275706

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I understand you are the Poop Fairy!

Have you any advice on how to:

1. Get my Pumpkin kitty to poop more
2. Get my Pumpkin kitty to like the pine litter!

I wish you'd wave a magic wand in my general direction and fix this issue! heheheeee