Hi everyone. I really could use some advice, I'm at my wits end with my 8yo, Wolfie. He keeps pooping just outside of his box, at least 1x per day. It's been going on/off for at least a year. He pees in the box just fine. It doesn't matter if the litter is brand new or not. I've cleaned the box, even bought a new one.
I feed him Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula. I read online that it might hurt when he poops so that may cause him to go outside the box. I've tried giving him a pouch of Little Friskies once a day, but that didn't help just made a maniac out of him wanting it! He is overweight (17lbs) and the last time the vet put him on a diet he developed crystals. I'm nervous about putting him on a weight mgmt food again.
The vet suggested moving his box to another location, which isn't an option. She also suggested giving him a little bit of Metamucil in the wet food once a week, to help things move along~that didn't cure it either.
He is a medium hair and does have problems with hairballs. Sometimes he'll poop outside the box when he vomits a hairball. I guess I could understand it happening then since the hairball is probably bothering him. But he still does it at other times.
Nothing in the house has changed to cause this that I can think of. We do have a 2yo son,but he pretty much leaves the kitty alone.
I just can't find a 'common thing' to fix... I don't know if I should try changing his litter to a scoopable kind, we use crystals. I've thought about buying a littermaid box for him... Maybe it's the food I'm feeding him...
Sorry this is so long, but I'm really frustrated and have run out of ideas.
Thanks for any advice you can give!
Angi
I feed him Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula. I read online that it might hurt when he poops so that may cause him to go outside the box. I've tried giving him a pouch of Little Friskies once a day, but that didn't help just made a maniac out of him wanting it! He is overweight (17lbs) and the last time the vet put him on a diet he developed crystals. I'm nervous about putting him on a weight mgmt food again.
The vet suggested moving his box to another location, which isn't an option. She also suggested giving him a little bit of Metamucil in the wet food once a week, to help things move along~that didn't cure it either.
He is a medium hair and does have problems with hairballs. Sometimes he'll poop outside the box when he vomits a hairball. I guess I could understand it happening then since the hairball is probably bothering him. But he still does it at other times.
Nothing in the house has changed to cause this that I can think of. We do have a 2yo son,but he pretty much leaves the kitty alone.
I just can't find a 'common thing' to fix... I don't know if I should try changing his litter to a scoopable kind, we use crystals. I've thought about buying a littermaid box for him... Maybe it's the food I'm feeding him...
Sorry this is so long, but I'm really frustrated and have run out of ideas.
Thanks for any advice you can give!
Angi