(no subject)

[angelchicken]

She threw up tonight, soft food, which she did once before, a few weeks ago. But she does tend to eat frantically which I can accept.

But then, later, I noticed that my living room smelled particularly poopy and when I checked she had pooped on the floor and the towel under her litter box, but not in her box. I changed her litter yesterday so I know it's not that. She is *so good* about using her box always. So why isn't she? And she's scooting on the floor instead of her rug which might be because her rug is damp in a section from me cleaning the jot of puke she got on it.

She has been very affectionate lately and now I am afraid she knows something I don't. I should take her to the vet. But what will I say? She's 14 and a half and the last time she was there her (six months ago) her blood was fine.

I don't know what to do. I'm stressed.

Is this normal in older cats? Should I be in panic mode? She's only puked a few times in the last six weeks (she's a puker. Lucky me) and that doesn't really worry me. It's the pooping outside her box (the poop, by the way, was normal- nothing freaky about it). Why would she do that? I haven't changed anything in her schedule. She gets fed and her litter is cleaned and changed and I am le stressed.

Any thoughts, advice or anything?

Thank you much.

xoxo

Also! She doesn't seem to be in any pain or anything. She can still get onto the bed and she sleeps fine and is pushy and demanding and all sorts of fun stuff like that.

Am I overreacting? Should I just see this as a blip of poop and just keep an eye out? This isn't necessary a harbinger of heartache, right?

Comments

[disbelief11.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I'm no help. Have you checked out any of the online cat forums?

[angelchicken.livejournal.com]

No! But I will right now. Thank you!

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

It's possible her anal glands are impacted, hence the scooting and uncomfortable pooping in wrong places. I do think you should call the vet in the AM, but I don't think this is an emergency, given that she doesn't seem to feel sick.

[angelchicken.livejournal.com]

Well, she's been scooting for years- this is nothing new. But her scooting on the floor when there is a perfectly good rug to use is odd. Poor old cat. I love her so. I'll call the vet in the morning and see if there are any suggestions he might have.

I just want her to be happy, you know?

[jennlynnster.livejournal.com]

I agree. It sounds like impacted anal glands to me. It's very common.

::hugs and good vibes::

[angelchicken.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, that might be it. she has a bad back so it is really hard for her to clean that area. I would no sooner do it myself then fly to the moon, but I can call the vet in the morning and see if he has any ideas. Maybe metamucial on her food will help until I get her there.

Peekie and I both thank you for the love.

[kopernik.livejournal.com]

This is not a problem that has ever cropped up with any of our kitties, but yeah, I'd call the vet tomorrow to see if they have any words of wisdom. As long as she's moving around okay and eating and drinking about as much as usual, I wouldn't worry too much.

[jrs1980.livejournal.com]

Might want to check out cathealth, see if there's anything in the memories. But, for me, as Kitty ages, I'm a lot more apt to bring her to the vet for something like that than just shrug it away. Seems to have worked out relatively well for us so far. :)

(As her current purring on my lap attests.)

Edit: Oh, and outside-the-box pooping and puking are not normal for my kitty. But she's never been a puker, so for us that is a sign of trouble. Or a hairball. I'd think not wanting to get into the box (Kitty's box lip is raised) would be a sign of aches. But obviously the bed is higher than the box, so I don't know. [/ishelpful]

[shadowlass.livejournal.com]

Take her to the vet. It may be something minor, or nothing at all, but when an animal suddenly starts displaying new behaviors it's always a good idea to take them in.

[shadowlass.livejournal.com]

...and when you take her in tell them exactly what you told us, and how it's unlike her normal behavior.

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

Poor kitty! I do think you should have her checked. *Hugs*

Vet techs loooove to express anal glands.

[thehappyluddite.livejournal.com]

Just kidding. They probably don't love it, but it can be very helpful.

Teddy would poop outside the box if he was particularly constipated. If he was straining really hard, he would often leave the litter box and look for something soft to poop on. I'd say that he pooped on or in my laundry bag at least three times over the course of our time together.

I guess I'm suggesting: watch for straining/constipation.

It could just be stress, though. She's in a new place and there's no rug, so maybe she's just acting out or freaking out.