home <<< litter
box problems <<< feline incontinence
Feline incontinence, simply put, means your cat has
less or no control over the physical functions
of urinating (peeing) or defecating (pooping). There is
a difference between behavior problems at the litter box
and incontinence.
Incontinence is a symptom of a physical and health
related problem. Your cat cannot control the situation
and is probably not very happy about it. It is not a behavioral
problem and your pet should not be punished.
Incontinence will often cause your cat to pass urine or bits
of poop while sleeping or resting. Your cat may dribble urine
or you may find little puddles of pee all over the house.
(This squatting posture should not be confused with cats
that are spraying. Spraying is a scent marking behaviour.)
There are a number of health problems that can contribute
to feline incontinence - both urinary and fecal (poop).
The organs which make up the urinary tract
are the:
... kidneys ... which aid in filtering the blood and help
to monitor water retention
... ureters ... two tubes connected from the kidneys to
the bladder
... bladder ... which stores the urine
... urethra ... a tube which carries the urine out of the
body.
Lower urinary tract disease (LUTD) involves the bladder and
urethra. LUTD may cause your cat to urinate frequently but
only in small amounts. Bladder infections are common among
older cats and often respond well to a simple antibiotic treatment.
Other problems include the formation of stones and crystals.
Some symptoms related to cat urinating problems are obvious
if you observe your cat’s behavior at the
litter box. Your cat may be squatting, trying
very hard to go, but little or nothing is happening. Your
cat will look very uncomfortable, may be in pain, and
cry out.
If your cat is dribbling urine, or not
able to urinate at all, there may be a partial
or full blockage in the urinary tract. This is a medical
emergency and requires immediate veterinary attention.
Death can occur within a day.
Diabetes, problems with the kidneys or liver and even prescribed
drugs can increase thirst and cause your cat to urinate more
often.
Fecal incontinence, often diarrhea ...
is a symptom shared by many diseases or health problems
- including the presence of parasites. Failure to
eliminate at all is also a serious condition; the
large intestine becomes stuffed with feces, resulting in
megacolon.
(To complicate matters, if eliminating is painful, your
cat may associate using the litter box with pain and will
therefore avoid using it.)
Only your veterinarian can provide you with a proper diagnosis.
Your vet may prescribe medication that can help curb feline
incontinence or conduct further tests.
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There are some simple fixes that can help your senior or sick
cat
carry out its bathroom functions ... in a timely and sanitary
manner.
An older cat faces other challenges besides feline incontinence
As your cat ages, his or her senses are not as sharp. Any
loss of hearing, sight and even smell must, at the very
least, cause anxiety and confusion. Aging felines can become
forgetful and they may not remember where the litter box
is. If they do remember … it might take them twice
as long to get there.
Does your cat dislike standing in the litter?
Older cats, cats that are not well, in pain or recovering
from surgery may be uncomfortable standing in litter ...
and more so lumpy litter. Felines who have recently been
‘declawed’ do have problems with some litters
sticking to their paws or otherwise causing them pain (which
may be the least of their worries).
For cats recovering from surgery vets recommend using Yesterday's
News Cat Litter. You can also line an empty litter box with
disposable puppy training pads, which are used for housebreaking
dogs. Equally useful are absorbent underpads that are designed
for incontinence. There is a choice between washable and
disposable.
These types of products may be your best, and safest, solution
for troubled cats that have problems standing in other types
of litter.
Is your litter box physically suitable? Do you have
enough litter boxes?
Older cats and cats with physical problems may find that
getting in and out of a litter box is difficult.
Squatting to do their business might be painful.
Make it easier to get in and out of the box. If your box
has a rim remove it. You can cut an entrance, level or just
above the floor, into an ordinary plastic tote. Provide
a ramp. Litter pans or boxes should always be long and wide
enough for your cat to turn around easily.
For cats with these kinds of problems, provide two or more
litter boxes. Place them where your cat can reach them easily
and quickly, and close to where he or she sleeps.
Cat Diapers may be the solution for your troubled cat
People solve incontinence problems by wearing diapers ...
and there are cat diapers or doggy diapers available for
incontinent pets. Cats should fit the small sized diaper
for dogs.
According to reviews, they work well for incontinent
or otherwise handicapped pets and the diapers do
allow pets to participate in normal family activities again,
which is a good thing.
Fortunately, there are remedies for feline incontinence
or other physical disabilities which will allow your cat
to carry out its bathroom duties … while maintaining
that unique feline dignity.
