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 probably is not very happy about it. It is not a behavioral
problem and your pet should not be punished.
Feline 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 behavior.)
In simple terms, some possible causes of feline incontinence
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. If your cat can't poop at
all, the large intestine can become stuffed with feces,
resulting in megacolon, which is also a serious
condition.
(To complicate matters, if eliminating is painful, your cat
may associate using the litter box with pain and will therefore
avoid using it.)
Only a veterinarian can provide you with a proper diagnosis.
A 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.
Pet diapers may be the solution for your troubled cat
People solve incontinence problems by wearing diapers ... and
there are cat diapers and dog diapers available for incontinent
pets. Cats should fit the small dog diapers.
According to reviews, they work well for incontinent
or otherwise handicapped pets and the diapers do allow
pets to participate in family activities again, which is a good
thing.
