¿Por qué tu GATO 😼 hace CACA 💩 FUERA del arenero y cómo SOLUCIONARLO?

There are some cats that don't poop in their litter box. And although it's sometimes related to health problems, it's not always the case. Sometimes we can make some very simple changes at home. And today I'm going to tell you about how to fix it. Hi, I'm Carlos and I'm a veterinarian. Welcome to the Happy Pets and Families Channel. Look, I'm not going to beat around the bush. There are three main reasons why most cats don't use their litter box to poop. First, there are problems with their behavior or their environment. Second, there are health problems and also problems with their litter box. So let's start by talking about behavioral problems. Yes, a cat may have stopped using their litter box to poop due to stress related problems. Because, of course, as I always tell you, stress greatly influences how our cats behave at home on a daily basis. And many times I associate it with problems when peeing. But there are other situations in which it could be that he was doing his poop and we caused too much noise, a very loud noise, or, I don't know, we scolded him, which, as I said, you should never do with your cat for any other reason, and that caused your cat a little trauma. That's why he rejects that location and looks for another to relieve himself and do his business. Living with another cat is also closely related to the issue of behavior. If more than one cat lives in our house, it is possible that dominance relationships develop between them. Sometimes the dominant cat does not let the cat below it in the hierarchy. Use the litter box. You can tell because when that kitten is doing its poop, the other one quickly arrives to bother it and throw it out of its litter box. How can you suspect that this problem of coexistence is behind one not using the litter box? Well, if you've seen other cats fighting over other things, if they chase each other around the house a lot, or even if they hiss or growl at each other, it doesn't always have to be because the two cats don't get along. Sometimes it could also be because they get along too well. And one of the cats is a little playful and takes advantage of that moment when the other is off guard doing their poop to come up behind them, stalk them and hunt them down. And how can you help them in either of these two situations? Well, to start by improving the coexistence at home a little bit. If they don't get along, which I've already explained to you many times here on the channel how you can do. And if you want some key ideas, I've left a video linked below. And also using the N1 technique for the number of litter boxes you have at home, you should always put one more litter box than the number of cats living in your home and preferably in different locations. More behavioral issues. Your cat may not use the litter box because it has become accustomed to doing so outside your home. This happens a lot with kittens rescued from the street, kittens that come from shelters, or other cats that have regular and normal access to the outdoors. How can you suspect that this is the cause? Well, because, well, the cat used to have access to the outdoors, for example, and now it can't. So it goes, for example, to a window and insistently asks you to go out all the time. If it can't go out through that window, it's possible that the cat will end up doing its poop wherever it finds in the first place it sees, like a slightly more private corner. This type of cat also tends to poop in the sand of the flower pots that we have around the house because it reminds it of outdoor vegetation. How can you prevent it from using your flower pots? Well, by putting obstacles in the dirt. You can use, for example, small or large stones, or you can also put pine cones in it since it is not a flat surface. Cats do not like that very much and will stop using that pot. How can you solve this in any case? Well, take advantage of the knowledge you have. You already know where your cat likes to do its business. Put the litter box there. It is very likely that it will automatically start doing its business in it. This will help your cat understand the mechanics, which are quite simple, but it may not have understood them very well. Once your cat is using the litter box in that spot, you can move it to another spot. How can you do it? Well, there are two ways. Either by gradually moving it away from where I put it, or another way that I recommend is to leave that tray there and put another one in another place in your house, wherever you wanted to stay. So let's imagine that your cat poops in a corner of the living room, but you wanted to do it in the bathroom. At first, leave the one in that corner of the living room and put another tray in the bathroom. That way you'll see if your feline companion likes that new location and starts using that litter box as well as your cat will see, wherever the tray is, it can poop there. It's completely allowed. Once it learns to use the one in the bathroom, you can remove the one in the living room. The time it may take to make this change will depend a lot on your cat. And I'll tell you something else. Your cat may not use the one in the bathroom and will continue using the one in the living room. Well, in those cases, you have the option of either leaving it there or gradually moving it to its final location. Related to this idea that there are cats that don't know how to use their own litter box because they're not used to it, I have to stop at a very special case, which is when kittens are very small, very tiny. The truth is that most cats internalize the issue of small stones in their poop very, very quickly. I haven't seen any major problems with very young cats when it comes to using the litter box. All you have to do is make sure it's the right size for them at first. Because, of course, if the kitten is very small, it might not be able to climb into a box with a very high edge. So in these cases, put a small coffee tray at the beginning, for example, filled with sand. How does your cat use it? If you see that it automatically goes there to do its poop, no problem, no complications. It may not cover it at first, but don't worry because it will normally learn to do it over time. You can teach it a little. I recommend that you cover it to teach it that this is how it has to do it. On the other hand, it could also be that the cat doesn't know that this is the place to do its poop. If you want to encourage this even more, you can use some poop that the cat has left around the house and take it to that area so that it smells like it's poop and knows that this is where it has to do it. With this, the issue of behavior and coexistence at home is more or less resolved. Obviously, there will be slightly more specific cases, specific behavioral changes in a cat that has had a situation in its life that is very, very special, and that is why it has stopped using its litter box. But in general, all of this will resolve most situations. Of course, in the case where the cat has stopped using its litter box due to a behavioral or coexistence issue, it may be that the cat has stopped using its litter box due to a health problem. For example, very old cats with the issue of age, when the years accumulate, so do the ailments. Older cats may suffer from arthritis, mobility problems, and the litter box may be too high, and the cat may no Longer be able to climb up onto the tray, for example, in litter boxes with a very, very high edge. There are also some cats that have cognitive problems. Well, they already have a little bit of dementia. These cats may not be able to find their litter box around your house because they no longer remember where it is, and they dedicate themselves to looking for it. Since they can't find it, they end up pooping anywhere. How can you suspect that age is behind your cat, not pooping in the litter box? Well, to begin with, your cat is older, logically. But for example, cats with arthritis want to move a little less, spend more time on their bed, have a slightly worse time in the cold because their bones smell bad. Perhaps they don't want to get on the sofa anymore because they can't. All of this should make us suspect that our cat is not moving very well. And regarding dementia, many times they don't get their bearings. They may spend a lot of time wandering around the house, often even at night, and they may even start to howl or become disoriented because they don't know where they are. In these cases, although you should always go to the vet so they can tell you something more specific, prescribe some type of treatment or something like that. You can help them with the litter box, for example. For example, for cats with arthritis, use litter boxes with a low edge. That way the cat doesn't have to make much effort and can climb up without any problem. And for cats that are a little disoriented, put several litter boxes around your house. That way the cat will find them much easier. More health problems. Well, there are times when cats don't poop in their litter box because they simply don't have time to get to it. In this case from intestinal problems such as inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatic digestive and liver problems, which sometimes cause diarrhea. Or cats that, for example, are very gluttonous and have overeated and have not had enough food, which is why their poop is a little looser. 2. For example, diseases that you might not suspect can cause diarrhea and that, however, do, such as hyperthyroidism or even kidney problems. How would you suspect it? Well, because it usually starts suddenly, it is quite specific. It is not a habit. It simply does not happen. Before, if the cat was doing its poop and suddenly it has started doing it outside. In addition, the poop will not be normal. It usually has a pasty or liquid consistency or strange colors, lighter brown or very, very dark brown, or perhaps even Blood. And in many of these diseases, it is also accompanied by vomiting. In these cases, I always recommend that you go to the vet's office, except in a very specific case, which is if you know that your cat has binge eaten. In these cases, there is usually no need to rush unless you see that the stools are very persistent or very large, that your cat is listless, and that it is unresponsive. In these cases, yes, go to the vet's office because it could be an emergency. But if it is due to binge eating, our cats are usually better the next day. All you have to do is give them a little soft food and they will improve. It could also be that your cat is having pain when pooping. This is very common in cats that suffer from constipation. The problem with constipated cats is not that they simply have a little more difficulty or have to strain a little more when pooping in the litter box. No, no, no, nothing like that. There are times when our constipated cats won't go to the litter box because it hurts them so much. And this ends up causing the colon to dilate, causing a disease called megacolon and making the colon not strong enough to expel the poop, which makes the problem chronic. Sometimes these cats have pain when they poop. It's not that we see a lot of poop or a lot of bulk outside the litter box, but from time to time, we find very hard poop around our house. And it's because our cat has dropped it, because, of course, it has accumulated so much that it suddenly comes out. So how can you suspect it? Well, apart from finding this poop from time to time, if the poop is especially hard, if it feels like a rock, let's say. And how can you help them? In these cases, the best thing is always prevention. Sometimes constipation is caused by our cat drinking very little water. So the poop becomes very, very hard. We have to try to provide more water to our cat's diet, give them a wet diet and provide them with a water fountain at home that encourages them to drink water. On the other hand, sometimes constipation is caused by problems such as them swallowing a lot of hair. In this case, the problem is not in their intest. It is in their skin because they lose a lot of hair. In these cases, you will be able to suspect it if you see that their poop has a lot of hair inside because you can see the hair. Well, the solution for these cases is not to Give them moult, although sometimes it can help a little, Right? Above all, you should take them to the vet to find out why they are losing more hair. But if your cat is prone to swallowing a lot of hair when grooming itself, because I don't know, they have very long hair in these cases, brush them more frequently, especially during shedding seasons, which, as you know, are spring and autumn in areas with seasons. In countries where there are no seasons, hair loss is more constant throughout the year. And in these cases, also keep an eye on the skin. Make sure it's not red, itchy, or scratching uncontrollably, because these are signs that can indicate that our cat is suffering from a skin disease and needs to be treated. And sometimes the health problem, so to speak, is not as serious as what I just told you. Some cats may occasionally leave poop around the house because it gets stuck in their fur. Generally, what you'll see is about the size of a sheep's poop or something like that, very small. And this is quite common, for example, in cats that have long hair, why does their hair get in the way when they defecate in the litter box? In these cases, you will obviously see that the cat will poop in the litter box and that most of the poop is in their litter box. But from time to time around the house, you may find some poop, especially in areas where they rest. In these cases, all you have to do is clean it up for them, keep a close eye on it, and that's it. And for that, I recommend that you always use specific cat wipes, sometimes without reaching very, very liquid diarrhea. Some kittens poop can stick to them because their poop is a little softer. So keep a close eye on how your cat poops. And in these cases, well, maybe consult your vet if you ever see that it is a little pastier, less consistent. And with this, the issue of your cat not pooping in the litter box related to health problems, well, we will have almost everything answered. Obviously, as always, there are situations that are beyond this normality, but let's go ahead and give you a general overview. Now let's move on to the likely cause of your cat not pooping in the litter box. The problem is that the litter box itself is actually inside. This is most common. I'm going to ask you a series of questions so that you can come to a conclusion about whether everything in your cat's litter box is okay. Is your cat's litter box clean okay? It's not enough for you to just scoop up their poop every day because the litter, the substrate that we put in for our cat, also absorbs the odors of the things our cat does on it. Even if we keep it clean, removing poop and pee every day, that odor will stick around. If we never change all the litter, our cat may stop using their litter box because the litter smells awful. That's why I recommend that in addition to daily cleaning, you change all their litter at least once every two weeks for absorbent litter, the one that doesn't form balls, and once every three or four weeks also, depending on the manufacturer's instructions for clumping litter. Every time you change the litter, take the opportunity to give the entire tray a good cleaning. You can help yourself by exposing it to the sun because it kills the bacteria that cause bad odors. Leave it in the sun for a while if it sticks around your house. It doesn't stick much here in this house. I know I've told you this many times, but seriously, when we talk about cats that don't use their litter box, this is the first thing we have to check and the first thing we have to rule out other things that can help you. In this case. If your cat is a bit particular about odors, activated carbon filters. They trap odors, don't smell like anything, and make the odor inside the litter box more bearable. How much litter does it have? Well, okay, I've also told you on the channel before how much litter your cat should have, but you may not have seen that video. The maximum thickness of the litter box should be about a finger's width. This finger, this. When there's more litter, our cats don't feel safe using it. They feel like quicksand, and that's why they refuse to poop there. But of course, this finger's width is the maximum. What's the minimum? When our cat's litter box is running out of litter, they may also not want to use it because they like to cover it. And it's also an activity that's part of their own health, their instinct. Let's say if you notice that your cat is no longer using the litter box and you notice that sometimes when they've pooped, when you try to cover it, it touches the plastic a lot. That is, you see the bottom of the tray, that's an indication that there isn't enough litter. You'll have to replace the litter so that your cat uses that tray again. Another question. What type of litter box did you buy for your cat? Is it possible that our cats used to use their litter box and then suddenly we make a change so he buy them another one and they stop using it. In this case, it's because the cat doesn't like that type of litter box. There are lots of covered, uncovered, vertical, automatic, etc. It could be that you spent €400 on an automatic litter box and your cat doesn't like it. In these cases, if you see that your cat used to do their business in the box and now they don't do it anymore, well, you already have the answer. If it's a new cat in your house and you don't know them very well, give them a choice between two litter trays. Give them a covered one and an uncovered one. Don't want to spend more money? Well, for the uncovered one, use a box that the cat can get into and you'll see which one they choose. Another thing, what type of litter does your cat have? It could be that the cat got used to a very specific litter box and that over time you decided to change it. And that's where the problem started. You may not have identified the source of the problem, but I can tell you that there are some cats that stop using their litter box because they don't like the litter. That's why I always recommend that in these cases, don't use too much frills. Don't go for, for example, scented or very special litters, because cats often don't like those smells, and that's the reason they stop using their litter box. And the texture is also very common. Silica litter has sharp, pointed edges, and some cats get a little bit of a scratch on their paws, which is why they stop using their litter box. Do you want to change the litter you give your cat and don't want any surprises. Well, in these cases, I recommend that you put a very thin layer of the litter that the cat was already using under the new litter. That smell will encourage them to keep using their litter box. Let's move on to another question. Where do you keep your cat's litter box? If you've moved it and they've stopped using it, you know why your cat doesn't like the new location. To always be on the right track, put the litter box in a reserved spot. Some cats don't mind. They don't mind doing it anywhere, but others like to be a bit hidden from prying eyes. So always put the litter box somewhere where not many people pass by. Of course, you should always avoid putting them in hallways. With this video, I've tried to cover most cases, in fact the most likely ones, but sometimes they can be caused by a combination of things, because at the end of the day, what I'm giving you here is an outline. So it could be that a cat doesn't like litter very much and is also a bit older and doesn't like going up to the litter box as much or something like that. Okay, so I think that the video can help you to find out what your specific case is. I recommend that you make a kind of checklist if you have any doubts at the end that your cat may have a health problem, which would be the most serious in that case. Yes, go to the vet and ask them about your specific case. I'm happy to answer your comments, but I always have to be guided by general things because I don't know your cats, I can't examine them, I don't know exactly what's happening to them. But anyway, I hope that you found this video very useful. And for us, this little guy has already left some poop around the house. Has your cat ever stopped using his litter box? Was it because of any of these problems that I've mentioned or any other? Well, leave me a comment so I can find out. And if you've identified why your cat doesn't use it, that's fine too. In any case, if you liked the video, you know that you can give me a like and subscribe to the channel. Also, if you want to support us a lot, a lot, give us a super thank you. And remember that we have a secondary channel here on YouTube called Questions and Answers from a Veterinarian. Come on over and check it out. Don't leave the screen yet because we have to meet this little one named Corolla who lives in Mexico City with her human companions Isabel and Jordi. These two little ones are called Pochilo, the little black one with no ears and Nube. Both were rescued and Sandra gave them a second chance and to say goodbye. We have here Kachita, who when they sent us the photo was 14 years old with a 90 year old personality. They greet us from Santa Fe, Argentina with her human companion Silvina. Thank you very much for following the Happy Pets and Families channel and we'll see you in the next video. And goodbye to the Cachufo. Cheers. Oh my goodness, the blood sausage from Burgos. What an afternoon plan. Cat then I think if cats need to be stimulated, if they need to be moved, but if you're all messed up on the couch, girl, it never fails because in winter, he doesn't move from the couch. Since I listed the three blocks and at the end we put behavior first. I'm going to number the cat, which is a little bit like the cat. How can I say it? Ok. And no. A coffee tray with an edge like this. A coffee tray, yes. But shelters usually have all the trays uncovered. Okay, well, but the cat, for example, uses a covered one. Of course not at first. What tray did he have? But we took one away and put another one. Well, no. And he's kept using it. That's it. If you see that he doesn't use the tray in this case, that's what he's using. Right, kitten, look, here you are sitting here. You're fine here. You can see nothing that a wet wipe couldn't fix.