Becomming incontinent, stressed or summat else?

[CherryLips1980]

My 7yo (he'll be 8 in April) Norwegian Forest cat has started pooing outside the litter tray 8 times out of 10. Tray is kept clean, he's occasionally been a little hit & miss in that he'd have his front legs in the tray but his bum out but now he's pooing anywhere. He gets very stressed trying to cover it up too (we really should sit him down one day and explain hard flooring to him). Never had a problem with him weeing. He's neutered.

So, I was wondering, could this be age related? Although he's really only heading towards middle age for a Weegie. My first baby is due on the 2nd Nov (Saturday) but we've been getting things ready really slowly (from 20weeks), the cats haven't been shut out of anywhere (we have a siamese too who is a year younger) and they're still getting on well. Food hasn't changed in 6 years. I'm going to get some Feliway I think, but any other ideas? Thank you :)

[cozietoesie]

Pooing outside the tray is often down to arthritis or similar problems Cherry but he seems a bit young for that. Or at any rate so often. (Nearly 8 is barely middle aged these days with a cat who has had a reasonably easy life.)

How long has he been doing it and has he shown any other issues eg with his jumping or walking? And have you had him to the vet for a full check up recently?

Oh - and how many trays do you have? I'm seeing that your other cat is a Siamese and they can be quite bullying in a quiet but deadly sort of way when they're minded to be. (Just wondering if your NFC is maybe a little nervous and doing 'hit and run' poos because of it.)

[cozietoesie]

My apologies - I've just had a look see and noted that NFCs can inherit a tendency to hip dysplasia. Have you ever had him checked for that?

[CherryLips1980]

Thank you Cozie He was at the vets in August for vaccs/check over and I had them run some bloods as I thought he'd been drinking more than normal (these came back normal).

He's still jumping up easily onto cabinets/sideboards etc and running about after the dog like normal but I hadn't thought of arthritis. He's always been an indoor cat. It's only in the last few days that its started happening every day - normally once a week we'd come home from work or wake up and find a poo in the middle of the floor but now its every day. :-/

They have 2 trays - siamese is a little cow at times which the NFC will take to a certain extent but then has an almighty shitfit at her (usually at around 3am by my right ear) which puts her back in her box for a time. He's quite brave for an NFC, to be fair to him!

I'll have a chat with the vet about dysplasia - can cats be hip scored?! The dog is going in to be scored soon, I might see if they'll let me do 2 for the price of 1 ;)

[cozietoesie]

I think I would speak to them. I seem to recall that NFCs are supposed to be screened at 2 years old if they're going to be bred so that they can be certified clear of possible HD (you apparently can't easily tell in a kit) - so it sounds as if it's more than a remote off chance. Maybe akin to the problems that used to beset labradors - and still do for all I know.

A case of HD could certainly lead to early onset arthritis I would have thought. But you're into vet territory now and I'm no clinician. I'd discuss with them.

Good luck to him anyway.

[CherryLips1980]

Thank you Cozie, I'll nip him down this week and see what they say. He's never appeared lame or unsound but I guess its not easy to see, hence needing the x-rays.