Poo outside litter tray

[Balloono]

Two issues here:

The first one is more serious as my cat has now had diarrhoea for a week, I’ll be ringing the vet. Does anyone know how vets are seeing animals? He’s 8, doesn’t seem any different in himself but keen to have him seen.

The smaller (but very annoying!) problem is that he is pooing outside the tray every day and it’s driving me absolutely mad. I’ve got a tray with the raised rim but it hasn’t made a difference. Has anyone seen a larger tray with a raised edge? He’s a long cat, and I wonder if he would be happier in a larger one. Alternatively can anyone offer suggestions why he does it? He has been the same for a while so not convinced it’s related to the current upset tum. He will go in the tray to wee no problem.

Thank you

Sounds like the litter tray might be too small. Instead of a litter tray, could try using a larger plastic box (like a storage box) with deeper sides.

This could be for so many reasons, but illness is one of them. She might have cramps whilst she has diarrhoea and associates the tray with pain. She might not like the litter you're using or the location of the tray, and if it's not clean enough for her. She might be stressed with recent changes in the household.

One of my cats always poos right beside the tray, and has done since she was a kitten. I can't get her to change.

Hope she's feeling better and you're ok

Sorry, he not she 🙄

I have this tray. Its large with raised sides

I have the base of a hamster cage, got it second hand on EBay. My cat is long too and it has really helped. It too has deep sides.

S

Does anyone know how vets are seeing animals?

At my practice, the procedure is:

You are given an appointment time over the phone. If it is a chain of vets it may not be at your local practice.

You turn up at the appointed time, park in their car-park and ring to say you are there.

Someone comes out and tells you where to put the cat basket. They only take the cat and basket, no paperwork, e.g. record cards.

You go back to the car and they pick up cat basket, take it inside and examine cat.

They ring you to tell you whatever they find and for you to pay by card.

They bring cat in basket back to the allocated spot and go back inside whilst you wait in car.

You collect cat and return to car with it.

Sorry, I've got no advice but do feel for you, I have a cat with the same issue re pooing in the litter tray.

I have tried different litter, there are 3 sizes of litter tray in different rooms, I've put his poo in the tray after he does it to show where it goes - no joy. I've pretty much given up now, i put one of those puppy training pads next to his tray and he poos on that (and then hops in the tray for a wee!)

When you say your cat is pooping outside of the tray, do you mean he is missing the tray, or is he pooping in completely the wrong place? My cat every now and then will poo on the door mat. Apparently it is to mark his territory because he can see other cats outside. If he is just missing the tray, it sounds like it is too small.

He’s missing it, stands in the tray with his rear over the edge. I’ve got puppy training pads down and have had to move it away from the wall

would you consider a hooded littery tray? we have one for our cat as she used to get it outside the tray a little and now we've no problems.

Might be worth a go, I’ve always avoided as my vet told me it’s best to have an open one so any issues are spotted quickly. Did your cat have any issues going in and out?

@Ballono, she learnt how to use the flap entrance on in within about a day :)