"I wash my hands of this cat."

Simon

This is a true story. True as I can make it and still protect the identity of the characters involved and the ironic sad truth that these scenarios happen.

The clinic we built centers around a mission of helping pets. Jarrettsville Veterinary Center provides our community with a safe place that provides exceptional medical care, and this doesn't cease when our clients can't pay, or give up being guardians. Very simply we care and are always more than a business.

Like all of us trying to live adherent to a higher calling we are challenged to follow through with our conviction when the hail storms fall. Life will dump crap on you just to see what you are made of. You aren't unlucky, you are instead being given a chance to shine amidst stormy weather.

Such was the case of our newest addition; Simon.

We had never met Simon before the day he was brought in to our clinic to be euthanized.

His story started out as many other indoor cats does. A cat like so many others who was adopted, vaccinated as a kitten, altered as a 6 month old and kept behind the doors of his family since. He was brought in to us as a middle aged tabby who had lived with his family for almost a decade.

Simon is a rather rotund soft soul who prefers to sleep sunny side up unabashedly flashing the staff unconcerned with the bustle of a busy veterinary practice.

Simon arrived in a cat carrier escorted by two sobbing women on a day when the reception area was packed. Crying clients carrying a pet in a vet clinic is the universal sign for departure over the rainbow bridge.

If we know that we have a patient coming in to be put to sleep we take great care in getting them into a quiet room quickly. Minimizing stress, strangers glances, and having to share your grief with anyone else is eliminated. Saying goodbye is never easy, but we do every single thing we can to make you and your pet feel that there is love even when there is goodbye. We didn't know Simon was a one way trip and the odd scene of a crying family eliciting and seemingly enjoying empathy from the other waiting clients was beyond disturbing. This is a job where uncommon things are common, but this scene was alarming and disconcerting. The technicians quickly found a free exam room and quickly alerted the unsuspecting vet that a euthanasia appointment had arrived.

The news of an unscheduled euthanasia for a seemingly bright, alert, and active pet quickly swept through the clinic. I walked by the exam room to take a peek at the lugubrious couple with the new arrival and the death sentence.

Two women lay on the floor sobbing as a fervent joyful feline sopped up the abundant attention doted upon him. They cried and smothered him with pats, strokes, hugs, and last sentiments of the wonderful cat he had been. It is a juxtaposing scene a veterinarian sees often, a grief stricken guardian sorrowfully pleading a good-bye that is too great to bear for any onlooker. BUT, there was Simon, happy as a lark, full bodied, well groomed, and soaking up the affection greedily.

Clearly, something was amiss with this? My curiosity and sixth sense of experience and regrets kicked in.

"What's the deal with Simon?" I asked the vet as she departed the exam room.

"He's been peeing on their laundry for a year." She replied with a sigh and disgust. "They can't afford to treat him."

"Has he ever had a urinalysis? Have they ever worked him up for a possible medical cause?" I asked. This is the usual response of a vet in these cases.

"No. They have never brought him anywhere. Never done anything about it." I could see the pain in my friends eyes. These are the cases that add nails to your coffin.

"What if we used some of the donation funds to help with the diagnostics?" I offered. I knew that keeping a pet with a family that loves them is the safest place for a pet. I would rather help a client through a financial tough spot and keep a pet in its home then try to find a new home for an adult cat. "What if we offered to pay the entire bill to get Simon the diagnostics he needed?"

"I tried that already. They just want to 'wash their hands of him.' Their words, not mine." Her face fell to the floor and the vice of a helplessness assassin replaced her normal vibrant optimism.

"What do you think?" I asked of her. I know that she was going to have to be the person who bore this burden. Working in a veterinary clinic can be a terrible place to have a conscious.

"Simon appears to be a healthy, sweet affectionate cat. I don't want to do it." She said meekly back.

"Then don't. Offer to have the cat signed over to us, and tell them to never come back. If they refuse explain to them that you don't feel right about it and walk away."

Elated and gleeful she burst out an "OK!" Her smile returned to her face.

I often feel like a parent to the staff at the clinic. That smile on her face is worth every disciplinary action of every board member reminding me that my job is to treat pets like property and comply with owner requests. The way we are asked and expected to treat the pets the law deems as property has ripple effects and consequences on us. I don't ever forget this. I stand by my patients, my staff, and the ability to help both. The law, well, that is a belief that changes with time, it is not a conscious with burdens to carry to the grave.

Simon's family left through the waiting rooms front doors wadded tissues in hand to a crowd of clients hugging and sobbing condolences of understanding and compassion. They further had the audacity to embrace every bamboozled empathetic person on the slow dramatic march out the door.

Simon's bloodwork and urinalysis confirmed he had a urinary tract infection. Like so many Pawbly questions I answer, people assume a cat is being spiteful and therefore not using the litter box, when in fact they have a real medically based problem. Poor Simon spent over a year trying to notify his family that there was a problem and their answer to him, "wash my hands of you."

I might live a long healthy robust life, but I remain steadfast in my devotion to pets and children. People, well, I just don't understand them? If I try to I feel disgusted. If I give up on them I loose my faith in humanity. Which is worse? So, I do what so many of us do. I do as much as I can for all that I can. Jarrettsville Vet remains committed to help pets in need. Thanks to the community and our friends we are able to continue to do this.

"You're welcome Simon. We love you too."

Simon is an outgoing, affectionate, charming boy. He loves everyone and everything and would make an excellent companion. He, now minus his urinary tract infection, is up for adoption at our clinic, Jarrettsville Veterinary Center, inn Jarrettsville, Maryland. We also have other pets in need of homes and we would greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word about them.

If you have pet experience that you want to share, or a pet question in need answering, you can find a group of caring knowledgeable individuals at Pawbly.com. Pawbly is free for everyone to use.

You can also find me on Twitter @FreePetAdvice.

Related blogs;

Peeing Outside the Box. The 20 Minute Cure.

Feline Marking. What is it and how to stop it.

When your Client Gives Up On Their Pet. Where do you stand? The cat and the line in the sand.


Related Pawbly questions;

How do I stop my cat from peeing on my lounge?

My cat Sally has been experiencing a lot of urination problems. What is cystitis?

Male tomcat not using the litter box anymore. Why?

I just adopted a cat from the shelter and he's scared of the litter box. What can I do?

Simon has been with us at the clinic for about 6 weeks. there has not been one single episode of him urinating outside of his litter box. He is a calm, happy, sweet boy who wants nothing more than a simple life shared with someone who loves him.

Can you imagine having your guardians "wash their hands of you" because you have an infection? Happens every single day in countless veterinary clinics around the globe. It breaks my heart.

Simon reminds me every single day that it takes so little to care but does so much when you do.

Why is my pet peeing in the house? Submissive Urination

My cat Wren, she plays I work,
how is that fair?

None of us get to the place where fear cripples our ability to function normally without having had a road of choices behind us. Trying to remind and convince my clients that an unwanted behavior is simply the accumulation of missed opportunities along the way is every pet parents responsibility and one of my biggest challenges.

I am not sure if these behavior questions are the result of not understanding the failings and mistakes we humans have made along the way, or, our want of absence and accountability when forced to take to look in the mirror and face our part in the problem, or, being so caught in the fast pace of our lives that we think we can get a quick-fix for everything. But, I get asked about one behavior problem more than any other.. I get asked it a lot,,, and I cringe every single time.

My pups, Charlie and Jekyll

Here is the BIG dilemma for behavior problems;

1. They took a while to get there, therefore, 
2. You have to assume that it is going to take a while to get back to where you went astray, and,
3. You are in all likelihood responsible for some part of the problem. 

Here is the good news, things can get better. Pets are trainable and there are people who can help.

One of the most common problems I get asked to help with is the proverbial 
"peeing in the house" pet.

I answer this question from two perspectives.

• First, as a veterinarian, and, 
• Second, as a behaviorist.

My happy cat finds a sunny spot.
No worries with this kid..

When I am discussing any problem with a client in the clinic I always start with a talk about what is going on?, What is "acceptable" versus "unacceptable" in the clients eyes? The length of time it has been going on, and what environmental factors might be contributing to the problem? This is a discovery process which requires an open honest dialogue. It also requires trying to understand the world through your pets eyes. We reason with a humans perspective, but, when trying to solve a pets problem,  we need to be tackling the issue with the pets perception and life in mind.

Behavior problem resolution is about three things;

1. Understanding what the parents problem is,
2. Understanding why the pet believes what they are doing is necessary.
3. Convincing both parties that they can help each other and return back to harmony.

The first place to start with every pet problem is your vet. Here's why,, assuming that it is a behavioral problem and not looking for a medical problem could worsen the medical condition and possibly cause additional behavior problems.

The question I was recently asked was about a submissive urination in a young dog who had been raised in a household with a lot of yelling. Her fearful urination persisted for years and has progressed to now urinating even when getting praise and treats.

Here was my advice;

See your vet first. Your vet will look for any possible complicating or compounding issues, especially when it has been such a longstanding problem. I know it sounds like a long shot, but I have found many, many medical issues when we were focused on what we believed to be simply a behavioral issue. These included underlying kidney and liver issues, underlying bladder stones, bladder infection, and even anatomical disorders that can cause leakage or inability to hold urine. This examination and work up should include a thorough examination, including looking at the urinary anatomy and palpation of the bladder. I would also recommend blood work to include a CBC, chemistry and urinalysis. At my clinic this would cost about $170.

After these we address any possible behavioral issues. These can include stress, anxiety, fear, changes to the environment, etc. Another possibility (dogs) is spay incontinence. More information about this disease is here.

I also advise seeking help from a trained, reputable, and experienced behaviorist or trainer who can come to your home and understand the scope of the issues. In this case it sounded like any emotional interaction would elicit urination,, therefore, the goal is to minimize all interactions from being surrounded by emotion, or with the possibility of causing an emotional response. This is not to say that you don't interact and provide exercise, attention, and training, BUT, you don't use emotions to provide them. You provide care and attention just not treats, praise, or commands that are with baby talk or harshness (i.e. emotionally driven). Too may people try to re-wire their pet with soft, silly, baby talk which is almost as anxiety ridden as yelling or demanding. Be a confident, quiet, example of composure, love, and dedication to helping your pet on the road to re-wiring an re-training.

Never, ever yell, never scold, and never reprimand their behavior in a negative fashion. Usually, we suggest that you train with praise and reward, but for these guys it can cause submission and subsequent urination. Your job is to create an environment and atmosphere of self-esteem, confidence and love, not a place where your pet is submissive to anyone else.

For example, re-inforce housebreaking with the tips here, but all interactions should be without words. Try using minimal hand signals or body language also. Instead approach him without words, place a leash on him, and go for a walk. I would also recommend that you minimize the interactions with other people as they will not understand his specific training needs. Pets with submission issues should be walked without talking or without you being anything other than a calm, patient, dog walker. Learn and teach them to how respond with hand signals and minimize showing your emotions. A little bit of gentle calm training with your pet will be reflected in their confidence with dealing with the world, and from these baby steps you can move forward without pee on the floor at every meet and greet.

I wish you the very best of luck!

My Jitterbug gives a head butt and a hug.

Related blogs; Submissive Urination

There are lots of pet questions being answered every day about all sorts of pet topics. Please join us in helping pets and their people at Pawbly.com. We are open and free to everyone who loves pets.

You can also find me on Twitter @FreePetAdvice, or at the clinic, Jarrettsville Vet, in Jarrettsville Maryland.

Submissive Urination. How To Not Scare The Pee Out Of Your Pup.

Lucy, my heart is always captured by those eyes,
but the ears seal my fate.

I see quite a few dogs with submissive urination problems. For parents it can be very frustrating as they try to convince their pups to not pee when they are already peeing. I was just asked this exact question on Pawbly. So, I thought it would be a good opportunity to share my advice and my clients experiences.

Here is the question that Nicole asked;

My female dog who is 22 months old is submissive urinating. Has anyone else ever had this issue and how did you go about fixing it?

Every annual exam should look like this..

Here is my answer;

There are a few things that should be discussed with your vet to help identify the source of the problem.

Here's where I would start;

1. Breed
2. Anatomy. Look for inverted vulva, an anatomical defect that affects urination/UTI. Look for a urinary tract infection. Check a first morning urine sample.
3. A good physical exam.
4. A good behavioral exam.
5. A long discussion on how housebreaking went.

Here is my experience with these cases; IF, everything above is normal and no problems are found it is usually a problem with over stimulation. This "over stimulation" can occur as either;

Submission, i.e. a threatening or intimidating person/presence gets too close to you. For me this is the Cocker Spaniel cowering in the corner of the exam room. As soon as I get to within about 3 feet they pee. "Ooops, and sorry," we both say. Submissive urination occurs because a timid insecure dog is bowing in deference to an adult or top dog. This can be you, a family member, a strong adult figure and even another dog.

Aura, a beauty, no doubt.

OR,

Excitement. The four month old lab who is throwing herself all over the room as if I am her long, long, long, lost mom who just returned from a 4 year trek to Machu Picchu.

I see these pets most commonly urinating when the parent comes home, new people arrive at the house, excessive excitement, etc. I also saw it recently in a family that was reprimanding their puppy because she was doing it. Please note that there is a difference between "submissive urination" and "excitement urination."

It is important to know which behavior your pup is eliciting. BUT, in general, both are a result of over stimulation. So I am going to try to simplify it for those of you who aren't sure which your pup is exhibiting and what to do about it. In general, people with absent-minded peeing pets just want the peeing to stop.

Excited for a treat or a belly rub.

The key to conditioning your puppy to not get soo over stimulated/excited is to go back to basic housebreaking rules. Re-start from scratch your training EXCEPT this time there is only mild, calm gentle praise for GOOD behavior. NEVER EVER reprimand bad behavior. It causes stress and stress exacerbates the condition.

Willow sits safely, but confidently, next to dad.

Here's where people fail. They can't become robotic calm parental guides. Their stress, anger, frustration, etc is passed onto their pet and the snowball effect occurs. Don't be anything but a gentle kind guide for your pup. Don't let or encourage your pup to get over excited or over anxious. Both are ends of the emotional spectrum which prohibit your pup from being a happy, healthy, emotionally secure independent individual.

I always also discuss how the housebreaking is going. Some have failed in the adequate complete housebreaking plan. This needs to be addressed as the discovery process to the root of the problem is explored. Here are my simple tips to successful housebreaking;
While housebreaking your puppy she is NEVER out of your control. She is either;

1. In her crate,
2. Outside potty training on a leash, treats in tow, gentle praise and commands . Even this has to be structured, not just let loose outside. You aren't training unless you are participating.
3. Tied, yes, tied to you. So, that if she starts to pee you can pick her up and carry her outside to finish going. And praise her (calmly/quietly) when she does finish peeing outside. 

I wrote a blog with more of my housebreaking tips. It can be found here; Housebreaking. And one on Crate Training, (JIC).

Zeus, the epitome of a secure dog.

Your first stop should be at the vets office. Try to find someone who also specializes in gentle behavior modification. The most detrimental thing for a submissive pup is a threatening, forceful, or intimidating person. 

Best of luck,

Krista

If you have advice for this pup you can add it to the question here. And, Thank You for helping pets!

If you have a pet question you can ask it for free at Pawbly.com. Pawbly is a place  for  all pet people to  ask questions, share experiences, and build stronger relationships with their pets.

You can also find me on Twitter @FreePetAdvice, at the clinic, Jarrettsville Vet, or sitting ear buds in place in some dark Baltimore coffee shop glued to a laptop.

And please always be kind.

Bloody Urine. What to do when it's your cat's?

Cameron

The cosmos is sending me a flurry of bloody urine kids recently. As Sherlock Holmes would say, "There has to be a reason?" I guess without being able to put my finger on it I am left to deduce that is just the universe begging me to put another blog out for others to benefit from. (After 5 pets I got the message and got my butt to the desk to type this).

There are two ways these cases present at the clinic.

1. Due to the lack of an opposable thumb your cat is unable to grab a marker and write on the walls "Need a little assistance here!" and so they are left with the next best way to inform you of their plight by peeing on your clothes, your bed, the carpet, or whatever place that isn't the one you provided. After the anger passes you notice that there is a pink tinge to the urine and you think, "Huh? maybe Fluffy is trying to tell me something?"
2. Your cat seems to have developed a special affinity for the litter box and is repeatedly posturing to urinate/defecate, or you hear screams, moans, whimpers from the box as they are straining to take care of business.

To cement my point;

Your cat is only NOT GOING IN THE BOX, BECAUSE THEY NEED YOUR HELP.

They are not mad at you, they do not harbor spite, regret, ill-will, or any tiny yearning for you to look at them with disapproval, disappointment, disgust, or the most popular reason cats are sent to shelter/ purgatory/death.

Every cat with abnormal or inappropriate urination, (or even acting oddly in any way shape or form), warrants a trip to the vet.

Every vet has seen a cat die from a urinary blockage. A blocked cat is, in almost all cases, a treatable, reversible condition that if treated early enough can be completely cured.

Which leads us to discussing;

What are the urinary health clues to look for;

1. Any cat appearing to have difficulty passing urine,
2. Licking at the genitals,
3. Frequently visiting the litter box,
4. Producing small amounts of urine,
5. Any change in color to the urine, (Even absence of color denotes a possible medical problem),
6. Foul smelling urine,
7. Not using the litter box, (going outside of the box),
8. Painful belly,
9. Distended belly,
10. Reluctant to move,
11. Lethargic,
12. History of urinary tract infections, urinary blockage, crystals in the urine, etc.

Cameron snuggles with his mom.

My opening line to any and every urinary tract patient, suspected or otherwise, is the same. It is a simple and time proven dialogue.

Start with a physical exam! Because if your cat is blocked you won't be able to get a urine sample, (as you are waiting your cat might be dying). If you see your pet straining, or producing small amounts of urine bring in a urine sample if or when possible.

Cameron arrived with his mom and a small pill bottle sample of red urine. Cameron had a history of urinary problems. His writing on the wall is peeing in the dirty laundry bin. Of great benefit to both all of the laundry was done and the urine was visibly bloody. Mom poured a sample into a bottle and headed to us for a visit.

It is worth mentioning that there are a few important things to discuss about urine samples;

1. The urine sample must be fresh. Get it to the vet as soon as possible. If you can't deliver it immediately place it in the refrigerator for storage. After 24 hours it should be thrown out.
2. If, and when possible, obtain and use the first morning urine sample. These are the most accurate when we are analyzing concentrating ability, (i.e. how well your kidneys are working).
3. Catch the sample midstream in a clean dry vessel. Last week a client delivered a sample that they had "scraped off the ground." We cannot separate dirt, mud, asphalt, cat litter (they do make sterile plastic litter for use in trying to get a urine sample from cats), or the dirt, bacteria and normal floor flora of your home. Don't waste your money analyzing a contaminated sample.
4. Urine samples are best analyzed in the clinic as soon as possible. Crystals and sediment is influenced by time delay, shipping and handling. 
5. Cystocentesis is the preferred method of collection in many cases. I know it sounds scary but veterinarians routinely use a needle and syringe to collect a urine sample from the bladder. 
6. An ultrasound can be invaluable at looking at the internal surface and contents of the bladder. It is also very helpful in obtaining a cystocentesis in a small bladder.
7. There are those urine samples that are so bloody they are difficult to assess for bacteria. If this is the case do a follow up urine sample as the color of the urine returns to clear or yellow.

Here's the thumb nail version of my bloody urine speech. Hematuria (blood in the urine) is a sign of a problem. The presence of blood DOES NOT diagnose infection. To diagnose a urinary tract infection you must have BOTH BACTERIA AND WHITE BLOOD CELLS in the urine. Sometimes we do see blood concurrently with infection, but often we do not. 

Hematuria

In veterinary medicine we do a very poor job of differentiating and diagnosing INFECTION VS INFLAMMATION. We skip a lot of important steps (often to save money), but we do so at the expense of our patients.

Inflammation will often cause blood to appear in the urine. 

There are a few things that influence urinary tract problems. They include; 

• Genetics. We can't change your genetics, so, we move on to..
• Exercise. There is a correlation to obesity and overall general health. Keep your pet at a healthy weight, trying to treat other diseases without addressing this is almost always futile, and ultimately costs your pet their quality of longevity.
• Diet. This is imperative to be talking about. Listen to your vet and keep your mind open to different foods that just might cure your cats urinary problem. Heck, in almost all urinary disease cases I believe the diet CAUSED the urinary issues. I suggest a high quality wet food with added water. I see most of the UTI cases eating cheap, poor quality dry cat food.
• Disease. Recurrent UTI's warrant further diagnostics. Look for things like diabetes, allergies, bladder stones, etc.

If you or I saw blood in our urine we would go to our doctor, provide a fresh urine sample that would be immediately checked with a urine dipstick. From the doctors office the sample would go to a lab where it would be grown in a petri dish to diagnose the type(s) of bacteria present AND the best antibiotics to treat that specific bacterial infection. This is called a culture and sensitivity. We often skip this test due to cost (about $100) and just provide antibiotic for two weeks.  

Without a C &S we guess what bug your pet has AND we guess which antibiotic is best to use AND we guess that we gave you enough to kill every bug. If the infection returns we don't know if we guessed any of these wrong. Guess less by doing a C & S.

A few  keys take home points:

1. A straining cat can be a blocked cat and THIS CAN BE FATAL QUICKLY. Get to the vet immediately.
2. Once you have one infection you are predisposed to others. Watch the size of the urine clumps in the litter box and encourage water intake. I love water fountains.
3. Talk about diet and change the diet if needed. You get what you pay for and you are what you eat. I don't quite know why but vets don't discuss enough about why these happen, how to best diagnose them, treat them, or avoid them. It is my goal to not have your pet suffer twice with the same affliction. This is only attainable by discussing your pet with your vet.
4. A cat not using the litter box is a cat begging for help. Not a reason to surrender, euthanize and NEVER EVER PUNISH A CAT. It is ineffective in all cases and will back fire on you every time.

Our last batch of summer 2014 babies up for adoption.

If you have a pet question or concern you can ask them for free at Pawbly.com. Pawbly is dedicated creating a place where people exchange pet care information to help pets lives across the globe.

If you want to talk to me about a pet care related item you can find me in person at the Jarrettsville Veterinary Center, in Jarrettsville Maryland.

You can also find me on Twitter @FreePetAdvice.

Peeing Outside The Box? The 20 Minute Cure!

If you asked me what problem I hear the most often, AND, which problem is the most gut-wrenching to address I would without hesitation say “cats and inappropriate urination or defecation.”

Not only do I see and hear about this issue frequently (weekly or more often), but I hear clients deep frustrations and exhaustion with it. In many cases clients are coming to me to discuss these problem weeks, months, or even years after it has begun. They have gotten to the point of almost giving up and give me the distinct clear impression that I have “20 minutes and a hundred bucks to fix this problem, or that cat is going outside or away to never never land.”

How is anyone going to fix a long standing problem in 20 minutes? Yep, impossible.

Here’s why. 

Let’s give every pet the benefit of the doubt and ASSUME that their issue started with a medical cause. 

It could have been any of the following:

1.   Infection. Your cat could have had a urinary tract infection. In fact, your cat might still have one. That urinary tract infection (UTI) might have caused the litter box aversion because your cat associated the pain of having to go to the bathroom (urination OR defecation) with the litter box. Say, for instance you are an 8 year old kid. You go down to the dark dismal basement and you step on a snake. It scares you to pieces. Think you are going to be as excited to go back down in that basement in the future? Probably not. Your cat looks at the litter box like you look at that basement. The best way to check for a UTI is with a culture and sensitivity. This is much more sensitive than a small sample of urine being quickly viewed in your veterinarian’s office.
2.  They have difficulty getting into the box because their joints hurt, or they are too weak to pick up their legs to get into the box. So they get close to it and call it ‘good enough.’
3. They were declawed and their paws hurt on the litter that to you feels like sand and to them feels like shards of glass.

Now, let’s give your thorough and complete medical work up the benefit of the doubt and address some of the behavior issues that can lead to aversion issues.

1.  Your litter box is not as clean as your cat wishes it to be. Now I realize that cleaning the litter box is probably not anyone’s favorite task. But if you ask me what kind of bathroom I am comfortable using it will not be a public porto-potty. I like my own pristine clean thoroughly daily deodorized home toilet. My cats get their litter box cleaned (scooped) daily. Weekly I dump, disinfect, clean and rinse thoroughly, and then dry the boxes. New litter is placed in every box weekly. Yes, that’s a lot of litter that I go through.
2.  There are not enough litter boxes in the house. See Rule of thumb for adequate number of litter boxes below.
3. The litter boxes are at the other end of the universe. If your cat never leaves your home than your home is their whole entire universe. If the box is on the other side of the living area then using the box requires a long commute. Nobody likes a long commute to the other side of the universe.
4.  The litter boxes are scaring your cats. For example, say your dog likes to sample from the litter box, and say your cat feels like they are being stalked for treats at the dispensary.
5.  The litter box is the dark dismal black hole and they are reluctant to tempt their own fate.
6.  The litter substrate is not to your cats liking. If it is reasonable to buy “deluxe quilted triple ply toilet paper” then maybe your cat has a preference too.
7.  There is an area of your house that has been soiled and your cat now believes that it is an “approved bathroom spot.”
8.  Your litter box is in an area that your very intelligent, very sensitive, hyper-acute pet thinks is dangerous. I have seen litter boxes placed next to washers and dryers. If you have ever had a washer that was off balance or dried tennis shoes in your dryer your cat might think that there is a caged dangerous beast in there and hence, wisely, avoid the tigers den.

Here’s what we know about cats and their litter box preference:

1. The rule of thumb with respect to adequate number of litter boxes in the house is. Two for the first cat and one additional for each additional cat.
2. If you don’t crawl down to the basement (or three floors away) to use your bathroom then why would your cat?
3. Your cat’s preferable litter is sand. Like play box kids sand. In general they do not prefer the clumping litter. I know we humans love the convenience of clumping but your cat likes to feel soft sand between their toes.
4.  Scented litter. I think that everyone would agree that cats have an incredibly superior sense of smell. How many of us have ever sat in church next to a patron who bathed and didn't dry off in a vat of perfume? So strong that it knocks you over. Think about this the next time you pour the litter in your cat’s box.
5. Dust, cat’s hate dust. Can you imagine digging a hole to mark your spot, covering your business and being enclosed in a box while you do it? That’s a lot of dust. It’s not pleasant and it’s not healthy.
6. Cat’s preference for size of their litter box is a kid’s sized pool. Yep, a 5 foot diameter four inch deep play sand box. How about that in your living room?
7. Cat’s intuition is to always be on guard. They like to be able to see all around them while they take pause of use the bathroom. They feel safer with an exit strategy and a clear escape route. OR, they like a comfortable sized enclosed litter box that they can go into, sniff around, dig for the right spot, and go to the bathroom in peace. (Perhaps the reason so many households have magazine baskets beside the loo?).
8. Try to provide a litter box that meets the specific needs of your cat. And remember that every cat is different.  Older cats have a difficult time climbing into a box. They might put their head in the box but the rest of them sticks out the front so you see urine and feces just outside the opening of the litter box. Try the shallowest sided box you can. Did you know there are even boxes that have removable sides so the cat thinks they are in the box but without the front side they don’t have to climb over anything.
9. Try different sized boxes. Try ones without lids, without flaps, etc. Put lots of different options out for your cat and see which one they prefer.
10. Try a different location. Maybe the box is by a power outlet? An electric piece of equipment? Or in a high traffic area? Are there other family members around that might stress your cat about using the litter box?
11.  Try a different type of litter (we can it substrate). Like sand, like non-clumping, or even potting soil. If your pet selects a different substrate you might be able to very gradually (emphasis on gradual) transition them over to a litter that you prefer.
12. Think about how you would feel if you were in your cat’s paws? How would you feel about the whole litter box experience? Then try to adjust for their preference and not ours.
13.  NEVER, EVER, EVER reprimand a cat. Never! Not in the box, not around the box, not because or about the box. Your cat is trying to tell you something. They never do anything out of spite, maybe fear, but never some human derived manipulative emotion. Your cat is a brilliant magnificent animal. I repeat this motto frequently…

“If your cat had opposable thumbs they would write on the walls “HELP!,” but because they do not they have no other way of telling you that there is a problem short of their litter box.”

Please do not ignore your cat, please don’t get angry at them. 

Please try to be patient, and please afford me more than 20 minutes to help you both.

Part Two on litter box 911 comes tomorrow.

If you have any questions about anything in this article, or any other kitty litter pointers to add please tell me. I can be reached @pawbly, or you can ask me a direct question at Pawbly.com

Thanks for reading!

If Your Cat Had Opposable Thumbs They Could Write, Instead All They Can Do Is Poop On The Floor

I received a question on pawbly today that got me thinking. I think that the question is important for a few reasons;

• It reminds me that I still have to try to convince people that pets don't act out of spite, nor do they feel shame. They react to our actions, they are afraid when our body language and past experience teach them to be fearful or untrusting.
• It also reminds me that those poor pets of ours, who have no way of articulating to us what is wrong with them, try so hard to tell us that there is a problem and we in turn need to be patient, forgiving and persistent to finding relief for them.
• We pet care givers need to provide a plan for immediate AND long term care. The quick one day fix is often unrealistic and we forget many of these pets go home, hopefully feeling better, but in many cases their clinical signs return, and their families feel as if we care givers/veterinarians have failed. Many clients do not return, they instead excuse our failings as a reason to give up, whether it be dictated by lack of funds, or a belief that it is not treatable.
• We veterinarians need to do a much better job of providing resources to our clients to help them understand their pets problems and provide some sort of support network so they do not feel alone or overwhelmed.

Today on pawbly Michelle asked me;

I'm trying to get second opinion- I have a cat, and have had her for several years - she keeps going 'poop' in my house right beside her cat box -- I've tried everything- changed the litter, changed the cat box - I also have another cat as well... he's male --- he goes in any cat box he can - and I have 3 cat boxes.

I took Maggie to the vet, they said she has idiopathic cystitis ? They said she may think it hurts when she goes to the bathroom and the litter box is the cause of it? Her 'poop' is also hard, and I told the vet that as well.

I really can't continue with her doing this ... it's daily she does it - she knows too, because when she sees me, she runs and hides ... so she won't get scolded. Wondering if you can give me a second opinion by this email - or do you know of someone that will take her and take care of her?

Thanks

Here is my answer;

First, please,please never scold a cat...it just makes everything else harder to resolve, because cats don't associate the act of whatever you are scolding them for, (in this case the urinating out of the box) with the scolding. They just hear scolding and then they are afraid of you..We mistakenly treat cats like dogs, and although you can train a dog with correction (never scold them either) you cannot do the same with a cat. Also, to train a pet to NOT do something you have to catch them in the act, show them what you want them to do, like place them in the litter box as they are peeing or posturing to pee and then reward them for doing what you are training them to do..the old wives tail of rubbing their nose in their waste doesn't work, they just don't associate one action with the correction after the fact.

IF, your cat was diagnosed with idiopathic cystitis then there are many treatment options for this. This can be incredibly painful and those poor cats associate the litter box with the pain so they avoid the box in an effort to avoid the pain that urinating causes.

I would strongly encourage you to follow up with a veterinarian to help alleviate the pain and discomfort that the cystitis is causing. (Can you imagine how awful it would feel to always have a bladder that hurts and then try to pee and have that feel like your urinary tract is on fire? Not fun!).

Many cats that I treat for cystitis need repeated follow ups, multiple medications and a good long term plan. Please try not to get frustrated ( I know that's not always easy), and please try to understand for many cats this is a very painful problem and I think that sometimes the only way a cat has to tell us that they are in pain or having a problem is to pee (or poop) outside of their litter box.

I am at the clinic for any additional questions, and I would be happy to see you and go over all of the medication and environmental changes can help alleviate the cystitis.

I hope this helps..

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2011/dec/treating_feline_idiopathic_cystitis#.UazhQRw3uow

Krista Magnifico, DVM
Owner Jarrettsville Veterinary Center
Jarrettsville, MD
http://www.jarrettsvillevet.com

Here are some very good articles to supplement this Q & A;

dvm360 idiopathic cystitis

Michigan Veterinary Specialists

veterinary partner

if you have any questions about cats, litter box aversion, or idiopathic cystitis you can find me, and some other very smart pet advisors @pawbly, or at pawbly. always free, always there for you and your pet1

Dumping Dusty

I have found that in life there are a lot of little tests. Sometimes I wonder if it is the way the big guy in the sky, (or wherever you think he is), entertains himself in his free time. Your first few years out of vet school force you to decide not only what kind of veterinarian you are going to be, but also what kind of person, what kind of community member and most importantly and most honestly, what you can live with yourself with afterward. I don’t intend to stand here on my soapbox and preach because I know how hard it is everyday.

My clients always say to me when I arrive to help let their pet pass on how this must be the most difficult part of my job. I know they say this because I know that for a pet parent the most difficult part of having a pet, or loving anything, is losing them. I am honest to a fault. And even at this, the most painful and emotional part of my relationship with my clients, I still tell them honestly that “no, unfortunately this is not the most difficult part of my job.” Not to diminish their grief, and not to sound cold and harsh, but the most difficult part of my job is looking into the eyes of a pet and knowing that no one else in the world gives a damn about them. This is the heart breaking most difficult part of this job for me.

The worst piece of advice I ever got from another vet came from a very competent seasoned person who is well respected and well known in my county. They told me that I “could never love a pet more than their owner does.” I know that this saying was used as the way for them to justify having to euthanize a pet that an owner cannot afford to treat. I thought long and hard about this. I tried to understand why they said it?, if they really believed it?, and if it was being said to me because they were trying to help me preserve my ability to continue practicing medicine in this sometimes very cold world.

Very early on in my travel with my newly minted DVM degree I met a man with a grey cat. He was here to euthanize his cat because the cat had urinated in the laundry basket. I interjected too quickly to see if he would discuss any part of this cats’ home life, litter box conditions, or anything to help me start to investigate why she was “urinating inappropriately,” that’s vet lingo for peeing outside of the box. He was not looking for a discussion. He was here to drop off and leave. I remember standing there, jaw open, heart dropping and thinking, “what the hell do I do now?” You see at this point in my fledgling career I worked for someone else. I wanted this job, and I wanted to do a good job. But I am a stubborn, strong willed girl. I acknowledge that I am terrible at compromising. I asked myself my bottom line question. “If I have to chose between being right and being kind, I chose to be kind.” I walked out of the room and down the hallway to the owner of the clinic. I asked him if I could “adopt a cat from a client?” He quickly said “yes”, thankfully didn’t ask any questions and walked away.

I walked back into the room and told the owner that I wanted to adopt Dusty and try to figure out why she was peeing outside of her box. The owner then told me that she wasn’t a very nice cat and signed over the parental rights of Dusty to me.

It has been six years. And sure enough she is not a cuddly sweet cat. And her litter box aim is not always perfect. But there has always been a reason that the urine wasn’t deposited in the correct receptacle. If her box isn’t clean, or if one of the other cats is harassing her, or if she can’t get to her box she pees outside of it. I understand and accept her. She has her own likes, dislikes, and tolerates very little. She reminds me everyday to be my own person, to follow my beliefs, to not sell my soul to anyone, and to always be kind.

I have never heard from her owner, and I am happy to not have to bear the burden of his intolerance.

Update;

Dusty passed away to chronic renal failure in March of 2013. She was a part of everyday of my professional career from vet school to her passing. She reminded me every single day why I do what I do, why I am so passionate about what I do, and to stay true to my vision, my calling, my passion, and not bend to others who can cast away a life without remorse.

It is not easy to stand up for a pet in the face of an owner who doesn't want to try to care anymore.

I cannot change them, but sometimes I can change the destiny of a pet. I try everyday.