Cat Health Questions
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Cat urinating and defecating outside litter boxWhen my cat (now 17yo DSH female neutered) was about two years old we completed a long distance move. Prior to completion of the move, my younger brothers were cleaning her litter box while I was out of town working, and Misty developed the habit of defecating on a rug that I kept outside the litter box, but urinating inside the litter box. She has maintained that habit to this day. We moved (again) last December, and that was fairly traumatic for her, but she has adjusted and everything was fine until recently. Her litter box is in a very large walk-in closet; no clothing is kept there, just boxes on shelves. Over the years, I have always kept a shower curtain covered with rag rugs and placed her litter box on it. Recently, she has started urinating on the rag rugs, and defecating outside of the litter area. I have purchased new litter boxes, new litter (a kind that was supposed to "attract" cats), the same kind of litter she was used to with completely fresh litter and a new box (the same kind of box she was used to), new rugs (the same kind she was used to). I have not changed the location of the box, although for a while, I thought she might have felt crowded as there were boxes stacked about three feet outside the closet. I moved the boxes, but that did not help. She has also stopped sleeping with me, but I attributed that to the fact that I have a large fan blowing directly on me during the summer months. (I don't know if that is significant or not, but I am trying to give you as much information as possible.) She still sits in my lap whenever I sit down, so I haven't worried too much about the sleeping issue; I am also a very restless sleeper and sometimes that irks her. Nothing else in her routine has changed. I am constantly buying new rugs and shower curtains and new litter, to try to eliminate the odor. I am at my wits end and hoping you can help me. Misty hates going to the vet, so this seemed like a reasonable solution. Thank you. | |
Cat with black skin lump on chinI have a ten year old gray female cat. She has been kept indoors her entire life. She has always been prone to feline acne, especially if her food bowl becomes too dirty (I try to keep it washed several times a week, but sometimes it gets icky before I notice). A little over two weeks ago, I noticed a very small, raised, black spot on her jaw line (about the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen). It feels like a small pimple...similar to what her feline acne usually feels like. Its location is slightly different than usual...usually the acne is at the tip of her chin...this one is further back, along her lower jaw bone. At first I just assumed this was feline acne and didn't pay much mind to it. But I've noticed that while usually her acne goes away in less than a week, this bump isn't going away and it's been a little over two weeks. The bump has not changed in appearance (smaller or bigger or different colors) since I noticed it. It does not bleed and it is freely moveable. My question for you is...how long is it safe to watch this bump before I take her to the vet? She is a TERRIBLE patient, and really gets upset (to the point that our vet has gotten biten by her) if her head is touched. Our vet usually will not examine her head/mouth unless she is put under anesesthia. Since this bump is under her head, I dread the thought of having her examined there. Is it safe to wait a few more weeks and monitor this bump for a bit? I realize you can't diagnose the bump over the internet, but does it sound characteristic of skin cancer? Your thoughts would be appreciated. | |
Feeding cat with urethral obstructionMy male cat (5yo male neutered domestic long haired cat) just went through surgery for a urethral obstruction. They put him on the Hill's C/D diet and he doesn't like the food. Also, I have another cat (female) and their routine is to eat a half of a can of wet food in the morning and then I leave dry food out all the time so they graze during the day. The vet told me not to let the other cat eat the HIll's C/D food. My problem is that (1) he doesn't like the C/D food and (2) I can't leave any food out during the day for either of them now. Is there any type of food out there that they both can eat so I can maintain their routine and at the same time not cause another obstruction in the male? Any help or suggestions you could give would be appreciated. | |
Cat with torn claw and limpingMy cat (10mo domestic shorthaired male neutered) came home limping and holding up his front right paw. Upon inspection, I couldn't find anything. A few days later I saw what looked like two puncture marks. Now, one of his claws have fallen out and his fur has pulled away from the spot. But, the puncture marks look better. The area is very clean and dry, not infected looking. But, I'm alarmed that the claw fell out and there is a patch of fur missing. This is on the top of the paw, not the bottom. He is no longer limping. Please advise. | |
Cat with fur falling outAsami (4yo female neutered tabby) recently ran away - we found her 4 days later underneath the house in front of us. She was pretty dehydrated when she came back, but she's looking a lot better now (it's been 1 week). However, I am concerned because her fur has been falling out in small clumps (usually attached to a small scab). Could this be mites? fleas? Thank you. | |
Cat with scab on armpitMy cat has a small patch of scaly, scabby skin in one or her "armpits." It looks like Psoriasis and it bothers her. I am having trouble finding information on how to keep her comfortable until I take her to the vet... hopefully next week. It's not serious but I hate to have her chewing at it if there is a way to relieve her discomfort. |
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Cat losing hair with itchy skin
About a month ago my female neutered Siamese mix cat lost all the shine in her coat of long hair, and refuses to come into the house, preferring to remain in the garage. She is shedding her hair and it comes out in big clumps. The skin on her back near her tail is flaking off, like large dandruff, and the hairs have tiny black things on them near the base. This area is very itchy and when it is touched, she goes into an involuntary biting spasm. She also has small scabs on her skin spread all over her body. - Click
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