Sendhelp Posted March 2017
Caregiver's cats behaving badly.
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Does your Cat (or any pet) misbehave since caregiving your loved one?
Have you been required to take care of your loved one's pet after they have passed? Does your pet have cute antics that entertain your loved one?
And finally, has the cat or dog transferred their loyalty to your Mother?
Both cats had a wellness visit recently and the vet mentioned this again, to start giving him laxatives. I decided to try it and for first time in the three+ years I've had the cats, now the old man cat always poops in the box and never outside of it. I'm glad it's working and makes him more comfortable. I assumed he was pooping outside the box because of some mysterious medical issue but I would have never guessed I could fix the problem by giving him a little bit of Miralax with his food. :-)
Behaving badly, indeed. I am wondering if I clean the box every single day instead of every couple days if he would be better about going in the box. It's still a mystery to me.
I noticed my cat [he's only 9 yrs old] likes leaves and grass. Well he ate most of the leaves off the inside fig or whatever tree. He tried the cactus and got a rude awakening. He loved grass, but growing it inside hasn't been easy as he pulls the grass out by the root.
One cat I had, she was 21 years old and had dementia. She couldn't remember where her litter boxes were, so I bought a lot of second-quality blue sheets and put them around inside where she would park herself, on the east side of the house which I thought was interesting.
Hope you can solve the mystery.
One thing I earned this time around (no other cats that I have had have been bothered by it) is that the location of the litter box makes a difference to Rocky. She didn't want to use it when I had it in the closet in the cat room (door fully opened) so I read up on litter box problems and found changing location might work. I moved it to the other end of the room in a corner under the window and the problem disappeared. She likes it out in the open. What we have now is a different problem.
I bought them new litter boxes with high sides and hope these boxes will counteract the vigorous scraping that goes on. I use a very fine litter in one box and silica crystals in the other. I haven't decided which one I prefer. The fine stuff beats everything for odor control but it does tend to fly around more. I had a bit of an allergic reaction to something in the clay litter so that is out.
Oh the joys and trials of kittiedom!
The full moon was only thursday.......maybe your old man cat is
"one of those cats"
sensitive to the full moon? 🤣🐱🤣
Golden,
" I use a very fine litter in one box and silica crystals in the other. I haven't decided which one I prefer."
The litter boxes are for the cats, r i g h t ??? 🤔
Have a happy Saturday!
There is no explanation as to WHY this thread is filed under 'mental health'.
Feed pumpkin to your cats or dogs.
"1) Digestive Health: Pumpkin is a fabulous source of fiber for our furry friends, as well as for us. Pureed pumpkin (with no added sugar or spice) can help dogs and cats with both constipation and diarrhea. Adding a tablespoon or two (in proportion to their size) to their regular meal is known to help keep them regular. It can also help dogs and cats with indigestion or upset stomachs.
2) Urinary Health: According to Veterinarians Laci and Jed Schaible, co-founders of VetLIVE.com, pumpkin seeds are high in essential fatty acids and antioxidants (good for overall healthy skin and fur), and the oils in pumpkin flesh and seeds are believed to support urinary health. They are also an excellent source of Vitamin A, beta-carotene, potassium and iron, and may even reduce the likelihood your pet will develop cancer.
3) Weight Loss: Dogs seem to naturally love pumpkin. If you are looking to take a few pounds off of your pooch or kitty, try reducing a portion of their food and replace it with the same portion of canned pumpkin. Their tummy will feel just as full, and they might even thank you for the additional flavor."
I have read that pumpkin is good to add to animal feed, I eat boiled japanese sweet potatoes which have a decent amount of fibre in them and both kitties have enjoyed a little bit of them. I think I will try a little sweet potato mixed in with their wet food and a little extra water. Thx for the reminder. It might work.
Plain Is Best
" When purchasing canned pumpkin for your cat or dog, stick to plain pumpkin with no added spices or sugar. Cinnamon, which is commonly found in pumpkin pie spice, is dangerous to dogs.
Fortunately, plain canned pumpkin is available in grocery stores throughout the year. What’s more, pumpkin for cats and dogs can also be purchased online and in pet stores these days—though it’s no different than regular canned pumpkin for humans, at least you can rest assured that it’s definitely dog-safe. Not only that, but it’s often organic, such as Weruva’s Pumpkin Patch Up! and Nummy Tum-Tum’s Organic Pumpkin." recommendations are from online, and also recommend asking your pet's vet.
I think they are safe with it. Both have tried a little with no ill effects.
Apparently it is also safe for dogs. "Sweet potato is a safe, healthy, and natural treat for dogs, "
Agreed it must be plain - no sugar etc added.
So funny! Your comment was: "the old man cat is thinking outside of the box".
More like: Stinking outside of the box. Lol.
I read up when my loved one had about 5-7 cats. Some cats need their own litter box. And yes, change or clean the litter box daily. Quite a big job if there are several cats. Even after the housekeepers left, there was poo behind the washing machine. There was a tool box just inside the back door, full of urine from an elder cat. And a dirty laundry hamper had urine on top of the clothes, after having the hamper there for 3 days. (Washer was in the open kitchen).
Pets are very sensitive to what's happening around them. And they are perfectly capable of expressing their anger or displeasure. If an elder is being abused or neglected, the pets will tell you by their behavior(s). imo.
I am not an expert, and currently do not own a cat or a dog, but have in the past. I would not have remembered the pumpkin solution that was recommended by my vet had it not been for Golden naming her kitten Pumpkin.
Tweety-bird says hello! 🐦
Yes, Golden. Sweet potato or yams are good too, and popular at my house.
As you know, we are in Louisiana. She currently lives in Colorado.
Well the vet is on a street named, Louisiana and is next door to a Cane’s chicken!
Cane’s is a Louisiana fast food restaurant that was founded by an LSU dropout. He did a school assignment on starting a restaurant, dropped out and now has a successful franchise! By the way, Cane is the name of his dog.
My daughter graduated from LSU.
Crazy coincidence, huh?
She said her dog is doing well. The flea and tick program is treated differently in Colorado because it isn’t humid there. Apparently, they don’t have the same issues as in the humid Louisiana weather. He got his heart worm meds.
I have to brag on my daughter. She is a great mom to her fur babies.
When her dog that she rescued while attending college died, she cried for weeks! He was about six years old when she rescued him. He died with Cushing’s disease.
Her new dog was 11 months when she got him.
She said due to COVID, she couldn’t go inside the vet’s office. They take the dog from your car and speak to you over the phone while examining them.
She went from a poodle to a Siberian Husky!
Good to know that pumpkin trick for fur babies. I don’t currently have a fur baby. I miss mine terribly.
Martz - hope all goes well with your 20 yr old cat. That's quite an age for a cat. Kidney issues are serious.
The sweet potato and a little extra water with the wet cat food went down very well. I will set up their new litter boxes, but leave the old ones beside them, and we will see what happens. I think they will like them.
It was the best thing I ever did. That dog needed him and he needed that dog. They were inseperable.
Of course the dog never liked me much . His first day in our home he went and hid behind the toilet and it was my job to fetch him out ( Dan's no pets in the bathroom rule)He came out after a bit and I got bit in the process so the stage was set that the dog did not care much for me.
When Dan started going to the hospital all the time I often worried as the dog moped the whole time. This last time when Dan went to hospital for 2 months then rehab for 2 months before I finally brought him home on home hospice I was sure the dog was going to expire he was a wreck. When Dan finally did come home it broke my heart as he did not concern himself with the creature much hell he did not know who I was by that time. But the dog kept close to him anyways regardless and when he passed away at the end of October the dog kept waiting for him to return home again. Only recently did he finally seem resigned to being stuck with me.
all my animals grew to love my husband he was a very kind gentle soul and animals always recognize that. I had fractous cats that would lay all over him and one of them used to call him and get him out of bed in the morning to takr her to the box and get her early meal when in her last years arthritis made it painful to jump down. He always knew what they wanted when they talked to him even when i did not it was really amazing his ability to understand them and talk to them. They always loved me i was mom but their love of him was different and so sweet to see.
Nothing had gone right since my husband passed away I lost both of my sole surviving kitties and my depression is such I did not adopt another yet. The only thing left to me is the dog and we hang out together depressed and resigned to our new empty lives.
I worry lately as the dog is incredibly old and I have no idea how much longer he will be with me.
Just seems god or what ever has decided that I am going to be completely alone everything in my care is dying all around me. Up to an including 2 or 3 of our close friends. I mean jeez we are not that old I really wonder if i am jinxed. I am almost afraid to get anothe pet.
Such a sweet and sad story. So sorry for your loss.
Thank you for sharing with us.
When he arrived, he had lines across the top of his head, closer to his beak, indicating he was younger, but not a baby.
Today, his head has more white, further back on his head.
And he is a healthy bird!
My dad has some cats, too. He has a favorite who gets all sorts of attention. The others get food & water but no affection at all. I keep trying to take those cats but my dad refuses. I don't think he cares about them but uses them as an excuse as to why he can't go into assisted living. Whenever I see those cats, I apologize to them that their lives aren't better & tell them that someday I'll bring them with me & they'll be loved.
Fortunately, cats are not really complainers and I hope that none of mine or my dad's feel as bad as I do with all the changes that have taken place over the past 4 years. I do know that I feel guilty that I am no longer as attentive as a pet parent as I used to be & look forward to the day when I can go back to being so.
If I'm ever preoccupied or busy I always stop, even if it's just for a minute or two and hug my kitties and tell them that I love them. That's better than nothing until you can spend more time with them.
I am trying to remember how long he was on the fluids, either 6 months to a year. it did help him. I remembered he wouldn't eat any of the specialty kidney diet wet or dry food.
Once I tried very high sides on the litter box but that was a failure, as Jesse wasn't able to get his tail in the right position. I wasn't using a litter box, instead was using those clear plastic storage boxes [that come with a plastic snap cover] that come in all sizes.
The other sizes clear plastic storage boxes were great. Had one that was meant to store rolled wrapping paper. It was like have two regular size litter boxes... lot of room to move around. But lately not easy to empty because at my age it's a lot of weight of litter to dump. If the cat doesn't like the storage box, wash it out and use it for storage :)
She did look funny with that big lump of fluid before it distributed throughout her body.
Maybe he was thirsty.