Observing Your Cats Stool
Sometimes it may be difficult to tell when your cat is having problems. Cats tend to keep quite and have personalities that often would not alarm you if they kept a low profile for a few days. With dogs this would seem strange, but with cat owners it can be more difficult noticing if there is a health problem.
If your a cat owner, there are many things that can be wrong with your beloved pet that might not be noticable to you right away. You would naturally take your pet into the veterinarian’s office if they suddenly had no energy or were throwing up excessively all over your house. If your pet has a seizure, you know to take them in right away as well. However, some things are harder to see, and you may not know something is wrong unless you take a good look at the cat litter box.
Examine the Litter Box
Most people think to change or scoop the cat litter box each day or every couple days and then they are done with it. They tend to look the other way as much as possible and keep their faces turned away from the box. However, taking a closer look can mean a difference in the health of your pet. No one wants to sift through what is there, but for the health of your pet, this is something you should think about taking a look through on occasion. There are clues in there that can signal a medical problem that cannot be ignored. You should also pay attention to how much your pet uses the cat litter box and if the litter box usage could be excessive.
Lack of Usage
When a cat is sick, they may or may not leave obvious clues. However, if they have always been good about using the cat litter box, and you suddenly notice that they are not, this could mean problems. They may have a painful urinary tract infection, or a bowel obstruction. Both of these are very serious. They may be avoiding the cat litter box because they are associating using it with the pain they are feeling. If the box seems to be emptier than usual, or you are finding accidents, call your veterinarian to take your cat in for a closer look.
Worms
No one relishes taking an up close and personal look at a cat’s stool, but if your cat has worms, they could be getting very sick. These are often evident if you look in the cat litter box. The worms may not be visible at all times, but if you keep a good eye on things, they will show up eventually. They are often small and white, and can mean your cat is not getting the nutrition they need and they need a deworming. If you suspect that is a problem, make an appointment and take a sample from the cat litter box in with you when you go. It’s not fun, but it may mean a world of difference in the health of your loving kitty. Your vet can give your cat medicine that will help get rid of the worms.
Perhaps its not as serious as worms. Maybe its just that they are chewing up pieces of stuff in your home that they shouldnt be. One of my young cats used her claws to pull up pieces of the rug in a certain spot and then would often eat the pieces. I didnt notice this until I noticed it in the stool and then watched her. I sprayed the particular area with some anti-cat spray and she doesnt do it anymore.
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