DEAR JOAN: On the finish of final yr, our cat, Duchess, began pooping within the yard, after which her sister, Princess, began doing the identical factor. Each would nonetheless use considered one of our three indoor open litter containers for peeing.
Sadly, we misplaced Princess final November however Duchess remains to be pooping exterior and peeing inside, except she’s locked in, after which she is going to poop within the litter containers.
Duchess has been on remedy for fairly some time for peeing exterior the litter field previous to the pooping exterior. There have been no modifications within the atmosphere, litter, and so on.
Though, we enable them within the yard, they will’t get out due to the cat fencing. Any perception can be appreciated.
Jim, Campbell
DEAR JIM: Cats can have sophisticated relationships with their litter containers.
The most typical cause for rejecting a litter field in favor of someplace else in the home or going outdoor is a medical challenge that causes ache when urinating or defecating. Cat logic blames the litter field for the ache, so they begin avoiding it.
That might be the explanation Duchess began peeing exterior the field, and also you’ve executed the proper factor by seeing a vet and having her on remedy.
I feel it’s probably Duchess’ desire for pooping al fresco is probably going nothing greater than preferring a breeze beneath her bum when she goes, but it surely might be a matter of extending a dominance over her area.
She may be pooping exterior as a approach of distancing herself from any actual or imagined enemies. When cats have been really wild, they'd defecate removed from their dens so their scent didn’t betray them to predators. At present’s cats do the identical factor, which is why wandering cats poop within the neighbor’s flower mattress and never their very own.
Pooping outdoor will solely grow to be a problem if Duchess begins visiting different yards, which you guarantee me she will be able to’t, or if she begins refusing to make use of the indoor litter containers. So long as that doesn’t occur, I say let the Duchess reign. (Though she ought to be supervised when outdoor to guard her and the wildlife in your yard.)
DEAR JOAN: Our two cats of 15 years each died a couple of months in the past. We adopted a 2-year-old cat from Milo Basis 5 days in the past.
She is a stunning cat however she ignores us. My objective was for a cat that I may decide up and maintain and hug and kiss and would sit on my lap often. She lets us pet her and can allow us to decide her up very briefly.
Do you suppose this may change or is it unlikely to vary? In that case, we have to return her to Milo despite the fact that it can break my husband’s and my coronary heart to take action.
Barbara and Don Bushee, El Sobrante
DEAR BARBARA AND DON: Solely time will inform, however I feel you’re off to a terrific begin, and I encourage you to stick with it, particularly because it’s apparent you’ve already fallen in love. The cat remains to be settling in to a brand new dwelling and new individuals, and it may well take some time for her true persona to come back out.
Some cats are very cuddly and loving, whereas others are extra standoffish. Some by no means change, and a few can change in a single day.
All you are able to do is to maintain loving no matter type of cat you may have.
Contact Joan Morris at jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.
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