Could this be worms? (kittens, stomach, food, howling) - Cats - - City-Data Forum

Rogue&Shady-Abs · 05-29-2009, 01:04 AM

Hi guys!

I have already posted a thread elsewhere : viewtopic.php?f=3&t=58985 which is kinda the same matter.

But... I need to add that this has not cleared up, and Rogue is still squealing whenever she 'goes' to the litter tray - however she squeals and squeals while she is padding and digging around in it... then when she actually goes she shuts up.

So this leads me to believe that when the movement is on the way 'out' it is not sore, but I am worried about how much squealing she does prior to going.

From my overprotective 'motherly' view, before she goes I think her stomach gets a little harder... not completely hard just not as soft. She still lets me touch her and cuddle her - she does not seem to mind me touching her stomach at all and seems to be in no pain when I do.

She is at the vet next week for her jags anyways, so I will talk to them about this then but I was wandering if anyone else here has had a kitten like this or if anyone knows what it could possibly be?

For added information:
Rogue would eat all day if she was allowed, but I have her on a strict 4 meals a day diet - a Felix kitten pouch a time. She would normally also get specialised kitten milk (from pet store/vet on instruction) at night, but when this started I began to cut this out.. and now she doesn't get it at all. What sort of diet should would you have her on??
Also, when rogue arrived home with us she was loaded with flees, and as she was only 6 weeks old we assume they came from the mother - which to me means that poor mother could have anything.

From my understanding Rogue was fed her mothers milk until 6 weeks.

Also when she 'goes' it stinks the house out,

I had my other cat as a kitten and can not remember him being this bad.. I have to just about stand over the litter tray and clean it right away or the smell is overwhelming! Yuk!

Please help!

yukiko11 · 05-29-2009, 01:31 AM

The three biggest signs of worms are thirst , appetite and dragging the ass on the ground. Cats get worms from exposure to each other and exposure to fleas.
Cats require a lot of fiber in their diet. As you are feeding a rather soft food, she may not be getting enough fiber to help her pass her feces easily. I have a similar problem with my 23 year old cat who doesn't want to eat dry food anymore. He also cried in the catbox. Finally, I used a coffee grinder to grind up the dry food and mix it with the canned meat and a little water and solved the problem.
There could be one more issue. Some cats are finicky about their litter. I could never get any of my cats to use the clumping litter, they would actually go on the floor before steping into that. They also like it when it is a particular depth that suits them. My old cat is very large and so I bought him a huge litter box. Before that, he would stand in the box and poop on the floor.
Hope this helps.

Rogue&Shady-Abs · 05-29-2009, 01:55 AM

Thanks. Yes I have considered the litter box change as she seems to have a liking for corners and privacy (who can blame a girl!) so I was considering purchasing a litter box with a cover and door for her... I have discovered that she will not use the box unless there is a lot of the litter in there, she is happy to use the clumpy stuff.

SouthernBelleInUtah · 05-29-2009, 06:37 AM

She could also have a bladder infection. This is typical behavior for that. Does she do this every thime she uses the box or only when she poops? Or does she poop every time? If possible, I would move up her appt with the vet as bladder infections are quite painful. The cat associates the pain with the box and goes elsewhere in an attempt to not have the pain. Even after the infection clears, some cats have a hard time using the box again.

StarlaJane · 05-29-2009, 08:25 AM

Have the vet test her for cocydia as well. My cat never squealed when she went but her feces did smell somethin' fierce, and when the vet did a fecal, she found cocydia, which is a parasite common among shelter cats or cats who have had outdoor exposure (from what you said about the mother, it sounds like she had it and may have passed it to the kittens.)
Remember, also, that there could be a few things going on with her...

STT Resident · 05-29-2009, 08:57 AM

Excellent suggestions from all and I've nothing to add but this had me howling with laughter over the mental image so forgive me for going a bit OT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukiko11

My old cat is very large and so I bought him a huge litter box. Before that, he would stand in the box and poop on the floor.

Many years ago, one of my clan was a VERY big calico female, 5XL for sure. Although normally very sociable and benign, she momentarily took a dislike to a newbie in the house (one with whom she subsequently became the very best of friends) and I would get up to find an enormous dollop of poop right next to one of the two litter boxes. "WHO'S BEING BAD!" of course elicited no response from any of them. This went on for several days and although I had an idea who was responsible I could never catch the perpetrator in the act.

Very early one morning I got out of bed and heard a lot of litter-scratching going on, quietly peeked around the corner of the bathroom and saw Miss 5XL doing the dirty. I quietly watched as she sniffed the litter, dug it around endlessly and then carefully balanced herself right on the edge of the litter box with her front feet inside and her back feet perched on the rim of the box with her bum hanging over the edge (no mean gymnastic feat for such a rotund girl) followed by the dump. She got off her perch, turned around and sniffed the pile, shook her head and started to sashay out of the bathroom. As she rounded the corner she of course saw me, a look of horror crossed over her face and she raced off into the living room and right under the couch. Caught in the act!

I got on all fours and peeked under the couch where all I could see in the half light were her eyes and quietly said, "That really wasn't very ladylike, was it. Silly girl."

She never did it again and, as I said, she and the newbie quickly became best buddies. Thanks for the comment as it reminded me of this story which I'd long forgotten! Cheers!

PS: The covered litter boxes are awesome and I've used them for years now. Not that litter DOESN'T get spread around the perimeter but much less so than from an open pan.