Older cat losing balance in litter tray

[Marley]

Hi,

Lately I have noticed my older boy struggling a bit in the litter tray... He squats to pee which is fine but when he poops he likes to put his front paws on the side of the tray and stands up quite high if that makes sense, but sometimes he loses his balance and falls backwards, into the tray and the poop... pretty much sitting in it and he struggles a bit to get up. It doesn't happen very often but is getting to maybe every couple of weeks or so and it worries me as it must be horrible for him. He thinks he is in trouble as I have to grab him and put him in the kitchen fast to stop him dragging his bum all over the floor and leaving a trail of mess everywhere. He also has developed a habit of scratching and digging for ages and ages in the tray before and after. I come home every day to a sea of cat litter strewn all over the floor. He is 15, a little bit skinny but he always has been, and is otherwise in good health and happy. He lives indoors and always has. I don't know what to do to help him. Has anyone had similar experience? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you
X

[Lilith]

Hi Marley and welcome.

Your boy might well be starting with arthritis, which can cause discomfort while squatting to defecate. I had an old chap who was much the same, only he'd get out instead and run into a corner and...yes, lovely. Mind you he was very old and doddery and sometimes faecally incontinent as well.

Arthritis is easily treated; my lad had to take Metacam (an anti-inflammatory painkiller as far as I know; has to be prescribed by the vet) every day, but he took it in a spoonful of tuna and would wait every morning in the kitchen for his 'jollop'; he was no trouble at all.

A vet check-up might be a good idea for starters. And other people on here will have more advice.

Best wishes to the old chap - he must feel so embarrassed; perhaps that's why he's obsessed with covering up his 'dirty deed' so to speak. Do hope he goes on ok, keep updating

[lilynmitz]

I agree, a vet visit is in order. It could be arthritis, but Lily started doing this when she developed a heart condition, as the straining was too much for her.

His loss of weight and loss of balance may also be due to one of several possible underlying medical conditions, which older cats tend to "collect" (my Lily had the full set!). Most are treatable to some degree, and would make him feel much better as well as give him added quality years, but only blood tests can determine what's going on. I usually had my older cats (10 yrs + ) tested and examined at least annually, or more frequently when we were monitoring one of the many conditions they accumulated to make sure we had them on the right drug regime. Bit like a feline MOT!

[Crewella]

I have had mostly over 10+ year old cats for the last 10 years, and confess I'm a little more 'laissez faire' than lilynmitz and didn't do regular blood check-ups, but I do take them in at the first sign of anything wrong, and that is what I think this counts as. It does sound to me as though your old boy is gettign a bit arthritic, and some help with that would do him no end of good. Your vet might well insist on doing bloods before prescribing Metacam, as it's known to be not great for their kidneys and old cats tend to have dodgy kidneys, but that is correct procedure. There is a worry about giving long-term Metacam, because of their kidneys, but I have always found the benefits outweigh the worries.

[Marley]

Thank you for your kind replies... I will get him into the vets for a check, they do a senior cat clinic at my vets so i will go there first and see what they think. Bless him he hates the carry box and the vets but better safe than sorry and if it is arthritis I hate the thought of him being in any discomfort. Thank you again x