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Mixed-up seal point
- Mixed-up seal point
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Mixed-up seal point
NuckyD > 05-23-2021, 09:09 AM
My newly acquired one year old seal point male has come with a few bad hang-ups from his previous owners. Firstly he likes to poop on my carpets and once in my bed, even though he has two good size litter trays, and secondly around 10.00 pm each evening he gets hyper and starts attacking my wife and I. I suspect his previous owners kept him locked away in their bedroom or en-suite most of the day while they were at work and played vigorously with him around 10.00 pm. They also gave him a really small litter tray which he either did not like to poop in or found too small to poop and wee in together. (He still won’t do both in his new larger trays.). I have googled the problems endlessly on the internet without success and wonder if any Ragdoll owner out there has experienced (and solved) similar problems.
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RE: Mixed-up seal point
admin > 05-23-2021, 04:20 PM
Welcome to the forum.
My Ragdoll began pooping outside the box when he was around 2 years old. Very often you will find that there is an underlying condition that is causing litter box avoidance and a vet visit is in order. With mine it turned out to be Inflammatory Bowel Disease caused by an allergic reaction to poultry. He's now 10 and a half and his disease is well controlled with prescription food from the vet and prednisolone every second day. There are many other conditions that could explain him associating the box with pain and your vet will run tests for them. Also, if you're not already, scoop his litter often. Cats are fastidious creatures and often will avoid a dirty box. Also if you're not using the same litter he was accustomed to you may want to try a different one or several in case he just doesn't care for that type.
As for the zoomies at night, cats are crepuscular which means that they are creatures who are most active at dawn and dusk. He's also still a young cat and that's just kittens for you. He should settle as he ages although my fellow careens around like he's a kitten by times and it's hysterical because he's a big cat. Wand toys are good for tiring them out.
Best of luck with figuring out what's causing the litter avoidance and we love pictures here! My Tiki is a seal colorpoint as well. This is a tutorial for how you can post pictures:
https://ragdollcatguide.ca/showthread.ph...73#pid3473 -
RE: Mixed-up seal point
MUM_of_FLUFFY > 05-23-2021, 07:37 PM
Hi - welcome to the forum
I have not had litter box issues with Fluffy. But he's about 3 and a half years old now and still gets the 10pm 'zoomies'.
Fluff has a LOT of toys so I usually set up a 'treasure-hunt' before I go to bed. I pile the toys in his favourite spots (such as on top of the cat scratching posts) and when I get up in the morning I can see he's knocked them down to the floor to play with them. I use long BBQ tongs to pick them all up in the morning and put them back in his toy-box. Using the tongs really saves my back...
Best of luck to you and your kitty!!! -
RE: Mixed-up seal point
HelenMac > 05-24-2021, 12:40 AM
Hi and welcome sorry can't help with litter box problems but agree get him checked out with the vet. My boys hated using the same box for pee and poop and woe be tide if Zimba went first Shadow would howl the place down until I cleaned it. I also had a problem with the boys they hated the pellet type litter would not use for poops hated it refused to use the box in fact shadow went on the bath mat and then pulled the towel down to cover it. Very clever but oh boy. I got rid of the pellet quick smart and changed back to the clumping litter both happy and never had a problem since.. I also bought the litter robot no more howling for me to clean it does it for me. As for the zoomies my boys are 7 years old and still get the zoomies first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I use da bird to play with them and then feed them and they settle in for the night. Love to see some photos of your boy what's his name?. -
RE: Mixed-up seal point
NatsFan78 > 05-24-2021, 04:46 AM
Welcome to the forum! I agree with the others that a vet check is an excellent start. Cats are clean animals by nature so there is likely a reason your boy is not using the litter box at times. My Jaxon has stomach issues. The first few months after he came home he had diarrhea almost constantly. He had a lot of messes. It took me forever to figure out how to help him. My vet said I was overreacting so I got a second opinion. He has stomach problems and we finally discovered if he eats Tiki Cat he is fine. He is even off his medications now. We just can’t feed him anything else and have to be careful with treats. He doesn’t get the zoomies very often. When he does I play with him until he gets it out of his system unless he starts biting or scratching. He gets carried away occasionally. I tell him no and walk away. He will almost always come after me and calm down now. If he does I will play with a bit more and tell him what a good boy he is. I look forward to hearing more about your boy and hope to see pictures soon. -
RE: Mixed-up seal point
JanH > 05-24-2021, 04:51 AM
Welcome.
It is not unusual for cats to urinate in one box and defecate in another. You just need the right number of boxes - and they can be side by side.
Avoidance can be for any number of reasons, including past pain they associate with the box. You need to try and figure out about avoidance and attraction to the site used, which may include overmarking old stains. For the former, think about styles of boxes and litter used. Some cats prefer scentless non-clumping clay. Just put litter to try in a new box for a week or so and see whether it is used. For overmarking clean with enzymatic cleaners and follow instructions (slow drying) and spraying Feliway on the areas being used. (You can also use Feliway plug ins, but it is harder to maintain enough concentration in the air for an entire room.)
One can try retraining. Confinement in a smaller area with food, water and litterbox until the box is used. (One can get a big wire cage located to be with the family.) You can also time feedings so that the timing of needing the litter is more predictable. Keep trying things until it works - and there are often multiple causes.
Avoid high loft bedding, like down comforters. They sometimes attract the behavior.
Sometimes the only practical solution is to "give in" to some degree. If he MUST use carpet, then provide a remnant in a box or on a stain proof covering for the floor.
As noted, start with medical issues/solutions. Perhaps a course of meds is something to try - Flagyl for GI issues and Amoxycillin or Zeniquin for urinary tract issues.
As recommended, keep stress levels low, since stress is another trigger, even though sometimes it can be difficult not to communicate understandable stress to the cat.
You can look on the net for ideas on things to try.
Good luck. -
RE: Mixed-up seal point
NuckyD > 05-24-2021, 05:29 AM
(05-23-2021, 04:20 PM)admin Wrote: Welcome to the forum.
My Ragdoll began pooping outside the box when he was around 2 years old. Very often you will find that there is an underlying condition that is causing litter box avoidance and a vet visit is in order. With mine it turned out to be Inflammatory Bowel Disease caused by an allergic reaction to poultry. He's now 10 and a half and his disease is well controlled with prescription food from the vet and prednisolone every second day. There are many other conditions that could explain him associating the box with pain and your vet will run tests for them. Also, if you're not already, scoop his litter often. Cats are fastidious creatures and often will avoid a dirty box. Also if you're not using the same litter he was accustomed to you may want to try a different one or several in case he just doesn't care for that type.
As for the zoomies at night, cats are crepuscular which means that they are creatures who are most active at dawn and dusk. He's also still a young cat and that's just kittens for you. He should settle as he ages although my fellow careens around like he's a kitten by times and it's hysterical because he's a big cat. Wand toys are good for tiring them out.
Best of luck with figuring out what's causing the litter avoidance and we love pictures here! My Tiki is a seal colorpoint as well. This is a tutorial for how you can post pictures:
https://ragdollcatguide.ca/showthread.ph...73#pid3473
Many thanks for your reply. Just had my seal point Koko neutered so will be taking him to vets for post op check-up. I understand he should have been neutered around 6 months but that's another faux pas by his previous owners. I shall discuss pooping problems with vet. Did think of lashing out on a cat behaviourist assessment. Sincerley hope it is not IBS or anything else like it. We do change soiled litter immediatley. Have tried paper pellets instead of the wood ones he was previously using but that didn't work. Now considering the clumping variety. By the way his previous owner put him in their small enclosed garden where he often toileted. I have been forced to repeat this in my enclosed garden where he roams supervised of course. He seems happy with toileting in earth. While I am not too worried about his zooming, I am about his attacks on my wife and I which can occur any time of the day.
I have had many cats in my lifetime but never one like this. Ragdolls are definitely inscrutable.
(05-24-2021, 12:40 AM)HelenMac Wrote: Hi and welcome sorry can't help with litter box problems but agree get him checked out with the vet. My boys hated using the same box for pee and poop and woe be tide if Zimba went first Shadow would howl the place down until I cleaned it. I also had a problem with the boys they hated the pellet type litter would not use for poops hated it refused to use the box in fact shadow went on the bath mat and then pulled the towel down to cover it. Very clever but oh boy. I got rid of the pellet quick smart and changed back to the clumping litter both happy and never had a problem since.. I also bought the litter robot no more howling for me to clean it does it for me. As for the zoomies my boys are 7 years old and still get the zoomies first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I use da bird to play with them and then feed them and they settle in for the night. Love to see some photos of your boy what's his name?.
Many thanks for your reply. It is good to know I am not alone with my pet's problems. I currently use the wood pellet litter as that it waht his previous owners used but I also think they put him in the garden because I have had to do the same where he is happy to do both toilets in the earth. I didn't want this to happen but he insisted on being let out. Fortunately our garden is totally enclosed and we supervise his garden visits. I tried the paper pellet litter but that was ignored for poping in, I may try the clumping type. No idea what a litter robot is can you explain please? My seal point is called Koko.
(05-24-2021, 04:51 AM)JanH Wrote: Welcome.
It is not unusual for cats to urinate in one box and defecate in another. You just need the right number of boxes - and they can be side by side.
Avoidance can be for any number of reasons, including past pain they associate with the box. You need to try and figure out about avoidance and attraction to the site used, which may include overmarking old stains. For the former, think about styles of boxes and litter used. Some cats prefer scentless non-clumping clay. Just put litter to try in a new box for a week or so and see whether it is used. For overmarking clean with enzymatic cleaners and follow instructions (slow drying) and spraying Feliway on the areas being used. (You can also use Feliway plug ins, but it is harder to maintain enough concentration in the air for an entire room.)
One can try retraining. Confinement in a smaller area with food, water and litterbox until the box is used. (One can get a big wire cage located to be with the family.) You can also time feedings so that the timing of needing the litter is more predictable. Keep trying things until it works - and there are often multiple causes.
Avoid high loft bedding, like down comforters. They sometimes attract the behavior.
Sometimes the only practical solution is to "give in" to some degree. If he MUST use carpet, then provide a remnant in a box or on a stain proof covering for the floor.
As noted, start with medical issues/solutions. Perhaps a course of meds is something to try - Flagyl for GI issues and Amoxycillin or Zeniquin for urinary tract issues.
As recommended, keep stress levels low, since stress is another trigger, even though sometimes it can be difficult not to communicate understandable stress to the cat.
You can look on the net for ideas on things to try.
Good luck.
Thank you for your ideas. From what you and others say, my experiences are not uncommon. He has a lot of stress by moving to a new home etc and his previous owners did not appear to have sorted out his food preferences. We are doing that now by trial and effort. Seeing vet today so will discuss any medical causes. Have tried to add a photo of Koko; so hope it works. This website is almost as inscrutable as a Ragdoll cat. -
RE: Mixed-up seal point
NuckyD > 05-24-2021, 06:35 AM
(05-24-2021, 04:46 AM)NatsFan78 Wrote: Welcome to the forum! I agree with the others that a vet check is an excellent start. Cats are clean animals by nature so there is likely a reason your boy is not using the litter box at times. My Jaxon has stomach issues. The first few months after he came home he had diarrhea almost constantly. He had a lot of messes. It took me forever to figure out how to help him. My vet said I was overreacting so I got a second opinion. He has stomach problems and we finally discovered if he eats Tiki Cat he is fine. He is even off his medications now. We just can’t feed him anything else and have to be careful with treats. He doesn’t get the zoomies very often. When he does I play with him until he gets it out of his system unless he starts biting or scratching. He gets carried away occasionally. I tell him no and walk away. He will almost always come after me and calm down now. If he does I will play with a bit more and tell him what a good boy he is. I look forward to hearing more about your boy and hope to see pictures soon.
Thanks for your comments. It would appear Ragdolls are more prone to behavioual issues than mixed breeds. Perhaps most pedigree breeds are like this? My Koko has had to cope with a lot of changes recently including his food, as we are still trying to find out what he likes and dislikes. I just wish he would take out his angst on me and my wife. Even at twelve months he is very strong! I have tried to post a photo of him but get this error message: The file upload failed. Please choose a valid file and try again. Error details: PHP returned: Uploaded file exceeded upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini. Please contact your forum administrator with this error.
It would help to know what the file size limit is! -
RE: Mixed-up seal point
JanH > 05-24-2021, 03:17 PM
No. Ragdolls are generally well behaved. -
RE: Mixed-up seal point
Codysmom > 05-24-2021, 04:27 PM
(05-24-2021, 06:35 AM)NuckyD Wrote: I have tried to post a photo of him but get this error message: The file upload failed. Please choose a valid file and try again. Error details: PHP returned: Uploaded file exceeded upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini. Please contact your forum administrator with this error.
It would help to know what the file size limit is!
Hello and welcome to the forum, so glad you joined us.
Regarding posting of photos most of the members have a free Flickr account, it's very easy to join and use.
Here's a link to Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com
(Just create a free account, as far as I can remember it's free up until 1000 photos.)
This is a link to a step-by-step guide on how to upload photos onto Flickr and then how to post them onto the forum.
Should you need any further help with this please do not hesitate to ask and I with do my best to assist you.
https://ragdollcatguide.ca/showthread.php?tid=10
Looking forward to seeing pics of your boy!