My Pet World: A pet gate

By Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on Nov 14, 2019

I've had my indoor rescued cat for eight years. She occasionally leaves a poop or two here and there outside her unlidded litter box. Her vet considered constipation and recommended pumpkin baby food or an emptied capsule of Metamucil in her wet food. I did pumpkin for maybe a year then switched to the stool softener. Neither solved the problem.

Because I make notes in my journal, I eventually realized a pattern: The outside-the-box pooping occurs during Tucson's hottest months, so the vet speculated that Kitty might not be drinking enough water. I haven't learned how to make her drink more water.

-- Camille, Tucson, Arizona

Dear Camille,

Keeping a journal is a good way to recognize patterns and solve problems. The good news is, getting cats to drink more water is fairly easy.

Buy a cat drinking fountain. Cats are attracted to the sights and sounds of the continuously flowing water. There are lots of varieties to choose from, so check them out.

Dear Cathy,

I am not an animal person, but I did rescue two cats so my elderly mom would have company when I left the house. I get along OK with both cats, but I'm not overly happy having them around. Why do they insist on crawling all over me when I shoo them away?

My mom would love for them to give her that kind of attention. I raise my voice at them, spray water on them and sometimes even find myself swatting at them to stay away from me. I am not a mean person; I just don't like cats very much.

- Kate, West Hartford, Connecticut

Dear Kate,

Cats often become attention-seeking when they are bored. Make sure your mom has some wire toys and a laser pointer that she can play with her cats. Get a good scratching post or tall cat tree and rub some catnip on it so they will use it. Cats love to hang out in high places. Finally, buy some feline pheromone spray at the pet store or online to spray on your mom. Pheromones will comfort the cats and attract them to your mom. Make sure none of it gets on you.

========

(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)