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Showing posts with the label litter box

🐾 Caturday: When You Find Bloody Diarrhea in the Litter Box

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  It’s every cat guardian’s heart‑stopping moment: you scoop the box and see runny stool with blood . Before panic sets in, take a breath. Here’s a grounded way to think through what’s happening. 1. First, look at your cat — not the litter box Most vets agree that behavior tells you more than the stool does. If your cat is: Eating Alert Drinking Moving normally Not vomiting Not straining repeatedly …then you have a little space to observe before rushing to the vet. 2. One episode isn’t the same as an emergency A single bout of bloody diarrhea can happen from: A sudden diet change Stress Eating something odd A minor GI irritation Messy, yes. Automatically dangerous, no. 3. But don’t ignore it either If you see: More blood Repeated diarrhea Lethargy Vomiting Pain or straining …that’s when most people call the vet promptly. 4. In multi‑cat homes, isolate to identify the culprit If you have more than one cat, the only way to know who’s affected is to: S...

Precerpt: Raising Happy Cat Families (Norwood) - Conquering the Toileting Issues

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  Bear (in litter robot) and Moo (following him in) Precerpt (excerpt prior to publication) from  Raising Happy Cat  families by Luna Norwood.  Welcoming a new cat into an already thriving feline community can feel like adding a wildcard to an otherwise predictable deck. And if there's one thing that can cause drama in the kitty kingdom, it's litter box politics. So, should the new cat get their own litter box? Yes! (At least at first.) Why a Separate Box Matters in the Beginning Territorial Security: Cats are big on personal space, and introducing a newcomer straight into the communal litter box can trigger territorial disputes. The new cat deserves their own spot to settle in, build confidence, and avoid unnecessary confrontations. Familiar Scent Integration: Instead of a brand-new litter box, consider using one that belongs to the existing cats. This helps the new cat absorb the household scent while still having th...

Caturday: The Dirty Business of Cats - Cleaning the Litter Box

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  Our cats have privacy and a view in their litter box area on the catio. They love the cat grass, too! Let’s be honest — as much as we love our cats, cleaning the litter box is one of the least glamorous parts of cat ownership. There’s no getting around it: it's a dirty business. Fortunately, there are different systems to choose from, each with their own pros and cons. Here’s a look at three popular approaches: Traditional “Scoop It Out” Litter Boxes The classic method most people start with is the simple scoop-it-yourself box. On the plus side, the boxes themselves are inexpensive, and there's a wide variety of litter types to choose from. But even with litter box liners, it can be a messy, tiring job. Liners often rip when you scoop, or they bunch up awkwardly, and if you're managing multiple boxes or heavy use, it can start to feel like a full-time job. For cat owners with mobility issues, arthritis, or chronic fatigue, this method can become impractical fast.  Scoopin...