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Meet
Frankie!
Frankie
is our resident ‘expert’ on a variety of feline
issues. He is a 12 year old, neutered male, Siamese mix who
lives at Backdoor Friends Cat Shoppe with Mary Jane, an 8
year old calico Persian. Several years ago, Backdoor Friends
Purebred Cat Rescue rescued Frankie from a local shelter.
He lives comfortably at the cat shop and each day welcomes
visitors and guests to the cat hotel. He welcomes your questions.
Send
a question to Frankie by clicking here!
Q.
My owner brought home a ‘new’ litter box that automatically
cleans itself a few minutes after I am finished. I like having
a clean box but once I came back while it was cleaning and
the noise really scared me. Would you call me a scaredy cat?
Nervous Nellie
Farmington Hills, Mi
Dear
Nellie:
Please don’t give yourself a title you may not deserve.
The litter box you described is designed to give you a clean
box each time you use it and to give your owner more time
to enjoy you. There are some pros and cons to this type of
litter box arrangement.
Pro’s:
1. The most finicky of cats will enjoy a clean box each time
they use it.
2. Less maintenance time cleaning the box. Once a week simply
throw
the used litter bag away and replace with a new one.
3. Wonderful for people that travel or work long hours.
Con’s:
1. As Nellie pointed out, the noise of self-cleaning may bother
some
delicate felines.
2. These boxes are not cheap. Typically they cost $100 - $150.
3. Size of box may not be suitable for ‘big-boy’
cats.
4. Litter box output cannot be monitored (see LITTER BOX ANALYSIS
101 BELOW).
Q.
Every time I use my litter box my owner runs into the room
to watch me. I appreciate the attention but a little privacy
would be nice. I should mention that I was just treated for
a urinary tract infection.
Private Packer
Livonia, Mi
Dear
Packer:
Your owner truly cares about you and is making sure that you
are feeling ok. Checking the litter box on a daily basis is
a good idea. Scooping the litter box can identify many feline
problems. I call this ‘Litter Box Analysis 101.’
Here’s a list of problems that can uncovered by daily
scooping.
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The most obvious is blood in the stool or urine. The color
of the blood is very important and can tell your veterinarian
where to start checking for problems.
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Multiple tiny urine balls made by several trips to the box
in a relatively short period of time. This could indicate
a partial or full blockage, which must be treated IMMEDIATELY.
This problem can be fatal.
-
Runny or loose stools could indicate a food intolerance,
an upset stomach or parasites. A trip or phone call to your
veterinarian is recommended. A stool sample will probably
be requested.
-
Lots & lots & lots of urine may indicate kidney
disease or diabetes. Your veterinarian may request a urine
sample.
-
Lack of urin and/or feces indicates that the cat is not
eating and/or drinking an adequate amount of food or water.
Most cats urinate 2 or 3 times daily and have a bowel movement
once a day.
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