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About Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too.
Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again.
Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Cats > Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral) > Sticky Kitten Poop
Expert: Dear Tabbi - 10/31/2009
Question
I saw a few other questions and answers that were close, but I wasn't sure it they hit the mark. Here's the story:
I recently adopted two stray calicos (so they are females) from a healthy seeming (small colony fed and tended to by neighbors) of alley cats. None had chlamydia, and my cats came free of fleas. They are 2-3 months old. I haven't yet taken them to the vet (I will in about a week after I finish an 80 hour per week project). They are adjusting well. I play with them, as do my housemates. They were used to being handled by neighbors already. everything is going great, except that their poop smells horrible. I recently lost an 18 year old cat to old age, and I have had multiple cats over the years. Never has their poop smelled like this. Currently they are eating left over dry cat food someone game me (a good high protein dry blend). They seem to eat a lot, but I have never had kittens this young before, so that may be normal. They have been here about a week. They are now (mostly) litterbox trained. I'm wondering if they have a parasite, or an infection. They don't scratch much, or lick their butts. They seem perfectly healthy. their bowels seem maybe a tad loose (but that could just be because they opted to poop in the tub before the went for the box. Everything is normal in color, and no diarreah, or accidents. Also no farting. Any thoughts?
Answer
Elise
It more than likely is the the change from 'trash' food to a high protein food. The sudden change is hard on the digestive system. You can add Sweet Acidophilus to her food (it's in the dairy case at the supermarket). It helps digestion. Also mixing some canned pumpkin (not the mix for pies) into some canned food helps firm up stools, as does mixing in some plain boiled rice.
The kittens may also have worms, or as you correctly guessed, an intestinal parasite. There are a number of types. When you take the cat to the vet, bring in a fresh stool sample that is preferably no more than 2 hours old. They may have coccidia or guardia and need to be treated.
Part of their problem could be the stress of everything new. New home, new people, and new smells. Their system could be reacting to that in which case it may go away when their systems acclimate.
I would speak to the vet about the issue when you take them in, and by physically seeing and testing the cats, he may be able to pinpoint the reason. Or a possible cause. It could be a combination of factors too.
I hope my answer gives you some food for thought about the possibilities. I'm sure it nothing that won't clear up with some time and possibly some medication.
Tabbi
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