Understanding Your Cat’s Litter: A Guide to Healthy Feces and Better Care

Guest Post by Julie Lesser

Like most new kitten “moms” (I won’t say “owner” because we all know who really “owns” who!) when I first got my Ragdoll, Mooshu, I ran out and bought the best food money and (LOTS of research) could buy! I was determined to do this right! It was going to be dry food for healthy teeth…and for my sanity…or so I thought.

What my research didn’t tell me is about is the poop! Yes, I said it…Poop! Turns out the “best” dry food was not so “best” for Mooshu. He had what I call, “poopy butt”…I won’t go into great detail…but let’s just say that every morning at 6am…in the dead of my sleep…he alerted me that his butt needed my immediate attention! And to the sink we would go!

I was at a loss…I called my vet and she told me that sometimes the higher quality dry foods are too rich for cats sensitive tummy’s and I would not be a horrible mom for feeding a lesser quality brand…that I should feed him what he likes and what works for him. Great! All set! 12 pound bag of Purina One here we come! Since that’s what the breeder had him on to start with. I mean afterall, breeders know everything right? WRONG!

A year later and here I was…still cleaning “poopy butt”! HELP! I turned to my favorite facebook page and blog: www.floppycats.com. I sent Jenny a desperate email for help. “Help!”, I said, “my kitty has poopy butt!” I explained in great detail what was going on and she said two words that changed our lives!! “WET FOOD”.

I thought the transition would be a futile attempt. It was not. Mooshu is clueless!! I am blissful…and thankful!

Here’s what I did:

First, I started a food (and poop) diary. I was worried about over feeding him. Truth is…he is eating about three or four cans in a 24 hour period which seems to be doing perfect for him. He is not very “piglike” with his feeding.

Day One:

• Friday 6:00pm (remove dry food)
• 1 small can upstairs (where kibble was kept for free feeding) and 1 small can downstairs as a “sit down” meal

Friday 11pm

• 1 small can downstairs

Saturday 6am – no poops at all!

• 1 small can down stairs

Saturday 2:30pm

• 1 small can upstairs

Saturday 7pm

• 1 small can downstairs

Saturday 11:30 pm

• 1 small can upstairs

Sunday – Today (Tuesday) was very similar…Sounds haphazard timing wise…but it’s working for us and the best part…NO POOPY BUTT! (ask Jenny…I sent her a gorgeous picture of his perfect poop!)

Besides the many other benefits of wet food feeding (as Floppycats said) this is a HUGE one!

Thank you Floppycats!!