My elderly cat had a buildup of litter between pads on her hind foot

[Marthe48]

She is a short haired kitty, but I missed this build up till just today. I haven't had a cat develop this grooming problem. I wasn't sure if it was litter or a growth. I took her to the sink in the bathroom and rinsed her foot with warm water till the clump came loose. I was glad it wasn't a growth.

She isn't doing a great job of hygiene. My other old cats let themselves go, too. I am keeping her face, eyes, ears, clean with a warm damp cloth. I guess now I'll keep an eye on her feet.

[Figarosmom]

1. Yeah my old guy is

The same, only its a front paw and sometimes has a poop hanging on his rear end.

[Marthe48]

5. My last kitty lived to 20 or older

She was a fluffy haired Manx and had life-long trouble with clean-up. The last 2 or 3 years, I cleaned her weekly in a warm water bath, mild disinfectant soap, trimmed hair almost every time. I won't have the same butt problems with this old girl. I just adopted her in Oct. My friend never mentioned this as a problem.

Enjoy your old buddy.

[KT2000]

2. clumping litter

I don't know if it is the brand I am using but it sticks to the pan terribly. I'm going to have to get one of those carpal tunnel wrist things pretty soon.

[SheltieLover]

3. Try world's best litter, it's ground corn cobs

I've been using it for many years & never had a problem with it.

[KT2000]

6. Thanks I will do that!

[SheltieLover]

8. It clumps very nicely.

I use the multi cat variety.

It also does not make dust & is flushable.

[Marthe48]

7. When I adopted this kitty

I brought the containers of litter my friend had gotten, 2 different brands. I had the same problem as you mentioned, so I switched to the cheaper brand I had used for my cat. I think her urine glues the litter to the box. We love our pets!

[uppityperson]

10. Make sure it is deep enough, not just an inch thick

If its deeper you can scoop underneath it easier

[biophile]

4. Older cats often stop grooming with their tongue-

It might be arthritis that makes their once gymnastic positions impossible. Try a gentle brush to get excess hair to prevent mats and knots. They usually love that but some might not if they have pain from something else. Thank you for being a senior pet parent!

[Marthe48]

9. I groom her with a toothbrush :)

I want to get a baby brush, haven't been out lately. I had a selection of brushes for my last kitty, gave them away when she died. I hadn't expected to adopt this kitty, still working on her needs

[Phoenix61]

11. I use pine pellet litter.

It goes in a double pan litter box. The pellets turn into saw dust when they get wet and that falls through the grated inner litter pan. It doesn’t track at all. I got it when CJ aka Sir Pees a Lot decided to pee on ANYTHING lying on the floor including the mat in front of the litter pan.

[bamagal62]

12. I use paper litter.

It’s safer for them. And, it won’t cause an obstruction in their intestines if they accidentally swallow it.