Fur smelling of Urine

[Miss Kitty]

Hi all,

Is it typical that MCs can get quite smelly after they've used the litter to wee? Our MC gets urine over his fur and down his back legs (not sure if he just sits in it, moves pellets aside and gets it on him) but it leaves a terrible smell to follow him through the house. Any ideas? tips? similarities?

[Antonia]

I can't imagine it's typical... our Coonies certainly never leave the tray wet and smelly after peeing.
I notice you have started threads about his litter behaviour before - have you mentioned this problem to your vet? Perhaps Chester has some kind of medical problem. I think this is something that should be checked out first.

[Helen & John]

I have never had problems with wee, but poop is another story Thankfully given their size and power they give in and let you attack the area with a handfull of baby wipes. now thay are bigger its a two person job! I always seem to get the wipeing part though it does amuse me how when you start to wipe they put their back legs out straight as if to say it's easier to submit to this as it's going to happen

[mcguy]

It certainly is possible if they move all their litter and end up with bare plastic. One of our girls will go in sinks and plastic laundry baskets if left available. She did get herself just a bit wet a couple of times, but this happens only rarely since we actively work to prevent her from using these locations. Our other girl likes to go nuts piling up the litter, and she will frequently expose a section of the pan. Luckily this has not yet led to anyone else getting wet as far as we can tell.

My first advice would be to try to figure out exactly how he is getting wet. If he is getting wet even though there is plenty of litter under him when he is going then something else is going on. Certainly MCs can have "bathroom problems" as a result of their long coats, and we do periodically trim ours (all our problems have been getting poop stuck). I could imagine him getting matted between his legs and that leading to being wet and smelling (this used to happen to a long haired female dog we had). I do not see how hair could lead to urine being down that backs of his legs, though. That sounds like what can happen if they squat and pee on bare plastic and it runs all over while they are going.

[FreyjaRoMaine]

No, I never get this problem, although I've got two girls so I don't know if that would make a difference. Like Helen and NCarver, the only time I ever get a litter problem is with the brown stuff.

it does amuse me how when you start to wipe they put their back legs out straight as if to say it's easier to submit to this as it's going to happen

This really made me smile, Helen - both mine do this too, although since we switched back to Whiskas it's a mercifully rare occurance these days - but they do both do it. I get whining at the soggy cloth shoved round their bums, but then they extend their legs and it gives you easier access! Most odd, but that's Coonies for you

[Pepsi2670]

Hi all,

I'm new to keeping this breed and found it very reassuring to read people's experiences.

My boy, who is 14, has come in smelling of urine twice. Once it was his tail, but the first time it was his head! I found he was rolling in the dogs favourite spot and having a lovely time. He has also had a couple of occasions when a poo has stuck, but he is amazingly tolerant when I clean him up. (In fact sometimes I get the impression he's enjoying it. )

He also used to wee in awkward places, but we narrowed it down to one place and gradually moved his places towards, and then out of the door. I love him to bits so I forgive him everything and he now tries hard to be good, by going out in the garden, despite his fear of the dark. (I leave the light on for him at night).

What delightful friends they are.