# HELP!! I have a defective cat! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-defective-cat/224388 "2004-01-14T16:17:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![poissongrand69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/848f3c/32.png) [@poissongrand69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poissongrand69)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-defective-cat/224388/1 "2004-01-14T16:17:55Z")
Okay, the situation… Cat is 8 months old, roughly. When it takes a crap or leak the way it covers it up is to scratch at the sides of the box, or leave its back legs in the box and paw with his front legs on the floor… Thus never covering his stuff up… Only when the other cat goes does it get covered up… The problem is this cats crap smells AWFUL! I have never smelled something so bad from an animal… Thats the dilemma, smells till tidy cat comes along and covers it up… Ironically, male cat craps bad, smells bad… Female cat, smells like baby powder… havent figured that out yet… Thoughts on how to train this male cat??? Thanks. Matt ---
**Author:** ![poissongrand69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/848f3c/32.png) [@poissongrand69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poissongrand69)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-defective-cat/224388/2 "2004-01-14T16:37:29Z")
> **[My cat needs your help](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=234648)** > > Mods, I apologize in advance if this is more of a IMHO thing. Dopers, I need your help. I have two cats, one is pretty much the perfect cat…the other has an interesting problem. He seems to be completely clueless about the litter box. Oh, he uses... hahahah, apparently Im not the only one with this problem… heheh ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-defective-cat/224388/3 "2004-01-14T19:02:39Z")
Well, for one thing, if his crap smells that awful, you need to speak to his vet. There are intestinal parasites that can cause horrible, horrible stench without actually giving the cat diarrhea. That’s the other thing, is the poop well-formed? If it’s loose or runny, he definitely needs to go in and be checked out. What kind of food does he eat, and do you change what they’re eating frequently? Some foods don’t agree with some cats and cause extra stinkiness, and dietary changes can cause tummy problems, too.