Problem: I am always wiping my cat's butt

by Peter
(Cleveland)

I have two cats, brother and sister (they are one year old). She is very neat using the litter box. He, however, squats really low when he pees and hops out with litter stuck all over his underside. This happens at least once a day.

When I first started noticing it, I would wipe him off and pick the litter out of his fur. Now, I am doing this every time he pees. He comes and finds me when he's done in the litter box and expects me to clean him off (he generally likes being held and pampered, so he seems to enjoy the wiping-off ritual).

I really would like to put an end to this habit. I've experimented with different litter (they've always had lightweight, clumping TidyCat). Unfortunately, both cats thought paper pellet litter was food, then they decided it was a toy; the only thing they didn't do was pee and poop in it.

I've also considered grooming as a solution; brother and sister are both shorthairs, though he's a little shaggier, and I wondered if his slightly longer fur was giving him the problem.

But it's really not that long to begin with, and short of shaving him bald, I'm not sure there's anything I can do. I would appreciate any advice anyone has. Thank you!