Weeing in inappropriate location - any ideas?

[maamalady]

My elderly cat (approx 20 years) has, in the last few days, weed three times in approximately the same place near the back door. The first time we brushed off as it was under the Christmas tree - on the presents so we put it down to a big heap of "foreign" items that she was objecting to. Since then she's done it again, on the doormat, and again on the floor (doormat in the wash and not yet put back).

It's always at night so we can't catch her at it. During the day she's quite happy to use the litter tray, which is near the front door - more of a walk for her than where she's been peeing on the floor, but not far. She has been known to pee on things in a territorial sort of way such as on my dad's toolkit when he left it here overnight, so I'm not convinced its just down to her age.

Any ideas how we can keep up her daytime litter-tray usage overnight? The flooring is only three months old and is laminate so shouldn't have smells from previous weeing, and is at least easy to clean. We have another cat aged about 13, who usually goes outside (though sometimes in the tray), and has no history of inappropriate weeing, which is why we suspect the older one. Oldcat is very much the dominant one of the two, which has not changed as she's got older.

Sorry for the essay!

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Where is the cat flap? If it is in the back door I would be highly suspicious of an intruder. Make sure you clean up with products that not contain ammonia.

[evilgiraffe]

Cat flap is in the front door. Neither cat has been bothered by intruders in the past (although we have!), definitely not to the point of peeing.

[evilgiraffe]

No-one else has any ideas? She's still doing it and aside from washing the doormat (and the floor) every morning, we're stumped :(

[cozietoesie]

But although they may not have been bothered by intruders in the past, can you be certain that you haven't got any now? (eg by using a microchip cat flap.) She may be feeling more sensitive with age or there may be a new cat she doesn't like. (Cats, in my experience, can take dislikes to certain other cats much like people do with other humans.)

[evilgiraffe]

No new cats in the area that I know of, but no, we can't be certain no other cats are getting in. Not sure why would it make her pee by the back door though? Flap (ie point of entry for intruders) is in the front door. We may try locking the flap overnight though, and see if it makes any difference.

[cozietoesie]

Worth a go although it would mean putting a couple of trays down rather than one, I think. She may be getting anxious with age as well (they can start to get 'notions') and having a completely safe haven would help with that. I think I'd try it and see it it helps any.

[evilgiraffe]

Yes will try it - nothing ventured nothing gained etc! Thinking about it more maybe another cat (though a quiet one that leaves no evidence, unlike previous intruders) has been coming in, seeing as she's only doing it overnight. I doubt it's age-related, as she's always been a bit prone to peeing in random places occasionally for no apparent reason: it's the sudden repeated behaviour that has us suspicious.

[evilgiraffe]

Thanks for your advice :)