Cat using house as toilet - help!

[doblet]

We moved our cats with us into a new house 3 weeks ago. For the first week we blocked the cat flap and they used a litter tray. One cat happily goes in and out but the other one rarely goes out and seems happier indoors, so I am presuming that this is the culprit. The first time I discovered she had weed in my laundry basket I assumed DP had not changed the litter tray (this was the first week) but now she has the option to go outside and I have discovered 2 more places in the bedroom that she has been. I can't spray the entire house so a) how do I prevent her using the house as a toilet and b) how do I get her to go outside.
PS: Yes I know it is both our responsibilities to empty litter trays but I am pregnant so am avoiding where poss!

[beautifulgirls]

Take a read here

[missjulie]

Dear doblet, i am a registered veterinary nurse, with 17 years experience, so hope i can help you a little here. I am also an avid feline fan, and have had many, many cats myself, and especially enjoy aspects of 'feline behaviour'!
I have recently had a baby, and through the health and safety aspects of my work, i was in fact allowed to empty cat litter trays - provided i always wore gloves,and washed my hands thoroughly afterwards - obviously, avoiding the tray when there was any diarrhoea.
Cats absolutely hate change with a passion! They get so very stressed out, and as a result, will 'toilet' in different places to usual.
It is, as you already know, extremely important to always keep the tray as clean as possible, as cats are immaculate creatures, and hate using a soiled tray!
They also don't like using a tray if other cats have been in it - i know it is a pest, but try to have several trays dotted about, ideally one for each cat!
They will not 'toilet' anywhere near their food - so this may be an option for you - to move their food to the areas they are toileting in? - only if always going in the same places though!
Wash the soiled areas thoroughly with biological detergent/washing powder etc. This will kill the 'smell'.
There is no great way to prevent her from soiling in the house, but you need to try and make her as stress-free as possible.
Make sure she has plenty 'high up' places to sleep, as when cats are stressed, they like to be 'high' to see what is going on, in case there is a threat around.
If you see her sniffing around, looking distressed, pawing at the carpet etc...try and catch her and put her in the tray, to encourage her to 'go'. If this works, you could move the tray nearer to the door, and gradually get her to go outside. Have you tried encouraging her to go out and in the catflap?
There are great diffusers/plug ins now available too on the market - you can get from your vets, and am sure also from petshops etc.... Feliway is one, is is great, you can get the spray which can be used directly on areas in the house, or the plug in diffuser, which lasts for a couple of months (but does take a while to work, and needs to be constantly plugged in to work) This releases the natural pheromones that the lactating queen secretes when suckling kittens, which soothes cats, and speaking from personal experience, it DOES work!
Also, there is a capsule of milk protein, called Zylkene, which you can get from your vet nurse. It is not a 'drug' - so nurses can dispense it. It is also fab. Capsule can be broken up and sprinkled into food. Again, it takes a little time to work. Both of these things are really good, and have helped my cat with the stress of a new baby! I have dispensed these 2 items to LOTS of clients at work too!
Hope this helps you a little.
Julie x

[missjulie]

p.s, not to worry you, but cats getting stressed, and not toileting 'as usual' can lead to cystitis, so do keep an eye on this in case she gets an infection and requires antibiotics.
Encourage water drinking. (Hope this doesn't sound patrionising!) x

[missjulie]

the site beautifulgirls gave you is fab! Just read it! The FAB are great! Good luck with this! x

[MankyPissFlaps]

get rid of the cat .... put it on gumtree free to good home . . you have enough on your plate no doubt.

cats are not emotional and will be happy wherever they are fed

[missjulie]

That's a bit extreme! :)

[MankyPissFlaps]

not really - you wouldn't miss it at all

[missjulie]

I would have to disagree! ;)

[doblet]

Thank you for the advice. I will keep upstairs off limits for now (where she has been doing her business) and try accompanying her into the garden tomorrow so she doesn't feel so nervous.

Gumtree is not the answer and most cat owners would disagree with the statement that cats are not emotional.

[missjulie]

No problems, hope it works.

I def agree, but didn't want to start a war on here!!! x

[MankyPissFlaps]

the cat owners who would disagree with that FACT are themselves, sadly, over emotional

[missjulie]

Come on, there's no need for that!! Bah humbug! :(

[MankyPissFlaps]

xmas was last month dearie

[MadAboutQuavers]

Bad day, Manky? You sound as acidic as the lemon drop i'm currently sucking

Another second for Felliway, it does work. Cats are very sensitive creatures. Well, they are when they like someone, anyway

[missjulie]

Brill, madaboutquavers!!!!