Cats messing in the house

[ladybird69]

I'm at the end of my tether any advice would be great.
I've got 3 cats 2 girls 18 and 13 and a boy 7. The girls keep using my hallway as their litter tray! I even started locking them out of it. But even having the run of the kitchen utility garage and cat flap into big back garden as soon as I let them through to the rest of the house they mess. It's as if they hold on all day. There aren't any other cats around the garden area and they do play in the garden. I'm at a loss as to what to try. The boy is fine.

[SunshineAndShadows]

Are they wearing or pooing or both? How many litter trays do they have (rule is one per cat plus a spare) How do they usually interact with each other? What cleaning products do you use?

[SunshineAndShadows]

Sorry posted too soon - on mobile! Lots of questions but all relevant to figuring out the behaviour. This is a useful resource www.catvets.com/guidelines/practice-guidelines/house-soiling

[ladybird69]

Hi sunshine ive got 3 trays in garage and utility rooms and also the cat flap is in the back door which is in the utility room! In dry weather the back door is even left open! It's both wee and poo the 18 yr old is a grumpy moo but she always has been so they don't interact at all. But they've been living with each other for 13 odd years.

[ladybird69]

I'm reading your link now thanks. I use the pet solution from pets at home.

[ladybird69]

Oh and I've also bought a feliway diffuser for the area to try and put them 'off' the area.

[CattyCatCat]

A bit extreme but if your hall is carpet could you laminate floor it to try snd put them off (though some cats wee equally happily on hard floors.....).

[ladybird69]

Catty I've ripped up the carpet to expose original tiles but they still do it I'm at a loss as to what to try next. They're lovely cats I've got a bed full of them now having cuddles, but had to clean up this evening as per usual

[wtffgs]

Watching with interest. A 14 year old neutered tom is soiling daily

[wtffgs]

Just ordered a Feliway diffuser but there are lots of sprays. Which is best to discourage soiling. (Really it should be a cat turd emoticon )

[CattyCatCat]

Have you tried putting an open top litter tray it he hall. Perhaps they would accept that as a compromise

Wtffg, I've not looked at the sprays yet but plan to do so if problems start up after releasing my kittens from their (re-litter) training.

[ladybird69]

I've plugged feli ways in ive put gold-plated litter trays down but nothing sed to be working. But thankfully now it's tiles I can clean it over. Blooming cats.

[butterfliesinmytummy]

See your vet. My friends cat was doing this and it turned out it had a uti.

[cozietoesie]

For how long have they been doing this?

[CattyCatCat]

There is a litter called Dr Elsey's Cat Attract litter. You would likely have to buy it online but I have read good reports of it helping in this situation where you need to lure a cat back to a litter tray. If you can get that and place it in a litter tray in the hall it might do the trick.

Another idea is to start feeding te cats in the hall in the area they usuall mess. This is meant to stop them messing there as they don't like to dirty near their food. Likewise, if they have beds, place the over the areas that are currently getting messed.

[ladybird69]

Ah yes that's a great idea. I'll put their food down in the hallway and put trays in the utility room.
It's worth a try thanks