Cat using living room carpet to go to the toilet! Advice please!

[TwoLittleBlooms]

Sorry if this has been asked before, haven't got time to go through the archives as I am grabbing a few moments whilst the children are sleeping/playing quietly!

We moved house a couple of weeks ago - cat who normally goes outside has obviously been kept inside for the last couple of weeks with a litter tray in the bathroom - no problems, going in the litter tray, but wouldn't come down stairs at first (we have had her about 5 years, a nervous rescue cat - still nervous around others but not us - actually maybe a little around the newly walking baby but getting used to her!).

She has in the last few days starting venturing downstairs into the living room and has started weeing in the corner of the lounge (on a new cream carpet! ).

She would go in the old house occasionally on one of the stairs (which obviously was a pita) - but only during the night if she was stuck inside and needed to go. Now she has the litter tray so no excuse!


My question is does anybody have any idea how I can stop this?!?!

[cozietoesie]

How old is she, Two, and has she visited her vet recently?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I agree with Cozie vet check to rule out infection.
Make sure you are not using ammonia containing compounds to clean up as this will make it worse - biological washing powder is best.
Feliway plug to reduce anxiety from house move etc.

[TwoLittleBlooms]

Hi, thanks for answering!

cozietoesie, she is about 7 and a half (when we got her the rescue centre thought she was about one, we have had her slightly longer than I thought! oops!). She is actually due a visit to the vet for her jabs very soon. She hasn't been since her last jabs.

Lonecatwithkitten, she appears in good health other than the weeing in the corner, but will get vet to give her a check when we take her for her jabs. I've been using hot soapy water (washing up liquid), then drying with kitchen roll and sprinkling with bicarb to avoid smell - will switch to washing powder. I will get one of those feliway plugs - might help generally with her nervousness!

[cozietoesie]

Let us know how the vet practice goes then?

[thecatneuterer]

So she just has the one tray and that's upstairs? Can you find somewhere to put another tray downstairs? She may sometimes feel nervous about going upstairs for whatever reason and so unable to get to the tray.

Also, if her only tray is in bathroom, won't the bathroom door be shut sometimes? If she doesn't have constant access to a tray that could explain it.

[TwoLittleBlooms]

Sorry for the delay responding. I will update once she has been to the vets cozietoesie and let you know how we get on.

Hi, thecatneuterer, I have been leaving the bathroom door open apart from when people are using it and hadn't thought that only one tray would be an issue - I will get another when I go into town tomorrow as I have a spot downstairs where we could put it (although touch wood - we haven't had any more accidents since). Thank you.