Old cats. Peeing and pooping and puking

[Polkadot1974]

The poo and wee is my worst issue. Not sure if just age related (19/17 years old) but my cat(s) are weeing on new rug in hall and rug in lounge. I think it’s either our new garden which has removed a border they used to go in or a dog visitor that terrified them. Or an outside cat coming in.
I need to lock them in with a litter tray to try and eliminate it being another cat but if mine what do I do? Not used litter tray in years and they’re showing no sign of using the one I’ve bought and put in kitchen. It’s driving me mad and already binned a coat and pair of shoes which were sodden after being left on floor and weed on

[thecatneuterer]

I think you are going to have to start using a litter tray. It's very common as cats get older that they become less inclined to go out to toilet. And if they don't like it in the kitchen then it's probably in the wrong place. Try a couple of trays in different places.

In the meantime don't have any rugs down.

[thecatneuterer]

Oh and it would be worth reinstating a poo-friendly bit of the garden. So say a two foot square patch with no grass/plants/stones and nice soft earth. It would encourage them to use it.

[Polkadot1974]

Just catching up as I lost my thread. You think a litter tray in the pebbles outside with soil in might work? Have put litter tray on the rug they/ she pooped on but there’s since been poo next to it. Where do I get a enzyme spray? Amazon? Getting so fed up of the smell
Thanks all

[WhereBeThatBlackbirdTo]

When our cat was very old - 22 - she would wake up then shout. If we were lucky we could get there in time and carry her outside for a wee. It was often more luck than judgement most of the time but it worked. Other than that she wee'd where she felt like it, despite litter trays etc. We ended up having puppy pads at strategic points of the kitchen. I miss her dreadfully but not the piddle!

Oh, one thing I learnt is that once female cats start weeing, they carry on even if you pick them up

[Polkadot1974]

More poo again on the rug. I need to find a spray and I’m debating filming my hall to see if it’s really my cat and if so which one
It’s driving me mad. New bloody rug too

[IrritatedUser1960]

My ancient cats have to have litter trays or they just go on the sofa or the rug, old cats often get taken short and have accidents like old people.
I have a litter tray upstairs and downstairs and they use both of them depending if they are up or down.
Ay night I have to keep them in the dining room/kitchen or they wake me up hourly scratching in the upstairs litter tray and generally being needy and demented.
I made a lovely cosy nest for them down there and they feel really secure at night tending to sleep much better if they don't have access to me. I let them back in the main part of the house during the day.
I think you will have to have a litter tray in the house. Imagine your old granny having to get up in the night especially with a weak bladder and go to the outdoors loo in the middle of the night

[thecatneuterer]

I suppose an outside tray might help, as well as indoor ones, but it would need drainage holes or it will turn to mud in the rain.

Simple Solution from Pets at Home is good for getting rid of smells. Can you put the tray on top of a plastic sheet?

[Polkadot1974]

Well I caught the cat doing it and it’s the......younger one. Who frankly is a pain. She scratches and bites and is one of those disrespectful cats 😂
I’m trying new litter in case the wood doesn’t float her boat and will bin the rug and see how I go. L also consider shutting them in a room
Thanks all

[Fluffycloudland77]

Mine only uses ultra clumping. It's smaller granules & I think he prefers the feel of it on his little paws.

[Bitsy1968]

I have two 17 year olds, one male and one female.

Do you have two trays? Ours just shared one when younger but a few years ago we had some random pee-ing in the house. Adding a second tray solved it instantly. They have outside access but the girl has health issues and generally prefers the tray.

I use a nice clumping litter - our one is called something like Worlds Best Cat Litter. I get big bags from amazon, and it's made of corn so it's kind of like chunky sand. Both seem very happy with it, although the girl (it's always my girl) sometimes has aiming problems and gets her bum pointing the wrong way, so the floor surrounding the trays is puppy padded to within an inch of its life.