Why has my cat started to go to the toilet indoors

[WinterCat]

Twelve year old cat has always been reliable at going to the toilet in a litter tray or outside. However, this year there have been several incidents where he has been indoors (mainly had a wee).

He doesn’t have a uti or any other obvious reason. He has mild arthritis but has done for years and the vet says it’s around 2 out of ten. It’s at different times of the day and different weather - he had no issues going outside in the recent storms but not this afternoon when it was relatively mild out.

Any suggestions?

[thecatneuterer]

I don't quite understand. You mean he peed on the floor instead of in the tray?

[Wimpeyspread]

He may be in more pain than you think. My elderly cat does this if she is in pain. She has arthritis and is also prone to stomach problems, which I think also cause her pain.

[WinterCat]

No, he has weed on furniture (beds and a sofa). On the floor wouldn’t be an issue.

He has been three times to the vet (this year, about this issue). He has had steroids, anti inflammatories and antibiotics in case there was a uti despite being no signs. He has medication for the arthritis which has certainly put a spring back into his jump although I agree he may be in more pain than the vet has realised. However, I would have thought he would have been more consistent at not going to the toilet outside if that was the case.

It’s also always on soft furniture or a duvet and twice he has gone out of his way to go upstairs and do so, which is a longer and more difficult journey than to go out the open back door.

[thecatneuterer]

So how many litter trays do you have and where?

[Wimpeyspread]

Is he being threatened by other cats outside? Sounds like he is trying to get your attention by weeing in places you can’t ignore! Have you tried putting a second litter tray upstairs? You could try something like Feliway Which might make him feel more chilled

[WinterCat]

Three litter trays - upstairs spare room, downstairs study and utility room (or occasionally in the kitchen). He also has a cat flap into the house that has a microchip. No new cats in the neighbourhood that I’m aware of and I don’t see them in the garden either. We have fields around us so not a high cat population anyway.

He is a purebred (BSH) if that makes any difference or makes them known for having certain illnesses or traits. He is eating well and in the past has had idiopathic cystitis (although still used a litter tray or gone outside then) but not had a flare up in many years (he has special food and several water fountains to help with this). My immediate assumption (and I think the vet agreed) was that he had cystitis. He also has a plug in to help him with stress in the room that he tends to sleep in.

[WinterCat]

I could get more plug ins but he spends almost all of his time in two places in the house.

I’m going to go back to the vet and see whether it’s worth doing blood tests but before putting him through that, I just wondered if I’m missing anything obvious.

I want to help him. He is a much loved little pet and friend.

[justasking111]

My friends bengal started doing this stress caused by toddler. Try some zylkene. I cured a feral cat with these.

www.amazon.co.uk/Zylkene-Dietary-Supplements-Dogs-100-Capsules/dp/B00CXS3P6I/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&crid=T8SCRXJ471XR&keywords=zylkene%20for%20cats&sprefix=zylkene%20for%2Cpets%2C163&qid=1582670184&sr=1-2&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[WinterCat]

Thank you. I’m worried he is stressed. Will chat to my vet about it and see what is suggested.