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Original poster

Cat peeing help

35 replies

45redballoons · 03/09/2022 23:44

Hello,

I have an elderly cat, who has a litter tray upstairs in the bathroom. She has always had an interest in peeing in the hall at our front door on the mat, so we have removed it and generally there has only been the occasional pee, until recently.

Now she sleeps downstairs when she previously slept upstairs (her choice, because I moved my working desk downstairs) so she does all her business on the floor.

We put a litter tray and just accepted the inconvenience of it in our way and how gross a sight it is as you walk in, however she always misses the tray and it ends up on the floor anyway. So we tried a hooded one, and she just goes beside it. We tried putting puppy pads around, but she leaks through, so we change it daily and have to clean the floor anyway, same issue with the reusable ones. This cat pees more than any cat I have known.

Recently we tried removing it all and spraying some special cat urine odour remover. We listen for her walking in there and if we catch her we move her to the correct litter tray, but for example tonight I went for a shower and came back to pee and a poo.

She has been checked by the vet and there is no medical issue. She is just too lazy to go upstairs. How can I fix this? I'm at the end of my tether. My friend stayed last night and left a bag downstairs that the pee ran into, it was horrible!

Thanks.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 03/09/2022 23:49

You put a tray downstairs if she won't go upstairs. What litter is it? Maybe she doesn't like the feel.of it and needs a different type

Applesfortea · 03/09/2022 23:57

My 21 year old cat doesn't use litter trays at all now. I heard it's a sign of dementia, it's like they just forget what litter trays are. I have to put him out in the garden as often as possible. I've also got puppy pads & towels down on the floor where he'll usually go in the house. Have you tried the large washable incontinence bed pads? They might be better as they cover a larger area.

Original poster
45redballoons · 04/09/2022 02:22

Hi

The litter isn't the issue as she will go on the tray, she just misses where her pee actually goes.

the size of the pad isn't the issue either, the issue is that they keep leaking through to the floor. They would need changed twice a day to have any hope of it helping.

OP posts:
KentuckyDerbyandJoan · 04/09/2022 02:45

Maybe she finds it hard to go upstairs? Double up on the puppy pads.

caringcarer · 04/09/2022 02:52

Maybe she finds it hurts her joints to have to keep going upstairs if it is an elderly cat. Bring her tray downstairs and put two large puppy pads underneath the tray and change them twice a day. Your cat is doing its best but is elderly and needs consideration.

Original poster
45redballoons · 04/09/2022 05:35

It's twice a day if I buy the reusable which need to go in the wash, the non reusable might aswell not be there. So I'd need to spend a fortune on more reusable and seperate hot washes for this to be the solution, it really isn't sustainable. I'm also just guessing that will work, I don't know, I haven't managed to go a day yet without it soaking through. Nevermind that my hall isn't much wider than the pads, so frequent slipping on the pads has happened as I try to do the massive step over with my dodgy knees and end up standing on a soaking pad. It may be there isn't another solution to what I'm doing, but I'm finding it incredibly hard and upsetting. My floor is ruined, and I don't even care, I just want pee to stop being spread around the house and to walk in my door without hurting myself.

She certainly has no issue coming upstairs to see me in the night, so I'm not convinced it's her joints, as I hear her walking up the stairs right now. Even if it was though, it would still be good to find something better to the problem.

OP posts:
wentoschool · 04/09/2022 05:37

Have you tried two trays one up and one down

Can you obstruct where she usually goes

Urgh I feel sorry for you it's gross and frustrating but you love her

I go insane if my cat gets sick in the house

I would honestly be going back to the vet
Is she healthy and happy in general

Original poster
45redballoons · 04/09/2022 05:49

Hi,

Exactly I really do love the little poppet, it just doesn't stop this being an issue.

Yes we kept the upstairs one when we started the downstairs one.

This issue started as soon as I moved my desk downstairs for work, she followed me down. Before she slept upstairs on the bed next to me working. Unfortunately I can't move the desk back up. The vet has done both blood and urine recently for other reasons so I asked about this and they said there was no medical reason they could think of, so I'm not sure what more the vet could do. They always feel the bladder etc too and it is the same place she goes so it doesn't suggest an infection.

OP posts:
Original poster
45redballoons · 04/09/2022 05:52

I'm considering keeping her upstairs and putting a stair gate on. That way she may go to the bathroom one. She'd still have 3 rooms and the bathroom to roam. At 22 she sleeps most of the time anyway. I'm tempted to try it just to break the habit, maybe a week or so. I love having my work buddy though, so I'm not sure if that would upset her or not.

OP posts:
wentoschool · 04/09/2022 06:05

45redballoons · 04/09/2022 05:52

I'm considering keeping her upstairs and putting a stair gate on. That way she may go to the bathroom one. She'd still have 3 rooms and the bathroom to roam. At 22 she sleeps most of the time anyway. I'm tempted to try it just to break the habit, maybe a week or so. I love having my work buddy though, so I'm not sure if that would upset her or not.

Can you bring her up at night with you or do you work nights? Sorry I'm trying to work out your schedule. Make sure she can't get through the gate, my cat goes through our child gates. Maybe some Perspex over the bottom will stop her mincing through.

Basically what I'm saying is to bring cat with you up or down depending on where you go? Has she got a lovely comfy spot downstairs to be asleep?

Applesfortea · 04/09/2022 06:55

You could try a litter box that has a larger area to help her pee inside it, so it might not end up on the floor outside the tray and with lower sides for easier access.

Original poster
45redballoons · 04/09/2022 08:22

We have the biggest litter tray we can find. She just always goes to the edge.

OP posts:
Original poster
45redballoons · 04/09/2022 08:42

I've just followed her out of the living room and she went upstairs to the bathroom litter tray, and she used it once in the night, (and the floor downstairs) so maybe we just need to keep going with this way a bit longer

OP posts:
Original poster
45redballoons · 04/09/2022 08:43

Oh actually I think she went for a drink in the shower. #catstalker

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 04/09/2022 09:09

A high sided tray?
One up and one downstairs?

justasking111 · 04/09/2022 09:13

Ours did this with dementia I put a washable rug under the tray in fact had two and slung them in the machine. Got them off eBay

Original poster
45redballoons · 04/09/2022 09:30

Hi, yeah we have the washable rugs, she is peeing so much they aren't absorbing so run off onto the floor. This is with changing once a day so God knows how many I'd need and all the separate washes I'd have to do for this to be the solution, so I'm hoping for something else. It's also very hard not to stand on them in my hall so you get pee soaked feet.

Yes tried every litter tray you can think of! With those she just stands at the lower side and pees out of it. Obviously we try move her and show her to go further in, but we don't always catch her and she isn't picking up our hint. She goes a lot.

I hope it doesn't sound like I'm not wanting to listen to any of you, I'm just trying to explain what we have tried. I have a young kid too so trying to keep them away from it is another task.

She is also being very picky with food, which is why she has had the tests done, so between the 8 different foods and trying different combinations for her to eat and this, as well as a young kid, well I'd like one fewer job to do! Every time I hear the tap of her feet in the hall I jump up to see what she is doing, even mid feeding or bedtime. It's exhausting. I love her and I know it's not her fault, but it's hard not to be frustrated with her.

She is in excellent health otherwise so I expect to have her a few more years yet, so not a case of putting up with it at her age as she'll be gone soon.

OP posts:
wentoschool · 04/09/2022 12:59

45redballoons · 04/09/2022 08:43

Oh actually I think she went for a drink in the shower. #catstalker

Role reversal 😜 go on share a photo of the monkey

wentoschool · 04/09/2022 12:59

Is she def not diabetic

wentoschool · 04/09/2022 13:00

My cat does small wees half a beaker type

Caaarrrl · 04/09/2022 13:30

www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_litter_litter_boxes/hooded_litter_box/litter_boxes_without_filter/600276?mkt_source=59309&awc=2940_1662294437_c4e73f7d7fe3d302f87086df1527b6be

I have these as I was sick of litter being kicked out of the box (and the dog thinking it was his treat box🤢). Would this work? If she can get up the stairs then she should be able to get into this. My eldest cat is 18 and he manages.

Yarnosaur · 04/09/2022 14:04

I wonder if she's struggling to get in a comfortable position and is resting on the edge of the tray. Arthritis seems to be under-diagnosed in elderly cats but it's worth asking your vet for a pain meds trial to see if this helps.

Original poster
45redballoons · 04/09/2022 14:35

Caaarrrl · 04/09/2022 13:30

www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_litter_litter_boxes/hooded_litter_box/litter_boxes_without_filter/600276?mkt_source=59309&awc=2940_1662294437_c4e73f7d7fe3d302f87086df1527b6be

I have these as I was sick of litter being kicked out of the box (and the dog thinking it was his treat box🤢). Would this work? If she can get up the stairs then she should be able to get into this. My eldest cat is 18 and he manages.

I am not sure, she doesn't use the more regular hooded kind, I can't imagine her using it, but will keep it in mind.

OP posts:
Original poster
45redballoons · 04/09/2022 14:35

Yarnosaur · 04/09/2022 14:04

I wonder if she's struggling to get in a comfortable position and is resting on the edge of the tray. Arthritis seems to be under-diagnosed in elderly cats but it's worth asking your vet for a pain meds trial to see if this helps.

As I have watched her, she looks like she is getting into the correct position.

OP posts:
Original poster
45redballoons · 06/09/2022 11:31

Arg! Just watched her walk downstairs, pee right on the cloth I put down covered in spray that is supposed to deter her, even with me trying to move her, then walk back upstairs. Nope, this cat definitely just wants to pee there, there is no other reason. I'm going to get a stairgate and keep her upstairs until she breaks this habit.

OP posts: