Quite a long back story so I'll try & be as brief as I can.
We have had this cat since he was a kitten, he is now nearly 8. He has ALWAYS been a bit rubbish at using the litter tray. We have tried all we can think of to stop him crapping on the floor & leaving puddles of wee in the kitchen (Different litters, seperate tray to the other cat, trays where he goes, that spray thing, plug in hormone diffuser). Vet can't find anything physically wrong with him. We have just resolved ourselves to the fact that when he is in he might sometimes go on the floor. (When he poos it is always within about 1/2foot of the tray & I have actually seen him put his front feet on the tray & have his bum/back legs on the floor 
) We can go months without incident then he will just do it for no apparent reason. During the day, he goes outside, and will miaow to go out (no cat flap) although in Summer he tends to stay outside all day & sun worship!!
Anyway, he has been going through a really bad phase. This morning DH has slipped in a puddle of wee in front of the fridge & fallen over. He has (understandably I guess) gone mental. It could have been our 2.9 DD slipping & hitting her head. He has decreed the said cat will from now on stay outside overnight. He has in the past stayed out, of his own will, but actually shutting him out feels a bit mean. Is DH right? He isn't usually the one cleaning up the mess, just the one who finds it as he is up first . Does anyone else put their cats out at night? Will he be ok? Really not sure what to do. He (cat) knows it is wrong when he has been on the floor as he runs & hides under the table or runs to the window as soon as we approach & discover the 'accident'. We are at our wits end, but I just don't know if I can bring myself to shut him out overnight.
Any advice/ideas?
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The litter tray
DH wants to put cat outside at night
bebejones · 25/05/2011 08:56
We don't really have any wall space for a cat flap. It can't go through our very lovely & extremely thick Victorian front door & the back door is a sort of wooden tongue & groove affair that I'm not entirely sure would stand up to being cut for a flap! 
As it happens last night I couldn't get said cat in! Not even with a box of treats!
If it was just accidents and missing the tray I think DH would be more understanding. The weeing happens all over the place. The dining room, the kitchen, the hallway (usually on the post ) Pooing is right next to the tray & it's not coz he is getting in the tray & missing, he just does it on the floor. FWIW DH was wearing his shoes when he slipped on the puddle yesterday, he has actually got a cut on the back of his head where he caught it on the cupboard door handle.
If we in 8 years haven't trained this cat to use a litter tray then we won't be able to train him to use the toilet!! His sister (who incidentally moved out & chose herself a new owner when DD arrived) was fab with the litter tray, as is our other, younger, cat. Tried moving the litter tray around, but he isn't the smartest cookie & tended to keep going on the floor where it used to be!
I do not intend to shut cat out in the winter, but am seriously at my wits end...mostly with DH ranting on about it! He is not a fan of this cat, and they tend to give each other a wide berth. Cat is mine essentially, you know how cats choose their owners! DH & cat have never seen eye to eye!! Unfortunately for DH cat adores DD & DD adores cat so he isn't going anywhere! :o
I couldn't lock our cat out all night on purpose. I hate going to bed when I haven't managed to get her in at bedtime & tend to wait up for her 
Our cat is called Princess Phoebe so she definatly can't stay out late at night even if she does occasionaly piss on the floor.
Several options:
(1) Train your cat to use the toilet. (no I am not kidding there are products to help you on the market which will train your cat to use the loo - they do not miss once they know how to do it).
(2) Provide your cat with an adequate sanctuary in the garden, yes it's not too bad at this time of the year but a bit horrible in midwinter. Dog kennels, play houses with blankets etc. Not ideal but better than nothing.
(3) Change where your cats litter tray is so it's easier to clean up. You may loathe the suggestion but if the cat is getting to the tray but missing, place it in the bath - you can shower away any accidents more easily than if they are hidden unseen on a floor. I know it's yucky but it's a 15 second job to clear up then rather than a 'OMG I have not even opened my eyes and have trodden in still warm cat wee' (had that experience myself ).
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