Cat Peeing in Strange Places

[whenwilltherebegoodnews]

She only pees outside, never used a litter tray... and now she's taken to peeing on the bathmat. It was very occasionally, if she's been shut through the house, but now it's every bloody day. And tonight - with no bathmat there - she managed to pull the hand towel down and pee on that.

She's old (15/16 we think), but is there anything we can do?? She's had cystitis a few times over the last couple of years but otherwise fairly healthy and sprightly for her age.

Help, I am going demented!

Could well be a water infection. Does she have a litter tray?

Mine wees if he doesn't like the type of litter we use.

I'd get a tray for her and see how she gets on. I wouldn't want to go outside at that age and in this weather. (And who knows but that there might be a new cat or two out there which are making her feel insecure outside.)

Thanks, she won't use a tray - when we've had to keep her in before (to try and get a pee sample she's refused to use one and waited til we let her out. Not sure how she'd cope with the change, or where we'd put a tray in a small house with an investigative toddler!

Taking her to the vet is very stressful all round.

Hmmm - that was then and things may have changed for her. I'd still give it a try.

I think that covered trays are good with toddlers and you could always leave the top off at the very beginning to see if she takes to it. (Or use the old one you had as a test for a week - I guess that you've still got it in a cupboard somewhere?) The choice of litter might matter as well - I'd give her a decent clumping one myself.

PS - I know you said she was healthy but has she actually been to the vet for a check up since this started getting bad?

I would get her checked out. Can you put litter tray where she likes to wee?

I would definitely see what the vet thinks
My cat started doing similar (except his choice was to pee on DS2's duvet)
he was 16, we took him to the vet (there were other things not quite right as well) and he needed treatment for an overactive thyroid. He is still with us now, over a year later, and the inappropriate weeing has stopped

My other cat who died recently (also a very very old girl) used to wee in strange places when she got a bit stressed for whatever reason (usually related to the DCs)
I got VERY good at cleaning up/removing the smell of cat wee
Feliway plugins have worked quite well to relieve cat stress

I'd certainly try a litter tray. My girl is happy to go down in the summer, but in the winter she will only go in the house. Some cats like open litter trays, some like enclosed ones so worth trying another style. Also, choose a nice fine litter which is comfy for the feet.

You mention she has had cystitis in the past. My cat used to get it really bad and wetting in the house was a sign that it was coming back, so do keep a close eye on this. If it does come back, once it has been treated by the vet, it might be worth giving her Cystease/Cystaid daily mixed in with her food. You can buy this off the internet cheaper than the vet and it's lines their bladder and reduces the chance of irritation.