Cat peeing in bath

[FriendofDorothy]

We have a lovely cat called Mabel who is about a year old. Until about a month ago she had been exclusively peeing and pooing in the little tray, despite having access to the garden.

We have decided to want to get rid of the litter tray entirely so have put it in the garden and encouraged her to use it out there.

Now she is peeing in the bath which is driving me nuts and is gross.

How do we get her to pee outside?

She's telling you she doesn't want to wee outside. At least she chose the bath & not the sofa.

Some cats prefer to pee or poo inside - maybe there's a mean tom out there, for example, who's making her edgy. (Cats can feel sensitive and exposed when they do their duty.) As Fluffysaid, she's telling you she's an inside sort of girl. Best get the litter tray back.

Bugger :( Not sure we can tolerate having the litter tray inside any more as I have a toddler who keeps trying to get in there!

Do you have a covered tray? Using one of those might help - other posters could give you guidance on that.

The Lodger, who was an ex street cat and used to doing everything outside, came to prefer using inside even though he went outside. (He would use his tray and then head out for the craic, coming back in again if he wanted to relieve himself.) I'm not saying he was never taken short out there but certainly inside was his preference. And you can understand that - dry, warm, safe, self-cleaning (!).....

It didn't/doesn't bother me that much. There are practicalities to get round but it seems a small price to pay to make them happy. It's also useful for keeping an eye on their health and surely better than having arguments with neighbours about their finding poo in their flower beds - which, by the way, your toddler might start to come across in the summer when playing outside. It's got to be left somewhere and at least with a tray, you know where that is.

Try a felliway plug in. One of my girls was choosing the worktops to wee on because of a mean Tom. Since I've used the plug in, she hasn't done it since.

Sometimes if they start peeing on cold flat surfaces it indicates cystitis

PS

Are you keeping her in at night? (That's so much safer because of potential RTAs and predators.) If so, she may be caught short and using the bath because of that.

The (easily cleanable) bath is actually quite tasteful of her. It could be anywhere!

Can't you train her to go on the toilet?

My cat peeing in bath was a sign of a rather nasty unrinary infection. No other signs until he was quite poorly. Bring the litter tray in a keep a eye on her just case.

I hate having a litter tray inside but also have a cat who prefers inside to outside. I use a covered tray and keep the litter tray in understand cupboard (accessed by a cheap cat flap in the door). Keeps it out of sight and away from little fingers!

Understand???? Under stairs cupboard even.

Pinterest has lots of ideas for hidden litter trays which might be worth look too?