old cats; young kids

[HenriettaTurkey]

I have two cats, aged 12 & 15, and two children, aged 3 & 1. Recently my two cats have started weeing and pooing in our rooms downstairs - lounge & dining room - as well as the litter tray & outside, which is what they usually do. They are indoor/outdoor cats - sleep at home with access to chip-controlled cat flap.

Youngest child is a speed crawler and has nearly beaten us to the cat poo on several occasions - and he will be walking really soon which only makes it harder. We clean the wee we see but there's every chance there's some we miss.

The cats have both been checked by the vets; no issues. And they've had a year to acclimatise themselves to child #2 and no new stresses or changes.

DH says it's becoming unmanageable and is concerned for the health of our youngest. He loves the cats but is beginning to talk about trying to rehome them (at their age I think it's unlikely)

Any ideas/advice/suggestions would be amazing. I've tried citrus/black pepper concoctions sprayed around the home with little success.

Just to confirm - has your vet considered arthritis? They're of an age for it and, sadly, not all veterinary professionals are clued up on it.

Is there any particular time of day that they pee and poo with abandon? I'm wondering whether another tray or two might help? (Even though they go outside.)

Checked for arthritis, bloods taken for one as he has minor heart murmur (a 2/6 apparently) results were fine. They tray we have is downstairs and they don't soil upstairs, even though they do go upstairs. It's usually by the front door for the wee (catflap goes to back garden) or under the table, or poo is usually by radiators...which is delightfully fragrant.

Not noticed a time of day!

Well they're unhappy about something as you well know. (Or the dominant one might be and just be being aped by their companion, I suppose. ) I think I'd try at least one extra tray for starters. See if that makes any difference at all.

Thank you, Cozie. I'll try that. Would you put it where they most usually urinate, or somewhere else?

I think I'd be tempted to try that place - definitely downstairs, anyway. I'd also sprinkle a little of the litter from their existing tray on top. Even when clean, it will likely have a faint odour to sensitive noses.

Good luck and let us know how things go.

(By the way - do they have any 'safe place' to get away from the DCs?)

I would guess there is a new younger cat taking over their outside territory and making it stressful for them to go outside.
I would limit their access to the house to one smaller area with litter trays and safe sleeping options away from small children.

You might even find that a neighbouring cat is sneaking in and using their trays or spraying in the house!

Thanks, moving. You could be right about a new cat: I have seen a black cat in the garden. (S)he won't be able to get in, as the catflap is a microchip one (we had unwanted guests before!) so at least home is safe. I can think of an area where they can be safe and away from the children so will rearrange a few bits.

And thanks, Cozie too!