Weeing around the house

[tootsieglitterballs]

Our beautiful girl is approx 16 years old (we rescued her and they estimated she was about 8 at the time)

For the last, probably 6 months, she has started weeing outside of her litter tray in differently locations in the house. Initially it was just once every so often, and gradually got worse.

We took her to the vets about a month ago (and every week then on), and after doing many many tests, they 'think' she could have early kidney disease and early dementia. She's been on some medication, but it's only getting worse.

She's now weeing every time outside of her litter tray. Mostly, she sits in the litter tray but wee's over the edge, or just wees near the litter tray. But at least once a day is somewhere else, the last few days have included by the front door several times, on the utility floor at least twice, in my sons toy box once and once on my shoes.

I'm cleaning up with god knows how many different products to try and get rid of the smell so she doesn't return to the same spot, but I don't think she's doing it on purpose in these locations.

Our last cat had kidney disease, but we didn't realise that's what it was until it was too late, we just thought she was misbehaving.

I don't know what to do.

If it's kidney disease, my head is saying we should let her go now, before it gets worse for her (and us) but my heart is saying I can't do that as she's my little girl.

It's at the point where it's stressing me out (a lot) , I'm 30 weeks pregnant with a toddler at home, and just can't see a happy ending to this.

She is back at the vets in about 10 days, and I know the vet is going to suggest PTS as she has already mentioned it.

Just to add - she is a house cat, always has been.

If the vet suggests PTS I would think seriously about it. I imagine her quality of life with kidney disease and dementia isn't great, but I also couldn't live with cat piss everywhere (and it sounds like you've done all the right things to prevent it). Sorry, but 16 isn't a bad age.

@TanginaBarrons thank you - my head is telling me that it's the right thing to do.

It doesn't help that my mother is making me feel like a horrible person for even considering doing it and thinks I / she (our cat) should just live with it. She's never had an animal PTS though and always let hers just 'go' naturally (which I feel is rather cruel in itself if there is a problem)

We have been lucky so far that our toddler hasn't 'found' any himself yet, it's always been me who has found it.

I neglected to mention that we have had to stop her coming upstairs now as she was doing it in the bathroom too. Bath mat, washing basket, towel that was left on the floor.... her quality of life isn't what it used to be - she used to have full reign of the house, and we have gradually had to stop her going in places due to weeing there.

If the vet is suggesting PTS then I would follow their advice providing you agree.

It's awful to have to do this but it's the kindest thing.

Has cystitis been ruled out?

@thecatneuterer apparently her urine tests came back clear of anything like cystitis. She's had lots of tests over the last few weeks, and they say she is generally for her age a very healthy cat.

She has been on anxiety tablets to try and stop her doing the wee-ing, but they aren't making the slightest bit of difference, if anything she is worse now.