Cat messing everywhere

[littlepooch]

Apologies if this is long but I'm really hoping someone can help me so giving any relevant info I can think of.

We got our beautiful rescue girl in 2012. Her name is Grace. She is lovely. Since we got her I have had 2 DC and currently pregnant with our third. Grace seemed to adapt OK to them both.

We recently had a lot of building work on our house and had to move out for a little while. We of course took Grace with us. While we were living elsewhere the problems began - she stopped using her tray or the garden and started to do all her poos and wees inside the house on the floor. Not in any one spot but anywhere in the house. We moved home 6 weeks ago and it has continued. I honestly don't know what to do. I am at breaking point as we have a lot going on at the moment. My youngest is starting to crawl and put everything in her mouth and the thought she might be putting cat mess into her mouth is upsetting me. The whole time we were away I hoped she would be OK when we moved home but that is obviously not what's happened.
I've tried feliway. I've tried putting a number of litter trays around the house and always in the same place. I keep her trays absolutely spotless and she has access to the garden which is very safe and secluded and I've never seen another cat there. Has anyone got any advice how I can get her out of this habit? We adore her but she is becoming really hard work for me. I'm on my hands and knees cleaning up after her everyday. As I say it's not in one particular place but all around the house.

I'm really hoping someone can give me some suggestions as to what to do.

I forgot to say - we think she is around 5 years old so not an elderly cat.

So sorry OP. Have you taken her to the vet for a check up? That should be the first thing on your list.

The only solution I found (after years of trying other things) was to confine the cat to a certain area of the house (with catflap access to garden) and only let her into other rooms when I could watch her all the time. In my cat's case it also started after a house move.

Thank you both. She's due her check up at the vet next weekend so will definitely speak to them about it. Perhaps try to create a safe space for her somehow too.

I'm assuming she's stressed and unsettled so I feel bad for her and want to help her but the constant cleaning and dread as to where she will mess next is getting me a little down.

Hi, I'd put her in one room for now with a couple of trays and see how she goes. I'd also take her to the vets. She might have an infection of some sort which makes getting to the tray on tiime difficult.
When I got one of mine he was pooing everywhere, he had an upset stomach.I had just had this big furry rug on my bed dry cleaned and he pooed on it and I didnt know. I went to bed and it went on my head.
He had some tretament at the vets and was o.k afterwards.

I know it’s got you down. I’ve been there too and it’s difficult to keep your compassion and understanding. But cats are so clean and tidy that this behaviour is really saying ‘Hey human, I’m not ok!’ My boy was a lot older and had undiagnosed diabetes and diarrhoea due to stress.

I like other posters idea about putting Grace in one room with her trays and access to the garden. Bless her!

Do you have a picture of her?

Thank you all so much for responding. I've read and taken all your advice on board.

I will definitely take her to the vet next week and perhaps try to keep her to one room. I did wonder if the house move is stressing her out and the toddler now walking- maybe she feels she has nowhere to escape.

Here she is. She is apparently half Siberian but we rescued her so cannot be sure.

She was my little companion during some very hard times so I want to do my best by her and make sure she is ok.

Shes lovely.

She is very beautiful