Cat(s) weeing in hall

[AnotherEmma]

Hello fellow cat ladies (and gentlemen)

We have two cats, 3 year old brother and sister, both neutered, kept inside at night at allowed outside during the day.

We have a cat flap (locked at night) and just one large litter tray, because they prefer to toilet outside and hardly ever use it.

Recently though we have been finding puddles of wee in the hallway. We think they get stressed out in the morning because our toddler wakes up early (often around 5ish) and cries. We could let the cats out at that point (we did through the summer) but now I don’t really want to let the cats out until daylight.

I am going to add a second litter tray, should I leave it in the hall where they’ve been weeing or in a different location? I don’t want to encourage them to wee there longer term but I guess it’s better than wee on the floor.

Any other advice for things I can do?

Hello,

Have you tried a feliway plug in, it helps to calm them down if they are stressed.

It would also be an idea to put the tray out in the hallway at night and when they use it just move it a few centimeters down the hall to a more ideal spot.

Or you could give them Zylkene for a few weeks for them to get used to the new routine.

Unfortunately all i can think of sorry.

Thank you, we don’t have feliway but we do have pet remedy (similar) so I’ll try that.

I was thinking of putting the tray where they wee to start with and then gradually moving it, so thank you for the suggestion, that reassures me that it’s a good idea!

Any reason your locking the flap at night? You can buy sureflap that only allows cats you have taught it to recognise from there microchip. Cats don't tend to understand why it's unlocked during the day but closed at night. Do the cats also use the litter tray at all? If they are then certainly put it where they are weeing then move it each day.

We have a SureFlap already. We lock them in at night because it’s safer. Cats are more likely to be killed or injured by traffic at night. They are also more likely to get into fights or hunt and bring prey into the house. I don’t care that they don’t understand. It’s the routine and they’re used to it.

I’m hoping the toddler’s ~5am waking won’t be forever (!!) so I don’t want them to get into the habit of being let out at that time, and miaowing and scratching at our bedroom door. We might have to let them out before sunrise though, if the problem continues.

Mine did that because a mean and nasty cat was seeing just outside my front door. Washed down outside and scared off the other cat with the help of my wussy cat and all was good.

Weeing!!!