Please help - my kitten pisses everywhere except the litter tray!

[PissingKitten]

My female kitten is 8 months old and has been with me since she was 8 weeks of age. She was reasonably well litter trained (used Catsan litter and preferred an open litter tray) but prone to the odd 'wee accident'. We got her with her brother and he has always, without fail used the litter tray. Unfortunately she has carried on weeing outside of the litter tray at least a few times a week, e.g. by the back door, on duvets, baskets of washing, rugs and our 2 leather sofas. She has free access to the back garden during the day and prefers to wee there or anywhere in the house other than the litter tray. In fact she often wees on the floor next to the litter tray. She has been checked by the vet, has had cystease capsules, and we have feliway plug-ins. There have not been any changes that might provide a behavioural explanation eg no new cats to the neighbourhood, no changes in the household etc. I'm desperate to solve this so please, please post any ideas you have!

A different litter?
Don't they normally say the ideal number of litter trays is one more than the number of cats? Have you tried her own tray?

How many litter trays do you have?

Does she wee inside even when she has garden access?

I have 3 identical litter trays between 2 kittens and I have tried different litter, they came to us having used Catsan and I gradually moved over to using World's Best Clumping cat litter. The 2 kittens are very close and share everything. How would it work for her to have her own litter tray? I'm not sure how I could keep her brother away?

I'm pretty sure she only wees inside when she has no garden access.

Maybe she doesn't like the litter you are using. Could you have 1 tray with different litter to see if she uses that?

Can you get a cat flap?

My cat won't use a litter tray but luckily only goes outside. I do keep her in 11-7 but fortunately she doesn't wee overnight!

Worth a try dementedpixie, I've just ordered another one from Amazon which will arrive tomorrow so I will try that.

I have got a cat flap SandieCheeks but I haven't taught them to use it yet. The patio doors are always open in the kitchen so they have been using that. We normally bring them about 9pm and let them out at 7.30am. I'm quite nervous of letting them out late at night in case they manage to escape from the garden! I think I need to get them using the cat flap though.

If she's eating only dry, you could try adding wet food too?

It really does sound like you're trying everything to solve it! Poor you!

You've probably done it but have you tried cleaning in the places she has weed, with enzyme cleaner that is specifically for pet wee? I think bio laundry powder also does the job.

She may be anxious about something in which case feliway plug in is great.
Stick to the same brand of litter, make sure that there is more than one litter tray in the house. The general rule is one tray per cat plus one extra.
It could also be that her tray was already dirty and she doesn't like it.

Good luck

She has been eating wet food since I got her and happily eats a wide range of wet and dry food.
I use an enzyme cleaner after every accident (and she watches me clear up!)
I noticed a huge difference in her temperament after I started using the feliway plugs so I think she has always been a bit anxious. Since using the plug ins she has been super friendly and has been rubbing herself against our legs etc and will happily be stroked for a bit. She has never sat on our laps though, unlike her brother.
Trays are kept very clean. As soon as they use it the poo/wee is removed.
Thank you all for your ideas though, I appreciate the help. I'm just hoping that someone has an idea that I haven't tried yet!

There is a relaxing tablet you can get, you sprinkle it on their food, feli way sell them they really help with anxiety.

Thanks circumventgatekeeper, the Feliway Cystease tablets are the ones the vet gave us and she has been having them for a few weeks now.
So today I have a new cat litter arriving so I will clean out one of the litter trays and fill with the new litter. I am also going to try putting a puppy pad down by the back door (as there was a big wee there this morning . If she is simply a litter tray refuser then I don't mind using puppy pads overnight. I just want her to stop pissing on the rugs/soft furnishings/floors!
Anything else I could try???
Any other ideas?

Ultra clumping litter, talcum powder scented posh stuff like catsan gold.

It’s very soft on paws & closest to soil in texture which is what they evolved to seek out to toilet in.

So last night my kitten had the option of usual cat litter, a new cat litter and a puppy pad and ....... she weed only the puppy pad. I guess she is telling me that she doesn't like litter trays at all, no matter what is in them .
Bumping this today in case anyone else has any ideas that i could try to get her to use the litter tray?

Which litter was it?.

You’re right she is telling you she doesn’t like the tray.

Wrong litter
Tray too small
Tray covered and she hates the cover
Wrong depth of litter
Doesn’t like the smell of the cleaning product you use

Cats are like a psychology puzzle wrapped in fur. I tried mine on crystal litter once and he just shot me a look of “Seriously?”.

One of mine didn't like the fine sandy stuff. They were OK with bigger bits of clay litter and the eco litters e.g. worlds best, cats best pellets. Is it catsan you are trying again?

Following as my cat is the same! We cannot stop it from happening.
We have 5 litter trays dotted around the house.

The cat isn't incapable of using the trays properly. She does number 2s in them and we have an empty one she will use or sometimes she will just climb in a tray with litter in and do a wee. We don't know if it's boredom or attention thing? Nighttime is worst because you can guarantee at 3 am you will be woken up by her going for a wee NEXT TO THE LITTER TRAY 😭😭😭

I really do sympathise with you and following to see what advice you get!

You may find this resolves completely once she can use the cat flap freely. I had a cat who refused point blank to use a tray - he would go out in the snow in minus 12C rather than pee indoors!
If your cat is peeing near the door, she may be trying to establish territory and warning off interlopers. She may be stressed at having to share your house with another cat, even if he is a litter mate. Or she may simply dislike the feel of litter on her paws and prefer soil. Or be nervous of peeing “in public” in an open tray, where she is vulnerable to attack. Particularly if you say she is anxious by nature.

What about putting a puppy pad in a litter tray?

Thanks for all the ideas and sorry you are going through this too doublecheese.
Yes, i went back to putting catsan in one litter tray and worlds best in the other two. Puppy pad by the back door which is her favourite night time peeing spot. The kittens sleep downstairs in 'their' room overnight and always have done since we got them. This is where the cat flap is too. I do have a large covered litter tray but neither of my kittens liked it. They do have large litter trays. I don't think she is nervous of peeing in public as she will literally piss on the floor right next to the litter tray whilst she is watching us watch her!
Shall i put the puppy pad in a litter tray or just leave it on the floor?

What about the cheap wood/paper litter?
Or trying a tray filled with sand, or compost?

I did think about a tray of soil/compost..... but then i thought about the trail of mud all over my floors . Maybe a should try it.