Kitten peeing on the doormat

[Stokey]

Hello, we have two 8 month old kittens. Have had them since April, both happily litter trained. In May we got a covered litter tray with a flap & they were both using it no problems. They've been going out in the garden since August through the patio doors but still using the litter tray. About 3 weeks ago we installed a cat flap. Male kitten uses it happily, female kitten is more reluctant. She spends lots of time waiting by patio doors, will come to cat flap if called, but won't use it unless someone holds it for her.
In the last couple of weeks we've noticed some wet patches by the garage door (opposite end of the utility room to the cat flap and litter tray which are near each other). Then we had a sheet on the floor which she peed on, and then tonight she has done a poo on the mat.

Any ideas what we should do? DH has chucked out the doormat but we'll need to get another one there as it's our messy entrance. I'm worried that she's got scared by the cat flap and now won't use the litter tray which has a flap.

Remove the flap from the tray

I’d take the lid off too.

I read that citrus and mint repel cats.

Some cats really can’t abide a cat litter tray with a lid because it’s too smelly inside. Some cats don’t like to share either and need one each.

We had kittens many years ago who developed toileting problems and started going in other places. The litter tray was near the back door (cat flap). It transpired other cats, including large scary ones, were coming in through the cat flap and terrorising them. They started using the tray again when we addressed the cat flap/intruder problem.

Try getting a second tray. We have two because we have two cats- one isn't fussy, the other won't use the tray that has recently been used by his sister, so will go to the second tray. If that second tray had also recently been used by his sister he would pee on the front door mat 😡

Also, make sure you clean really well where she's been doing her business. They can still smell it even when we can't and will keep going back. We tried all sorts of cleaners, tricks and deterrents but had to bin the rug in the end.

Thanks all. I followed fluffyCloudland's advice and took the lid off. But this afternoon she had just gone and done a poo in the study. We've put another litter tray out now but not sure what's going on.
Maybe she's stressed by the cat flap.

Is the litter tray in a heavy traffic area? Some cats don’t like being disturbed either.

Which litter are you using?

soddingkitten it was very quiet there but had got busier since we put the catflap in as it's by the back door and I've been standing there a lot, holding the flap open trying to get her to use it, so it has got busier.
fluffyCloudland we're using world's best cat litter, the biodegradable one. But she's been fine with it up to now. Have put the second tray at the other end of the room where the door mat she was peeing on used to be, so will see if she starts using it.

There’s a chance she’s discovered how lovely and soft soil is to wee in and now the litter that was previously ok is rubbish.

Try ultra clumping, sanicat gold if you can as it’s very soft on paws.

Ours hated worlds best, crystals, chick crumb, wood pellet. It was ultra clumping or he’d wee on the hob.