Any ideas on how to train a cat to use the litter tray on their own? Mine doesn't seem to want to go by himself and will pee anywhere if I don't take him when he does his 'I need the toilet' miaow (it sounds different to normal!). He has even urinated on the clean clothes I was sorting when I didn't take him once quickly enough. We've had to replace part of the hall carpet and underlay already. He will do it anywhere in the house - it's not restricted to one room or one place.
The urinating out of the litter box has been happening on and off for nearly a couple of years now - mainly depending whether I am around to take him or not or if anything different is happening in the house (peed under Xmas tree, peed in suitcases when packing for holiday). He's been at the vets a few times and urine samples are always fine. It's definitely urinating and not spraying as it is full bladder worth. I would say it started after our other cat that he was really bonded with died so I do think it must be behavioural rather than physical; also because he wants me to take him and will often refuse to go if anyone else takes him. We now have a second cat again which seemed to help things for a bit as he really is a very social cat.
Things we have tried:
different litter trays - open / covered
litter tray per cat plus one extra
different litter
cystease
feliway plug-ins
feliway spray
mild painkiller from vets just in case urinating is uncomfortable
Planning on getting a referral to a behaviour therapist but anyone have any other ideas we can try in the meantime?! TIA