Refusing to use litter tray for number 2s - please help

[2020again]

Looking for suggestions. We have an old cat (18 years+). He is less mobile than before and has stopped grooming his hind areas now so getting a little matted but he is a happy cat and we love him.

He has also stopped going to the toilet outside at all and always comes in to use the litter tray. However he has now stopped using his extra large litter tray for all number 2s (number 1s are ok) and so there are at least 2 “gifts” on the carpet each day/night even if the tray is absolutely clean. He is not “caught short” he just chooses not to use it. We empty the tray of number 2s as soon as he does one and the whole tray and litter is changed daily.

The carpet is now ruined but we can’t let this continue and we wondered if there was any suggestions as to what we could do. We are thinking about getting two more litter trays but not sure this will solve anything as he is not missing the tray he is just choosing not to use it. Does anyone have suggestions of how to encourage to use the tray or just to cope with a cat that refuses to use it – loads of newspaper down etc? Has anyone tried something that has worked?

Thank you,

Just he just have the one tray? My cat has one for wee and one for poo. She's kept it that way since she was a kitten and has never mixed them up.

It could also be constipation. Ours used the laundry basket a few times over the years and each time it was because she was constipated and trying to use something soft to rub against when she was halfway through and straining.

I was thinking two trays might help too.

I had the issue with my kitten who would use the hall carpet for peeing and pooing despite having a clean tray although she would use the tray for peeing some of the time.
We got her into puppy trading pads for pooing but have now got her used to an outdoor tray which seems to be working.
The puppy pads saved our carpets from any further damage.

At 18+ isn't he doing well!

Ours have done this occasionally, and I'm pretty sure it's a sign of pain. If they associate the litter tray with pain while trying to do a poo, they'll do it elsewhere.

I'd offer a second litter tray somewhere else (perhaps in the room he's been pooing) and also to consider what might be causing the pain. It could be constipation (what are his poos like?), maybe caused by a hairball, in which case you might be able to give him some treats to ese things along a bit (malt paste, salmon oil?).

Are there any other changes in his behaviour? It might be worth having the vet check him over and maybe do a blood test.

Honestly at 18 years old if he is consistent with where he poos I'd just lpop a puppy training pad down that you can easily pick up and dispose of. We did this when the old cat who lived under the bushes in our garden finally decided he fancied being an indoor cat during the snow. He wouldn't use a litter tray but went in the same corner every time.

The general advice is to have one tray per cat, plus one extra - so I would try an extra tray at first.

I also remember reading somewhere that changing the entire tray everyday can actually cause toileting issues, as they can't smell themselves if the litter tray is too clean. Have you tried using clumping litter and just scooping poos/clumps everyday and leaving the rest of the litter a bit longer?

You need to clean all accidents up with a proper pet enzyme spray too, so the area doesn't smell of poo/wee. I would pop puppy pads down if he continuously goes in the same spot, though.