How to get old cat to use litter tray

[Atypical13435]

Help! My cat is 15. He's not used a litter tray since he was a kitten, but he had surgery today and isn't allowed out for 10 days. How can I help him to use the litter tray? He's pining to be let out so obviously needs it. I've tried gently showing him the tray and putting him in it, but he's not keen. He's also obviously stressed and in pain which isn't helping....

Ah poor fella .... do you know where he goes outside usually ? Can you find one of his poos (yes really!) and put in the tray?

That’s how I trained my kitten who had been taken from his mum too early - put his poo in it when he had an accident ...

If it’s really stressing him I would prob let him out tbh

He will prob just go out to the loo and come back inside I bet - he’s prob a sensible old fella !

Can you not go outside with him so he just does his business then comes back?

I don't know, would that be ok? I'm a proper rule follower, the vet said keep him in for 10 days so I took that as gospel. I guess I could take him into the garden but I don't know where he normally goes, I don't think it's in our garden. He also has a big stitched wound on his side that I worry about getting infected, and I'm worried he'll run off...

I would because he’s an old boy and sensible and it’s prob worse for his recovery to just go out for
A
Wee..?

I think it's far better that he goes out and wees than feels trapped inside, gets stressed and develops a UTI.

If he's an old boy then I would just let him out with strict supervision. What vets say and what is practical in reality are two very different things

Thanks all. I slept downstairs with him last night. A very unsettled night as the collar is obviously irritating him and he was in pain, but in good news with a bit of coaxing he used the litter tray for a wee and a poo in the night, and has done wees in it today. He has painkillers after breakfast today and has had a very chilled day today, barely moved, but has eaten and drank. He seems much more settled. DH is doing the night shift on the sofa tonight, hoping he has a more settled night. It's like having a baby again!!

@Atypical13435

Thanks all. I slept downstairs with him last night. A very unsettled night as the collar is obviously irritating him and he was in pain, but in good news with a bit of coaxing he used the litter tray for a wee and a poo in the night, and has done wees in it today. He has painkillers after breakfast today and has had a very chilled day today, barely moved, but has eaten and drank. He seems much more settled. DH is doing the night shift on the sofa tonight, hoping he has a more settled night. It's like having a baby again!!

As bless! Why don’t you take the collar off and just watch him In case he licks wound ? I was worried my car would after neuter and he just had a cursory clean up then never went near it again and was much happier 😜