Sudden refusal to use the litter tray

[BeaRightThere]

My 1 year old neutered male cat has suddenly started to both pee and poo outside of the litter tray. He goes in either of two spots in our kitchen.

This started a week ago. I think it happened first because the door to the kitchen was closed and he couldn't get to the tray. This was because my 15 month old is irresistibly drawn to it so I have to keep her away from it, plus on that day we had workmen in the house.

Our kitchen is newly renovated. We absolutely cannot have him peeing in it. If this can't be resolved he cannot be in the house and this would break my heart.

I'm going to take him to the vet to see if there is anything medical going on but has anyone any advice or tips?

This is stress related. New kitchen, workmen etc.

Can you find a quieter place for it? If it’s covered, take the lid off.

Cats need to have access to their litter trays at all times - you can't just shut them in a different room to their toilet and expect them to "hold it".

I would get extra trays and put them in the spots he's currently using as a toilet.

This.

I'm aware they can't hold it - I'm not a first time owner. The door was only very briefly closed. I obviously don't restrict access to his litter tray.

We have two litter trays, one open and one closed and he's never had an issue with either. He's never had a problem before this.

I think myself it probably is stress but doing this seems to have become a habit now. I've put a tray in one of the spots he's using but it's made no difference.

It's probably become a habit now as his scent is there. My mums elderly cat used to do this all the time.

Get a cleaner especially for cleaning cat pee. He can still smell where he went even if you can't.
Proposing to make your cat live outside rather than risk it toileting outside is an extreme reaction.

I have a spray for pet smells but that may not be enough. I'll look into one specifically for cat urine.

We have spent thousands on our home renovation and he is peeing right up against the new cabinets. Obviously that can't be allowed to go on indefinitely.

I love him to bits and I want to fix this.

Im gobsmacked that your reaction to a stressed cat is to lock it outside indefinitely...

Did you keep the litter tray in the kitchen while the workmen were in? Or did you give him access to toilet in a more private safer spot?

It's not my reaction to lock him outside indefinitely. My reaction is to find the problem and try to fix it.

He had access to his own litter tray, not in the kitchen. There was noise from the workmen however.