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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Help cat peeing on front door mat

11 replies

topgirlalways · 10/12/2023 22:31

I have a 13 year old neutered female cat. Had her for 12 years. She has suddenly started to pee on the front door mat. she has never done this before. The mat is a hard mat fitted to the floor with a carpet runner between carpet and mat.

She was an indoor cat until 6 months ago and lived with me in a flat. She always used her litter bin and had no accidents outside.

I moved in with my partner to a house with a safe garden. She goes outside but not far. Loved to eat grass and just wander around the garden. Hates the cold, wind and rain, but will go outside for 20 mins.

Last week she had a poo on the mat and that’s when I discovered the smell of pee. It’s not strong and only smells if your nose is close to the mat. I cleaned it up. Changed her litter thought it was a one off. Now I am realising it may not be. she hasn’t peed much in her litter for a few weeks, but she goes out so I assume she was doing it there.

yesterday I put tin foil down where she was going. But she has moved further along and peed in my boot. It’s just unusual behaviour as he litter bin looks used with pee makes and she is pooing in there.

I have bought a new litter bin, as her old one is a bit old incase it’s that. No litter change. She is eating and acting fine. It drinking lots, but she is old. I am calling the vet tomorrow.

any advice? Would this be a UTI or could it be territory marking. If the latter what can k do?

OP posts:
Firefly2009 · 11/12/2023 03:37

My 13 year old rescue does this, but it only started after I took him for walks. He was previously an indoor cat too. So I think this is a wanting to go out / marking territory thing.

He had a UTI recently though; but it was kind of obvious it was that. He couldn't keep still, kept licking himself down below and kept yowling as he walked around the house. Still, it's best to get her checked by the vet.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 11/12/2023 08:16

My 13 year old female has also recently started this. It started when my DS18 was cat sitting for a week and didn't keep the litter tray clean. We have two cats so it was a disgusting mess by the time we got home.

We cleaned the mat and sprayed it with cat urine cleaner but she keeps doing it now and I've no idea how to stop her. Hoping someone will come along soon with a good solution.

SedentaryCat · 11/12/2023 08:51

Our cat did this and it turned out he had a UTI.

He still occasionally pees by the door and sometimes we have to clear up a poo if he feels insecure about something - usually other cats. Feliway helps with this.

He's 9 and was rescued from a feral colony as a kitten so this might also contribute to his behaviour.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 11/12/2023 12:10

Our cat would do this when it was a uti, there’s no licking his bits or going off his food but he’d spray the side of the bed.

Original poster
topgirlalways · 11/12/2023 12:32

I spoke to vet and we are going on Friday to see them. They think they it’s behavioural

OP posts:
margotrose · 11/12/2023 14:25

How can the vet say it's behavioural without taking a urine sample and checking for a UTI? I wouldn't be happy with that and would be taking my cat to a vet today, I'm afraid.

Firefly2009 · 11/12/2023 14:36

I seem to remember the Feliway plug ins helped with this. I must remember to get another one!
Getting a urine sample can be tricky with a cat. But if he has urine in his bladder on the day, they can use a needle to extract it. Hopefully your kitty is okay!

dancemom · 11/12/2023 14:39

It's Monday! Please don't leave him with a possible UTI until Friday

Original poster
topgirlalways · 11/12/2023 18:22

vet says if eating and drinking and acting normal except for peeing on the mat, fairly sure is behavioural. She has not peed anywhere else and had not left her bed for hours. Will obviously take sooner if she goes downhill.

I witnessed the cat across the way sit on a few neighbours door step today and had fallen asleep in our door step. His owner leaves him out all day and night.

I do wonder if it’s that

OP posts:
FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 11/12/2023 18:47

It would be cruel to leave him like this. Cats don’t show usual signs of infection with UTI.

margotrose · 11/12/2023 18:50

vet says if eating and drinking and acting normal except for peeing on the mat, fairly sure is behavioural.

I've had two cats with UTI's and neither of them showed any symptoms other than urinating outside of the litter tray. Please take your cat to the vet. Your vet has no business diagnosing this as behavioural over the phone.

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