Cat toilet habits changed!

[Timeforabitofpeace]

Why would a cat that has been perfectly clean and properly trained for well over a decade (14 years) start defecating on the living room rug, or elsewhere? There doesn’t seem to be a health issue. He is driving me crazy. I can’t get used to this and am having thoughts of felicide!

Obviously I am keeping him out of the relevant places but it’s making him very miserable, as he is so used to being around us.

How do you know there isn’t a health issue? Has he seen a vet? What did they say? You say he’s 14? That’s reasonably elderly. Could be dementia.

He saw a vet a month ago for regular update (jabs, flea and worm etc) and is in good shape. She just said he is beginning to get a bit older.

If he has dementia, he hasnt forgotten to sit starting at me, and endlessly patting me with one paw to remind me he’d like another (early) meal.

Strangely, something like a UTI can start this behaviour off, if an indoor cat too. They start to blame the litter tray as a source of pain, and avoid it, sometimes for poop too. Could also be anal gland troubles too, for exactly the same reason, the pain.
I suggest going to the vet as soon as you can and get him checked over. Poor love and sorry about the house!

I had a cat with a bug once, which caused the runs. I hear you, it's awful. I ended up covering everything I possibly could with blankets, all his sleeping spots, luckily I had loads and even more lucky, he let me bathe his rear end in the bath as was too awful for him to clean himself. You have my sympathies!

Have you recently introduced any other pets

Please ask your vet for a pain trial - inappropriate toileting is often a sign of arthritis.