Litter tray avoidance and possibly cat behaviourist advice needed, at wits end!

[Neutralcat]

I’ve just discovered this cat section – amazing! Our precious black boy is circa 15/16 (we had him as a rescue estimated to be aged about 1). He has been on renal food for a good few years now. In the last 4/5 years he has suffered with many urinary issues. He had bladder stones which needed surgery (twice), and then blockages which resulted in a Perineal Urethrostomy two years ago (most stressful and expensive time of our lives). He has been great since then, a couple of minor urine infections which he will always be prone to but generally great health and very happy.

Around 2/3 months ago we noticed he has started avoiding his litter tray. He will pee/poo outdoors but if bad weather and doesn’t want to go out he is just not weeing. We have to put him in his tray; sometimes he will resist and we have to try 3 or 4 times (stressing out both him and us) but he eventually goes. He is however only going about once every 24 hours (won’t go anymore frequently). He has also now started pooing in our dining room to avoid the tray (although will poo outside still if he deigns to go out, not a Winter lover!)

We have seen the vet several times – tried arthracam (relaxant) for a week, didn’t help. Tried antibiotics for a week, didn’t help. Tried different types of litter, didn’t help. The vet now wants to do a urine sample directly from the bladder via needle to be absolutely sure about urine infection. He had a blood test this week that has come back clear, kidneys etc all good and no deterioration.

We will go ahead with the urine sample procedure, but if that show no infection we just don’t know what to try next. We’re now considering whether it is a form of dementia (although he is perfectly normal in every other way and doesn’t seem to have forgotten anything else), or painful joints and doesn’t want to climb in, or is a behavioural issue. We are literally at our wits end. He is in all other ways a very happy, relaxed, calm boy but this is so stressful for all three of us. We absolutely adore our boy and will go to any lengths to do what's right for him but are feeling stumped.

We’re considering trying a cat behaviourist. Has anyone had a similar problem and gone down that route? Also, can anyone recommend a litter tray with low access on one side please? (Maybe we need a puppy training tray?). Thanks for reading if you stuck with it!

Doesn't answer all your questions but my old girl started refusing the litter tray so I worked out her preferred toileting spot and put down puppy pads instead. Worked a treat and I stopped stressing about it.

Thank you @DuchessDandelion . That might be a good diea for the spot he's chosen to poo, I'll try it as we have loads of those pads left from when he had surery, but he simply will not wee at all unless we repeatedly place him in his tray so there isn't a preferred spot for that. Thanks for the fast and lovely reply though.

Hello - I had a similar issue with my boy suddenly avoiding the litter tray for no obvious reason. We did get a behaviourist involved and I have to say it looked promising as this sort of problem is their bread and butter and he was very confident he could help. Unfortunately Elty died before the consultation, but I do think it may help you.

@Puppylucky thanks so much, and I'm really sorry to hear that. They're so incredibly special to us aren't they, it must have been very difficult. May I ask, had you tried medical investigations with your vet first? Thanks again.

At his age I would assume he has arthritis and is in pain when he goes to the toilet. Have you asked the vet for a pain trial?

@snoopythebeagle thanks. No, I haven't heard of that, what does it involve please? We have seen our vets several times about this issue and they haven't suggested that. I have today ordered a tray with one very low side so will try that (will try anything at this stage!).

@Neutralcat it basically means trialling painkillers for a certain amount of time to see if it makes a difference. Then, if it doesn't, you can rule out pain and start looking at other causes.

My vet did recommend a behaviourist for mine that works with insurance, I can find the link for them if you like
maybe do a trial of gabapentin? Mine is on it for idiopathic cystitis and it’s been a game changer

@bonesandbooth2025 yes please, that would be great thanks. He has had gabapentin more times than I care to remember but only ever for short term use. Interesting, might mention it to the vet. Sadly slightly losing faith in our vets of 15 years, they only seem to be interested in money, and are extortionate compared to other local practices, but we have stuck with them as they are 2 minutes from home and have a 24 hour emergency service (which we have had to use more times than I'd dare to count 🙄).

@Neutralcat Thank you for your kind words. Elton was very ill for a while so we knew it was coming but it was still hard. To answer your question we had had multiple urine tests and precautionary courses of antibiotics and nothing made any difference. He started peeing on the sofa and even blocking the area off made no difference but if I caught him in time and plonked him in the litter tray he would happily go so there was definitely a behavioural element.

The litter tray could well be the problem. Adult ones are often too high sided for elderly cats to use comfortably as most will have arthritis.
You can get kitten trays that are shallow. I would try offering 2 or 3 shallow trays.
If not already on pain meds I would definitely want to do a pain trial too. That is likely what a behaviourist would suggest first.

@Raggededges thank you. Good idea bit our G is a big boy so kitten trays will likely be way too small. I have today ordered a potting tray from Amazon - sounds mad but looks ideal size and shape with very low front/no step. Wish us luck! Also going to talk to money grabbing vets about trying pain meds (probably avoiding their idea of a scan for over £800 when we're almost certain this isn't a urinary issue....). We've spent over £25k in last 5 years (excluding what insurance has paid - he is now uninsurable due to medical history). Good job we love him so much!

I used a big under bed storage container which worked well
might be worth trying a covered one too?
This is the place, they do telephone/video ones
https://behaviouralreferrals.co.uk/

@bonesandbooth2025 thank you x