Cat weeing and pooing around the house
Discussion
We have a fifteen-year old female cat (neutered) who has recently started weeing and pooing around the house: sometimes on our bed, but sometimes elsewhere in the house.
Until very recently, we have never provided a litter tray, and she has seemed happy to toilet outdoors. But since the problem started we have relented and provided a litter tray near the cat flap. She immediately started using it, and we thought the problem was solved.
We've just come back from a few days away over Christmas, during which a local friend has been coming in each day to feed and water her. The friend was suspicious that the litter tray hadn't been used, and after a few days did a search of the house and found what she described as a "poo-fest" in the upstairs bathroom. So we still have a problem.
The cat seems perfectly happy and relaxed about the house, but she doesn't go outside very much these days. We suspect territorial issues outside: there's a fairly ballsy tom who considers our back garden to be his, and he fights with another tom In our garden quite regularly. I've also noticed another fairly large cat hanging around our back door recently, although he can't get in because it's a microchip cat flap. These issues may be causing our cat to feel insecure, especially for outdoor toileting.
So what's our best course of action? In an ideal world, we'd like the cat to go back to toileting outside, but that might not be possible. The following ideas occur to me:
Until very recently, we have never provided a litter tray, and she has seemed happy to toilet outdoors. But since the problem started we have relented and provided a litter tray near the cat flap. She immediately started using it, and we thought the problem was solved.
We've just come back from a few days away over Christmas, during which a local friend has been coming in each day to feed and water her. The friend was suspicious that the litter tray hadn't been used, and after a few days did a search of the house and found what she described as a "poo-fest" in the upstairs bathroom. So we still have a problem.
The cat seems perfectly happy and relaxed about the house, but she doesn't go outside very much these days. We suspect territorial issues outside: there's a fairly ballsy tom who considers our back garden to be his, and he fights with another tom In our garden quite regularly. I've also noticed another fairly large cat hanging around our back door recently, although he can't get in because it's a microchip cat flap. These issues may be causing our cat to feel insecure, especially for outdoor toileting.
So what's our best course of action? In an ideal world, we'd like the cat to go back to toileting outside, but that might not be possible. The following ideas occur to me:
- Whenever a poo appears where we don't want it, move it to the litter tray in the hope she gets the idea.
- Try one of those de-stress plug-in things (Feliway?)
- Try "Silent Roar" around the perimeter of our garden to alter the balance of power out there.
- Switch to a clumping cat litter so we can keep it cleaner.
- er...
- anything else?
First step, get rid of the smell or it'll keep going there. Nothing citrus or vinegar, from experience of a real problem case the best stuff is biological washing detergent via a carpet cleaner. The pet specific stuff, febreeze etc, was all useless. A couple of passes with the Bissel and some bio had it sorted.
Second, if the cats not wanting to go outside for whatever reason, a litter box may not be in its best place next to the cat flap. Also, stick another one wherever the poofest happened, it's clearly the preferred spot for now. It may take a bit of experimenting to find a litter they like. Keep the boxes clean and away from food.
Lastly, 15 is a good age, so if it's not just a case of it being spooked or attacked while it was outside curling one out and it doesn't improve, it might be worth a precautionary check up just to make sure it's not symptomatic of something else.
If I had to guess, knowing how fussy they can be, it's probably just a dirty protest as payback for the trauma of being looked after by a stranger and / or the toms giving it aggro.
Second, if the cats not wanting to go outside for whatever reason, a litter box may not be in its best place next to the cat flap. Also, stick another one wherever the poofest happened, it's clearly the preferred spot for now. It may take a bit of experimenting to find a litter they like. Keep the boxes clean and away from food.
Lastly, 15 is a good age, so if it's not just a case of it being spooked or attacked while it was outside curling one out and it doesn't improve, it might be worth a precautionary check up just to make sure it's not symptomatic of something else.
If I had to guess, knowing how fussy they can be, it's probably just a dirty protest as payback for the trauma of being looked after by a stranger and / or the toms giving it aggro.
Edited by Stu R on Sunday 28th December 09:03
You seem to have identified the cause, you probably need to realise territorial marking is completely different from defecating waste. The recent increase of the former is probably a result of increased stress during your departure, and perhaps even the presence of your friend.
On the recent marking you should let things settle down for a day or two and come post back if the problem persists. If you need to go away again, use the doors to restrict her movement, try to choose a place she spend much of her time and ideally with a strong scent of your self, or move your wash basket there for the duration.
On the invasive toms, your options are limited. Are they strays or owned? Do you know the owners? If they are owned and know the owners try pointing out they are regularly fighting in your garden (lay it on) and should be neutered for their own welfare (very true). You could try water pistolling them whenever you notice them in your garden.
On the recent marking you should let things settle down for a day or two and come post back if the problem persists. If you need to go away again, use the doors to restrict her movement, try to choose a place she spend much of her time and ideally with a strong scent of your self, or move your wash basket there for the duration.
On the invasive toms, your options are limited. Are they strays or owned? Do you know the owners? If they are owned and know the owners try pointing out they are regularly fighting in your garden (lay it on) and should be neutered for their own welfare (very true). You could try water pistolling them whenever you notice them in your garden.
Edited by Martin4x4 on Sunday 28th December 09:14
We had ours down the vet quickly when she started doing the same (similar age). Turned out when she had to go she had to go, no quarter. Tried diet change (under vet supervision) and various jabs but to no avail.
Even cut out the carpet where her favourite corner was and put a tray which was not the best sort of worked along with a tray by the door.
Balance of power in the garden, a war fought with water is the only way I have won that one.
Even cut out the carpet where her favourite corner was and put a tray which was not the best sort of worked along with a tray by the door.
Balance of power in the garden, a war fought with water is the only way I have won that one.
Litter tray in the room she's making a mess, not where you want it; you can move it once she's using it, gradually.
Thoroughly clean all the smell (to their nose, not yours)
Remove the threats outside, by keeping her in
Plug Feliway/Pet Remedy diffusers in around the house
Get her checked by your Vet
Thoroughly clean all the smell (to their nose, not yours)
Remove the threats outside, by keeping her in
Plug Feliway/Pet Remedy diffusers in around the house
Get her checked by your Vet
Thanks for all the suggestions folks!
Since we've been back, Truffle has been pooing in the litter tray, so I'm hopeful it was just the disruption to her routine while we were away. We might have to get a second litter tray for the times when we're away again in future, and put it upstairs (and close the bathroom door).
I might try switching to a biodegradable, toilet-flushable clumping litter though - sounds far better than the calcium silicate stuff we're currently using.
Since we've been back, Truffle has been pooing in the litter tray, so I'm hopeful it was just the disruption to her routine while we were away. We might have to get a second litter tray for the times when we're away again in future, and put it upstairs (and close the bathroom door).
I might try switching to a biodegradable, toilet-flushable clumping litter though - sounds far better than the calcium silicate stuff we're currently using.
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
Thanks for all the suggestions folks!
Since we've been back, Truffle has been pooing in the litter tray, so I'm hopeful it was just the disruption to her routine while we were away. We might have to get a second litter tray for the times when we're away again in future, and put it upstairs (and close the bathroom door).
I might try switching to a biodegradable, toilet-flushable clumping litter though - sounds far better than the calcium silicate stuff we're currently using.
Wood chip for the win. It does a marvellous job of absorbing litter tray smells, any poos can be scooped out and flushed down the loo, and you can compost the rest. Since we've been back, Truffle has been pooing in the litter tray, so I'm hopeful it was just the disruption to her routine while we were away. We might have to get a second litter tray for the times when we're away again in future, and put it upstairs (and close the bathroom door).
I might try switching to a biodegradable, toilet-flushable clumping litter though - sounds far better than the calcium silicate stuff we're currently using.
Mobile Chicane said:
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
Thanks for all the suggestions folks!
Since we've been back, Truffle has been pooing in the litter tray, so I'm hopeful it was just the disruption to her routine while we were away. We might have to get a second litter tray for the times when we're away again in future, and put it upstairs (and close the bathroom door).
I might try switching to a biodegradable, toilet-flushable clumping litter though - sounds far better than the calcium silicate stuff we're currently using.
Wood chip for the win. It does a marvellous job of absorbing litter tray smells, any poos can be scooped out and flushed down the loo, and you can compost the rest. Since we've been back, Truffle has been pooing in the litter tray, so I'm hopeful it was just the disruption to her routine while we were away. We might have to get a second litter tray for the times when we're away again in future, and put it upstairs (and close the bathroom door).
I might try switching to a biodegradable, toilet-flushable clumping litter though - sounds far better than the calcium silicate stuff we're currently using.
jimbop1 said:
Let me help you out...
Step 1: Get rid of the cat.
Step 2: Buy a dog.
Only a few days ago my friend's lovely well-behaved dog was visiting his mother-in-law's house - and promptly crimped one off on her kitchen floor.Step 1: Get rid of the cat.
Step 2: Buy a dog.
And did I mention the time another friend's dog walked past me in his lounge with a stream of piss emanating from his underbelly? Traced a sine wave right over my shoe
Update...
We took Truffle to the vet yesterday (New Year's Eve), because we had started to suspect that she's lost at least some of her eyesight. She has missed her footing a couple of times recently, and yesterday I saw her almost collide with the corner of our kitchen units - just slamming on the brakes and jumping back slightly when her whiskers made contact. That was the clincher. I also couldn't get her to make any reaction to the laser pointer.
The vet confirmed, by way of the "falling cotton wool" test and a "threat" test (threatening to touch the eyeball without creating a draught or triggering any of the whiskers to see if there's any visual reaction to the threat) that she appeared to have very little useful sight. Upon examination, she said that both eyes were showing early signs of retina detachment.
The vet took her blood pressure, which was sky-high - and probably the cause of the detached retinas. She also did a blood test, the results of which will be available tomorrow evening, hopefully.
So Truffle is now on medication to get the blood pressure under control, and we'll see what the underlying cause is. The vet said that cats are extraordinarily good at recovering their eyesight from partially or even completely detached retinas, so hopefully her eyesight might return.
She seems to be coping very well though. Indeed, I'd say it's quite difficult to know if your cat is blind. Who knows how long her eyesight has been failing, but it could explain a lot of her behavioural changes.
We took Truffle to the vet yesterday (New Year's Eve), because we had started to suspect that she's lost at least some of her eyesight. She has missed her footing a couple of times recently, and yesterday I saw her almost collide with the corner of our kitchen units - just slamming on the brakes and jumping back slightly when her whiskers made contact. That was the clincher. I also couldn't get her to make any reaction to the laser pointer.
The vet confirmed, by way of the "falling cotton wool" test and a "threat" test (threatening to touch the eyeball without creating a draught or triggering any of the whiskers to see if there's any visual reaction to the threat) that she appeared to have very little useful sight. Upon examination, she said that both eyes were showing early signs of retina detachment.
The vet took her blood pressure, which was sky-high - and probably the cause of the detached retinas. She also did a blood test, the results of which will be available tomorrow evening, hopefully.
So Truffle is now on medication to get the blood pressure under control, and we'll see what the underlying cause is. The vet said that cats are extraordinarily good at recovering their eyesight from partially or even completely detached retinas, so hopefully her eyesight might return.
She seems to be coping very well though. Indeed, I'd say it's quite difficult to know if your cat is blind. Who knows how long her eyesight has been failing, but it could explain a lot of her behavioural changes.
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