my old cat age 18 is peeing indoors sometimes?

Question

Hi, we moved house 5 months ago and when my cute cat age 18 was scared by a neighbours cat she then was afraid to go out. She's much better now but only goes outside now and then. Unfortunately she uses my small utility room as a toilet overnight! I have heard her go through the cat flap at night but she only wants to do one wee in the litter tray, so most mornings I am faced with a terrible mess to mop up! If it was summer I could probably lock her out overnight (weather is too cold at the moment) but then we would hear her constant scratching at the door all night (she is fine during the day and doeasn't wee indoors)…help!

Answer 1

She's been stressed first by the move and then by the other cat.
Cats somtimes take a while to adapt to new surroundings.

But, I think to be on the safe side you should take kitty and have her checked by a Vet.
Change in litter box habits can sometimes be a sign of illness.
Cats will hide illness from us and our only sign that something is wrong is when they start to 'act out' or change their behavior.

Please take kitty to the Vet just to be on the safe side.

Good luck.

Answer 2

There are a few possible reasons for this:
1) She is so old she can;t get to a tray in time - so get more litter trays and put one in every room she uses, its expense but shes old now and needs to be well looked after.
2) She has a urinary tract infection - get her to the vets for it to be treated, he'll be able to tell if this is the problem
3) I heard a case once where a neighbours cat was coming in through the cat flap and scaring the householders cat silly. You might have heard another cat coming in through the cat flap rather than your cat going out. I'd border up the cat flap at night, or shut the door to that part of your house and put your cat in another part.

Answer 3

Perhaps the cat does not like the location of the litter box in your new house. Some cats can be very picky about litter location. If this behavior continues you may want to make sure the cat doesn't have a UTI. Cats will sometimes urinate outside of the litter when UTI symptoms are bothering them. I hope you are able to find a solution to this problem, good luck.

Answer 4

There are a few issues here, firstly she was moved from familiar teritory where it was known she had rule of an area to where she was not able to state her teritory. Age in familiar teritory brings respect, unfamiliar territory she is an invader, survival of the fittest prevails. And she knows and recognises this especially at night.
If she was not exhibiting these behaviours prior to your moving then renal and other health problems were not present. Happy cat, healthy cat. have a Vet check her over is a good idea given her age.
It sounds like extreme anxiety to me, she wants to go outdoors, however, she is not comfortable during the night to do so. It would appear the room that she feels safe in has some connection to where she lived before.
Animals are of behaviour and habit. My guess is, she is trying to bring some concept of her reality into a world she see's and feels no order in.
Do not alienate her more by forcing her to live outside, she is 18 years old the equivalent of an old grandmother, great-grandmother. What she needs from you is reassurance that she is okay, loved and safe from predators. Go outside with her of a night sit with her so she feels protected whilst she attends to her toilet needs.
At the end of the day, cats do not see us as humans, they see us as big cats who will look after them.
Best wishes to you and your Moggie.

Answer 5

First, I would stop moving around the litter box. It is easier to clean the box every week or two than it is to clean the carpet several times a day. Second, I would make a nice spot for him to use outside -- perhaps a small pile of sand box sand. Show it to him/her. You might be in luck -- or might not. As the earlier poster noted, indoor cats live longer and healthier.

Answer 6

Hello there....

*You can trust 'Seattle' for excellent & compassionate answers about cats. (If you check Seattle's track record...we have a reliable 'superstar' in Yahoo-ville.)

I will add a personal angle. I have two cats who handle indoor/outdoor living just fine......but I keep a litter box for their convenience and mine. However, they are just 'middle-aged'....now 8 & 6.
My long time best friend, Ziggy, passed on 4 years ago at the age of 19. From the day he walked into my life at age 1...he was loyal, friendly, entertaining, sweet & very healthy. All of us who have been 'cat people' for a long time have had cats in our lives who lived to a ripe old age. However, those of us whom have been lucky enough to have our furry friends survive 15+ years have been blessed by every one of those years.

You probably know the old adage about 'dog years' being equal to @ 7 human years. The comparable time in cats is @ 5 years. My 'old friend' made it past 19.....or 95 in human age.
Your cat has made it past 90. Be a good friend and provide all the love and comfort you can.

I know you love her......she is in new surroundings and has lived a long life. She may live another 5 months or 5 years. She deserves to have special care in her 'golden years.'

Answer 7

so give her a litter tray. Also get her checked by a vet as older cats often have kidney infections. If she has, she can't help weeing often.

Answer 8

I agree with the vet check idea, but you also could put a small litter tray in your utility room.

Answer 9

don't!!! under any circumstances lock her out. she is suffering from stress as a result of fear of the neighbouring cat. also, at 18 yrs, she may have incontinence. it comes to all old things. see a vet over it. don't punish her for an illness. should we take a big stick to you when you reach a ripe old age & develop such inevitable problems? i hate to tell you this, but your cat hasn't many years, if any, ahead of her. give her love & patience now, when she needs it more than she ever did. she gave you her best years. repay that. fairweather friends aren't worth dry spit. time to prove you aren't one of them.

Answer 10

you would need the vet to check her out. Peeing indoors can be caused by a problem with her kidneys. Treatment is available for this and could help you out. As she is so old its probebly better tyo keep her indoors.