How do I stop my cat from going to the toilet wherever she pleases?
Asked by Andrea G | 1 Answer
I have 3 cats and the cat in question lives upstairs and doesn't always get on with another she cat, sometimes she uses her litter tray and for the most of the time she uses the carpet for both, I don't always spot where she had had a wee and my house smells, I've tried behaviour sprays, which work for a while but then she reverts back to her using the carpet as a toilet. I would be most grateful of any advice that you can provide, as I can't carry on like this with her and I don't want to re-home her as she came to me at 8 years old and I don't want to upset her any more.
Many thanks in advance
Andrea
Thanks for providing so much detail, that's a big help. I am wondering if she is feeling quite stressed and this might be caused by her not getting along with the other cat. It sounds like she is put off by the behaviour spray but if the underlying problem is not dealt with they will (as you are finding) only be a temporary solution.
Are you able to provide her with her own space, or at least give her places she can retreat to away from the other cat? Can she get in and out without the other cat bothering her, for example? Cats do not actually need to 'fight' for them to be feeling under stress - they can give each other really tiny signals that show all is not well.
If you can give her her own space where she can keep an eye out for the other cat and avoid if necessary, it might help her to settle down and be less likely to toilet through stress. Make sure her litter tray is somewhere where the other cats cannot get near and get additional trays if necessary.
If you are feeling like you have tried everything, I strongly recommend you contact the APBC (www.apbc.org.uk for a behaviourist near you) for help. You clearly love your cats very much so it might be best to ask an expert to visit your home, where they can advise on the best course of action for all your cats (and to reassure you, too!)
Expert answer
Hi Andrea
Thanks for providing so much detail, that's a big help. I am wondering if she is feeling quite stressed and this might be caused by her not getting along with the other cat. It sounds like she is put off by the behaviour spray but if the underlying problem is not dealt with they will (as you are finding) only be a temporary solution.
Are you able to provide her with her own space, or at least give her places she can retreat to away from the other cat? Can she get in and out without the other cat bothering her, for example? Cats do not actually need to 'fight' for them to be feeling under stress - they can give each other really tiny signals that show all is not well.
If you can give her her own space where she can keep an eye out for the other cat and avoid if necessary, it might help her to settle down and be less likely to toilet through stress. Make sure her litter tray is somewhere where the other cats cannot get near and get additional trays if necessary.
If you are feeling like you have tried everything, I strongly recommend you contact the APBC (www.apbc.org.uk for a behaviourist near you) for help. You clearly love your cats very much so it might be best to ask an expert to visit your home, where they can advise on the best course of action for all your cats (and to reassure you, too!)
Best wishes
Karen