Cat with anti-social habits

[lizwizz]

We have recently moved house and our 18 year old cat seemed to settle in very well initially. Though he has not really been used to a litter tray, we have no cat flap here as yet, but he has been using it no problem. Now, suddenly, he has started going to the toilet in other places, such as on the doormat and in the study. Is he going senile? He seems otherwise well, considering his age

[Coobeastie]

Our young cat did this when we got her from the rescue centre..and can be a sign of stress...maybe the poor old thing has just realised that he's moved home.

Another thought is that...are you regularly changing the litter in the tray for new. Though it may look clean, cats can be quite funny about this as the smell will be wrong to them.

[rd14962]

I have moved home with my cats a few times, a piece of advise offered to me years ago, was to 'show' your cat around the new house and garden, walk with him in your arms all around the perimeter of your property, going all along the fence/hedge etc, do this twice a day for two days and then let him have a nosey around the garden whilst you watch him, after 5 minutes or so pick him up and take him indoors, do this a couple of times and then you can be assured he will settle in properly and wont try to return to your old home. As the previous person said, make sure the litter in the tray is clean and place it where he has been soiling. Once he is going out he will toilet outside. Good luck and I trust you, your family and cat will be happy tin your new home..

Rupert

[drgnrdr]

Since he was using it fine before and now is having difficulty a trip to the vet is needed to rule out any UTI's or any other medical problems, he is a senior and such may have difficulty getting to where you now have located his box, he may need more than one, keeping both really clean, as the others have suggested here. There are many reasons why they change their potty habits, some are listed already. Check out http://www.catsinternational.org/

click on "articles" and they have lots of stuff about soiling problems and how to solve them.

Good Luck...

I have never heard about walking a cat around in your arms and "showing" them around, I have always put them on leash and let them smell around so they can recognize their area. To each their own if it works....