a cat who poos and wees in the house

[darryl1666]

can anyone help us? one of our cats Biba is about 10 years old and has just started pooing and weeing in the house. She is able to come and go as she pleases through the cat flap but just prefers to do her business inside!! it generally happens in the night when we are asleep so we get a nice present when we come downstairs. we have tried all kinds of things to stop her using the places she uses but to no avail. she had a checkup at the vets recently and we were told she was in good nick for her age so i don't think there is anything sinister about this; it is just so annoying and such hard work keeping everything smelling not of cat wee and poo! we have another cat called Freddie who is 6 and they fight like cat and cat. Biba lived here first and Freddie came with my husband about four years ago. they have never got on so i am not hopeful but has anyone got any advice on how we might stop the hissing growling and spagging that goes on all the time? advice on dealing with grumpy pooey weey cats much appreciated!

[Athley]

Do you have a litter tray indoors? I have found my cat now about 12 years old prefers to 'go' indoors. I don't know if its a security thing but I have noticed she will be outside for a few hours and then come in and use the tray. This has only been a recent thing for her too - maybe its an older age cat thing.
My cat also has access to her cat flap apart from at night when she is in.

[darryl1666]

thanks Athely - you may be right. we haven't got a litter tray as it hasn't been a problem up until now but we'll give it a go. Cheers

[darryl1666]

oops - spelt your name wrong! soz!

[kaylamay]

Yes the litter box/pan sounds like the answer. As for the rivalry there isn't must you can do about it. Just make sure each cat has it's own space. I have a multiple cat home and 2 females hate each other and are arch enemies. They give each other a wide berth, but once in awhile i'll have to break up a hissing shrieking cat fight. One of my cats doesn't like ANY other cat so she thumps any kitty that's foolish enough to walk too close by. The only thing that has ever brought the "arch enemies" together was a move and they could be found hiding in a cat house together, but once all the moving stress was over they joyously reclaimed their enemy status.
Mikala

[wazzaa]

this is certainly a territory thing. By soiling indoors Biba is claiming her territory. However, I'm not sure how to solve the problem, maybe the litter tray solution is the answer. But cat mess (urine) smells can be very hard to neutralise. In my long experience of cats 'doings' I have found that if you mop up as much as possible by standing on several thicknesses of kitchen towel, then when dry enough, apply a good application of bicarbonate of soda, rub in with dry scrubbing brush, vacuum thoroughly next day. That should do it. Wazza X

[sue11]

I have the same problem with one of my cats Ozzie. I think it is partly territorial and partly laziness. This morning because of the rain, I found a big puddle of cat wee in my dining room. We have a tiled floor in there but it also has a rug and some of the wee had soaked into it. However I think I have just found an answer to the smelly part of this problem! There is a product called Urine-off, you can buy this on the website www.urine-off.co.uk. It is a spray and it costs �14.99 plus postage. I have used this around the places where she has gone in the past to get rid of nasty smells and then used it this morning and there is no smell left at all (which is such a relief!!).
I would very much recommend this product.
As for trying to stop her peeing, I have tried lots of things from putting food down in the places she goes, trying a litter tray in the house and even putting her on sedatives to try to help her nevousness, but nothing has worked, I have resolved myself to just clearing up after her!
Hope this has proved to be of use.