why would a cat stop using the litter tray??

[Mexican cuties]

Our 12 year old cat has always used our flower bed or the litter tray, but over the last week this morning being the worst one yet she has decided that the doormat is much easier, have washed it thoroughly the last few times and used the enzyme cleaner to neutralise any smell but facing that first thing in the morning was awful as it wasn't exactly solid shall we say

Could it be her age, she is eating and drinking fine???

[bexVN]

Several factors but age should be considered.

Cats suffer arthritis quite commonly, she is the right age. Something like this can cause discomfort when squatting in a tray so they start to associate the tray with pain.So they try other places esp places where squatting isn't so necessary.

Stress, being picked on by another cat.

She should have medical ck up, poss bloods for kidney/ liver check and urine test if poss. Get them to check hips etc for any signs arthritis. If all clear then behaviour assessment needed. Senility can be a reason for change in habits. Or as I said, stress.

What type of tray does she have? I am assuming you haven't changed the type of litter recently.

[Mexican cuties]

Thank you once again, large litter tray, nothing has changed there , had checks a year ago so will get them to do full mot first thing next week, she does seem slow sometimes before she settles

Don't want to lose another one😿

[ladderino]

Could be a sign of stress. One of our cats (both were outside cats and didn't use a litter tray) started pooing inside as a result of being stressed out.

Have you tried Feliway? We used this to chill him out and it did the trick.

[Mexican cuties]

Thanks have feliway for fireworks, she is now on a sensitive diet, nothing has changed ref stress levels, loves to go nose to nose with nali our chihuahua and he is protective of her, took her to vet coz of scratch marks on face due to local feral cat, so not sure if that's it, she is a British short haired and not done this before??

Hate it when they get older

[Mr GrimNasty]

Because it's evil.

[Mexican cuties]

Nice are you and KFC together

[bexVN]

How have things been recently? Did you find a reason.

[Mexican cuties]

Thanks bexs not happened recently thank god, eating fine so not sure what happened, weight gain and vet happy🙌

[bexVN]

Mexican cuties said:

Thanks bexs not happened recently thank god, eating fine so not sure what happened, weight gain and vet happy??

If only they could tell us eh?! Still that all is good again.

[Mexican cuties]

Dogs, cats all part of family, all getting older but quality means so much

Thanks bex for your help

[Blue383]

It could be the sign of inflammation / infection in the bladder or urethra. This happened recently with our cat and we were told by the vet that often cats with such problems associate the pain of peeing with the litter tray and so pee else where. It might be worth getting your cats urine cultured by the vet.

Best of luck.