Another cat question!

Honey08

Honey08

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The old man next door to us went into a home this summer, and we have bought the house off him to knock through. He had a very old cat (we think about 20, but nobody remembers accurately!) that he had been muttering about putting down as it kept going to the loo all over his house (we always thought due to the fact that he and his wife barely let it out for 5 mins a day..) Anyway, we took over the care of the cat, feeding it in his house initially, and leaving the back door ajar 24/7 (house was empty and its open countryside all around). It did pretty well. We did find 7 poops on top of a wardrobe at first! Eventually the cat started coming to our house to eat, and we let it move in as next door has no heating, and its a little thin cat. The cat did really well settling into a routine, and coped well with our dog and the new rescue pup/dog that we took on.

We were just feeling very smug, when it has started going to the loo again in the house. It climbs up the built in bookshelves and goes there, and the house is already starting to stink (next door absolutely reeks!). Now I don't have anything like a show house, what with having dogs, and being on a farm, but this is tooo much! So we're at a loss what to do. Its freezing cold next door, and the builders will be starting in there soon anyway, so she can't go back there. We thought of moving her down to the stables (150yds from house) and putting her in the hay/feed stable, but that would probably mean that the hay would get weed on, and its costing a fortune this year. There is a stable that is full of straw, which gets quite cosy as there is a see through roof for the sun to shine in, which warms it up.. But I don't feel its right for a 20yr old cat that has been ruined (fed cooked fish and sat in fron of fire on old lady's knee most of its life) to have to adapt to that. It got really really cold last year, and she is a short haired cat. Having said that, it has adapted to all the changes its had this year with no problems. My husband said send it to a rescue, but nobody would rehome a 20yr old thats not house trained. Its not fair. Perhaps it is time to think about PTS again?

Feel guilty and don't know what to do! Any ideas/comments? Sorry for long post!
 
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Oh bless her. Does she have an indoor litter tray that she's happy to use? If she's old and stiff, she might need a kitten tray. Make sure it's in an out of the way place, possibly high up as she seems to prefer that?

If you've really exhausted all options, then I'd go with spoiling her rotten for a week, then off to the vets :(
 
I don't think she has ever used a litter tray, and doesn't seem to know what one is. I think that this has coincided with the weather turning, so she's been going out in the morning, going to the loo 3' away from the door, then wanting to come back in! We've been looking after her for about 4 months, but that was summer wasn't it really!

She's amazingly agile and youthful - if you saw her you would probably think she was about 10. She has hardly any gray hairs at all, and will climb trees, bookshelves etc without batting an eye! She has lost a few teeth and claws though.

Think we will give her a week of leaving her out much longer periods again, whatever the weather, (there is a shed that she can get into if its raining) and see how she goes on, then re think.

Thanks for the help.
 
haha, I can't get my 2 out either! And they're not old cats. Just hopeless ones who can't cope with the weather lol.

Could she have a cat flap, or an open window somewhere?

Sounds like a good plan, pop a bed in the shed too so she can get snuggly if she doesn't want to come back in if it's raining.
 
Restrict her to one room in the house - i.e the kitchen. Bed, Food and toilet. The toilet musn't be near the food or the bed.

You'll have to put her in the litter tray for her to get a 'feel' of it.

If and when she goes in the kitchen clean it up and immediately put the litter tray there. She should get the hang, then, of where she needs to go.

She also will need to feel 'secure' so place the toilet somewhere quiet and out of the way.

And if you havne't got one - put in a cat flap.
 
Trouble is, Amy, we are in a two up two down cottage, with two labs as well, that will eat the poop if its on the floor, so until we knock through its a bit of a nightmare. Sounds a crazy place to have so many animals I'm sure, but we do have 20 acres outside, so its not normally a problem. When we do knock , we will have a utility and a back porch, so she can live in there if need be. There is an old porch on next door, that we tried putting her bed in in the summer, but she wouldn't use it, and its a draughty cold thing for winter (we back onto open country at the foot of the moors..).

We did have a catflap, which she wouldn't use, until a lab forced its way through it and broke it clean off the door, frame and all, so its now boarded up!
 
I 2nd amymay's advice.
Also, mix cat litter with soil initially if that's what she's used to and very quickly you should be able to get her using the litter tray.

You need to get a cleaner that removed traces of where she's previously soiled - standard household cleaners once used leave a similar trace smell to where they've toileted apparently.

Can you keep her in the kitchen for now.
My old girl hates the cold weather so has a cat litter tray all winter - boy does she use it. She actually doesn't go out at all by choice (we have a cat flap)
 
amymay said:
Restrict her to one room in the house - i.e the kitchen. Bed, Food and toilet. The toilet musn't be near the food or the bed.

You'll have to put her in the litter tray for her to get a 'feel' of it.

If and when she goes in the kitchen clean it up and immediately put the litter tray there. She should get the hang, then, of where she needs to go.

She also will need to feel 'secure' so place the toilet somewhere quiet and out of the way.

And if you havne't got one - put in a cat flap.
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This seems to be the ideal; old and other cats sometimes choose not to go out because of wet and cold and take the easy option - she has added stress with change of environment. (My ex-feral hated high winds for 2/3 years and began using the bathroom carpet-the litter tray re-appeared!) OK now. Can see though that it might not be practical.
By the way, White Spirit is the best thing to stop a cat reusing a place, plus lay down tin foil, they hate walking on it and the sound of the peeing! Though in this case it might just displace the activity. Cat rescue at her age would be a real trauma, PTS far kinder I suspect as she obviously knows you all well now.
 
Thanks guys. I will definately try the tin foil, and am liking the white spirit idea, but won't it also take the paint off the cupboard and shelves where she has started littering? Perhaps I could put white spirit on the tin foil.

At the mo, the dogs sleep in the kitchen, the cat sleeps in a basket we bought her on the end of the settee. I'm loathe to confine her to the kitchen, as its not as comfy, and there are more places for her to litter that are out of view - ie, top of units etc. Also I couldn't put a litter tray in there as the dogs would eat it. I aslo think the the cat is enjoying the living room - it likes to be on a knee when we're in. If she had to be shut away from everyone I think its not worth keeping her alive as she wouldn't be happy - it would be the same if I shut her in the other house on her own.

I think the way forward is to keep her outside for longer periods - even if she is shouting to come in on the windowsill, and see how that goes on. Also the white spirit to deter her from continuing. We will see how that goes on.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Sorry if I sound like I'm coming up with reasons as to why I can't do all of them - its just such a small house, with three people and two dogs already, theres just no room for isolating much! I really don't want it to come to putting her down, as its not the cat's fault, but you can't live in a giant litter tray so to speak! They have to be clean at basic levels.
 
You neednt really douse the units in white spirit.....it smells so strong try just wiping it over lightly. There is no doubt that restriction is the ideal.....if you put foil on top of the units or WS'td them, could she go there at night? I forgot, with nervous ex-feral, I got a litter tray with a top on (had to get her used to it at first), and she was very pleased and felt safe with that. Not sure you will be able to cope with wailing cat outside the window in freezing weather....cosy place in a stable might be nicer? Nightmare....love them to bits but when they start peeing for unknown reasons its so difficult.

Find a reiki practitioner who does animals, might help to calm her down if she's angst.
 
2Conker said:
You neednt really douse the units in white spirit.....it smells so strong try just wiping it over lightly. There is no doubt that restriction is the ideal.....if you put foil on top of the units or WS'td them, could she go there at night? I forgot, with nervous ex-feral, I got a litter tray with a top on (had to get her used to it at first), and she was very pleased and felt safe with that. Not sure you will be able to cope with wailing cat outside the window in freezing weather....cosy place in a stable might be nicer? Nightmare....love them to bits but when they start peeing for unknown reasons its so difficult.

Find a reiki practitioner who does animals, might help to calm her down if she's angst.
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She seems perfectly relaxed and happy. The problem is that the old couple who had her, didn't house train her enough. I'm not happy with the idea of her in the kitchen, as when the old man had her (wife died), the cat's regular soiling place was on the unit tops or on the cooker. Not something that I can live with. We thought be putting her in the living room, where she's part of the family, warm and cosy, with a routine of going out after being fed, we had cracked it.

There is a stable that we store straw in, that she could live in, but I just feel that it would be hard for a cat thats lived inside in front of a fire all its life to adapt to at the age of 20. Plus she's a very petite, fine coated cat, with not much meat on her, so when the temp drops (last year it made -17) or the snow comes (we are in the pennines and got a lot for a long period of time last year). Also she wouldn't have the company, and thats what she seemed to crave when her owner went into the home. I really think its a case of finding a way to keep her "en famille" or its kinder to PTS. We'll give it another week or so, and hope that this is just a blip. I suppose at 20, she's a very old lady, and likely to have more and more accidents.
 
I quite see what you mean about living out, it would be a real rejection and hard at her age. Your plan seems very well thought out, seeimg if she can be helped to live en famille, where she gets comfort and warmth, or PTS quietly after a time of contentment.
Let us know how you progress.
 
Honey08 said:
There is a stable that we store straw in, that she could live in, but I just feel that it would be hard for a cat thats lived inside in front of a fire all its life to adapt to at the age of 20. Plus she's a very petite, fine coated cat, with not much meat on her, so when the temp drops (last year it made -17) or the snow comes (we are in the pennines and got a lot for a long period of time last year). Also she wouldn't have the company, and thats what she seemed to crave when her owner went into the home. I really think its a case of finding a way to keep her "en famille" or its kinder to PTS. We'll give it another week or so, and hope that this is just a blip. I suppose at 20, she's a very old lady, and likely to have more and more accidents.
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At her age I have to say I wouldn't consider her living as a stable cat, if my husband suggested it I'd leave him and the dogs LOL!

Would the dogs still eat the poo if she had an igloo type litter tray in the kitchen? It should still be possible to litter train her if the tray is more attractive than the cupboard tops ie kept very clean and she has peace and quiet to use it Certainly my OH's dog made life very difficult for my cats when we moved in because the dog harassed them all the time and we had some accidents because they didn't want to pass him to get to the tray. Worth feeding her then shutting her in the kitchen with the tray on her own for an hour or so, most cats poo 2-3 times a day at most, try without the lid on to begin with.

Seems a shame to have her PTS when she's reached such a grand age in otherwise good health but better that than adapting to a winter al fresco
 
TBH I don't even know what an igloo litter tray is! If its what I'm imagining, it sounds a possibility, but I'd rather she just went outside really, as we've hardly any spare floorspace! As I said, in six months time, when we've knocked the two cottages into one, we will have a utility, which will solve all problems. Its just getting through the period up to then...

My husband didn't suggest sending her to a home for nothing - he was trying to think of ways to keep her alive rather than PTS. Its me thats stressed by it all. He has a very poor sense of smell, and doesn't even notice when she's done something on the shelf!

The stable option would be the cruelest option IMO, so its not really being considered, I just wanted anyone trying to help to know the full options.

Touch wood last night she was a good girl. She's been out for much longer periods yesterday, which was easy as it was fine weather.

Thanks for all your help everyone. Will keep you posted. Fingers crossed!


(PS. Wouldn't swop the dogs or my husband. They were here first. We took on the cat as its old owner was going into a home, and his relatives just abandoned her, along with the furniture that they couldn't sell! The old man had been asking me to ring the vet to PTS the cat due to the mess for nearly six months before, and we kept putting him off.)
 
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Last resort - and I had to do with our very old cat for a while, get a large cage - mine is 3' x 2' and put her in that at night - put a nice bed one end with food and water beside it and the cat tray at the other end. Covered trays often make them feel more secure which is why I use them.

Lulu is now 23 and a bit senile and decided she doesn't want to use a tray but will now go on puppy pads so I put these down for her. I rarely cage her now, but if she goes through a phase of using other areas of the house, she is caged for a few weeks at night and when I am at work and she gets back into the habit of using the pads. As she is so old, she mainly sleeps now, so is happy in her pen.

I would try putting several cat trays round the house in places where she likes to go and also use felinway sprays in the area she is marking.

I hope things work out for you and do understand how you feel - a house with cat pee and poo everywhere is not nice, and at her age if you can't get her to use a tray, then I would have her pts rather than have her live outside.
 
Theresa_F said:
Last resort - and I had to do with our very old cat for a while, get a large cage - mine is 3' x 2' and put her in that at night - put a nice bed one end with food and water beside it and the cat tray at the other end. Covered trays often make them feel more secure which is why I use them.

Lulu is now 23 and a bit senile and decided she doesn't want to use a tray but will now go on puppy pads so I put these down for her. I rarely cage her now, but if she goes through a phase of using other areas of the house, she is caged for a few weeks at night and when I am at work and she gets back into the habit of using the pads. As she is so old, she mainly sleeps now, so is happy in her pen.

I would try putting several cat trays round the house in places where she likes to go and also use felinway sprays in the area she is marking.

I hope things work out for you and do understand how you feel - a house with cat pee and poo everywhere is not nice, and at her age if you can't get her to use a tray, then I would have her pts rather than have her live outside.
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Oh that sounds like a brilliant idea, something like a dog-crate?, so she is safe, warm and contained. Yes, I found the igloo/covered litter tray helps as cats hate being exposed I think when peeing etc, if they're nervous or old.
 
When a stray adopted us (I called him scabby as he was always fighting) as my dog didn't like him we made him a little bed shelter on the doorstep when it was really cold hubby even would put a hotwater bottle in - we lost sadie our dog sadly and Scabby moved in never used a litter tray but used to miaow to go out and would then be knocking on the door at 7 o'clock to come it - he started trying it at midnight but soon realised we didn't answer door at night! at xmas even put tinsel on his box and a little sign that said "scabby's grotto - mice welcome" he was a gorgeous boy and we have a lovely few years with him before he died suddenly.

Maybe just make a little box like we did so can be cosy but easy access to outside world to wee - good luck x
 
That what I had, a very big cage for dogs so Poo had plenty of room to move about - for the little that she does. I had really got to the point where I couldn't stand the sight of her and her mess and the house stank. I was almost at the point of pts when I tried the cage.

As said, she is now nearly always using the pad and hasn't peed on the bed or sofa for about a year, so I have now bought new ones. Minute she does anything where she shouldn't, in the cage for a week or so to remind her where she goes to the loo and all is resolved.
 
I just wanted to post to say well done for taking her on and being so kind to an old lady! The cage, tinfoil and covered litter trays are all good ideas. Someone also mentioned the feliway. We have just been adopted by a cat (already have 2) and this caused some stress. We've bought a feliway plug-in as it's supposed to basically chill them out. It mimics (or actually is ?) the feromone they release when they rub their face against your leg. It's supposed to help with various problems, including toilet problems. One of the stress signs from our cat was tail chewing, which fingers crossed seems to be going away. So might be worth a try. You can get them from Amazon.
 
Thank you all for your replies once again.

I love the cage idea, that could definately be an option. Will keep that in mind if she starts dirtying again. Can't believe I never thought of that - so simple! The cage could be out of the way in the other side of the house when its not needed too. Thanks Theresa F - sounds like you know exactly where I am up to as well!

Touch wood, she has been clean for the weekend - in fact since I posted this thread! Perhaps she read it! She has been out much longer - not particularly overjoyed about that, but its helping her too!
 
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