So we're still having problems with Smitch the cat...

She's a gorgeous little DLH who can be seen here: http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b10/Lottiepics/Smitch/newcamera001.jpg
She's about 11 or 12 years old and a few months ago her litter sister died.

Since then she's been a bit funny but seems to have settled in most ways except for this big problem with indoor toiletting.

She's always been an indoor/outdoor cat and had access to the outdoors via a catflap. She's never had an issue with going outside before, even with the dogs.
However, since Smudge died she began toiletting in my room. At first we thought it was only number twos but she's doing both and also digging up the carpet big time.

She didn't seem to be doing it anywhere else so I've had to only allow her into my bedroom when supervised as we've just spent over £200 on a new carpet when redecorating. I only have to leave her a few seconds and she'll go toilet in my room (and sometimes goes when I'm here too).
I tried putting a litter tray down for her to no avail, no matter how hard I tried she wasn't having it and would go right next to the litter tray.

But now we can smell cat pee on the landing carpet as well so shutting her out of my room isn't making her choose to go outside as we first though. We haven't found any number twos so can only assume she's going out at some point.

We're at work during the day so don't see what she gets upto or whether she goes out.

What do we do now? I know I need to shampoo the carpet and get rid of any scent but she's not only doing it in my room - she's doing it on the other carpet where she's never done it before...
She won't use a litter tray and she's ruining the carpets... I'm at a loss with her :( We love her to bits but she's driving us mad.

am not a kitty expert get most of my advice of here, but i got a very shy and scared rescue cat just over two weeks ago... i read up on the feliway diffuser and thought it would be worth ago it gives out good vibes to the cats and i really think its working she doesnt hide anymore and is getting more confident by the day!! I just thought i'd mention it because it is supposed to help with urinating problems too and have read reviews where it has worked for people infact never read a bad review about it its supposed to help the cat be less stressed perhaps its worth having a look cheapest i found it was £17.99...

Oh thanks angnjosh I keep forgetting about a feliway... it's been suggested a few times (I knew about them because I used to work in a vets and they're used in vet kennels a lot) and I keep forgetting! I'll order one now before I forget again! Thanks :)

:) no probs got mine from petmedicinesupermarket cheapest i seen it in fact am so convinced i ordered another for downstairs !

Thanks, I've tried ordering one but my bank has refused authorisation for some stupid reason!!

I don't know what's going off because there's definitely the funds in there... and I'm sure I got the password right!

I'd go with shutting her in one room (which allows you to cover the carpet or whatever properly) and bringing in a Feliway and things which smell of all the things she likes, whether that be your dirty washing or a scratching post which still smells of Smudge.

Feliway actually smells quite horrible to most humans, so it's advised that you run the diffuser overnight with the cat in the closed room with it, to make sure that there's a decent concentration of it in the air, then when the doors open during the day either turn it down or turn it off.

It's likely to take weeks or months for her to change this behaviour, so start as you mean to go on and whether she likes litter trays or not it's important for her to get used to using them, so it's also worth providing her with a few to choose from, with a choice of a number of different sorts of litter (just to work out what she likes most or dislikes least). I've had good success recently with the crystal litter, providing you remove solid waste from the tray quickly, but there's also wood based, paper based and mineral litter- she's sure to love or hate some of them, and to shun or favour lidded litter trays over open ones etc.

EDIT- anywhere she's weed before, clean it properly and dry it thoroughly, then cover the area with double sided sticky tape or silver foil. Both are nasty on the paws.

Thanks Meds...

I'll pass on your advice to mum and we'll talk over how on Earth we're going to do it. I don't hve anything that smells of Smudge :( She never used a cat bed or a scratching post (although I tried!) and wherever she laid before (my bed, mainly) has been washed since.

We don't really have a room she can be shut into. While we're out we close the bedroom and office doors but leave the bathroom door open so she has the bathroom and the upstairs landing. She actually has the whole house but I don't think she really goes downstairs.

So perhaps we could just cover the flooring of the upstairs landing and the bathroom because if she goes downstairs it'll be to go out?

I never even thought about it being the type of litter. We had a wood based smart cat litter before but I have some crystals in stock so could try them... I did get a lidded tray but left the lid off until she got used to it but she never did (have since sold it as she refused to use it).

Will also get some foil to lay down in my room when she's allowed in.

Would the feliway spray sprayed on her bed and maybe something of mine be enough or do we really need a diffuser? Just thinking it might not smell quite as bad as the diffuser because my mother has a very sensitive nose! :lol:

Thanks Meds...

I'll pass on your advice to mum and we'll talk over how on Earth we're going to do it. I don't hve anything that smells of Smudge :( She never used a cat bed or a scratching post (although I tried!) and wherever she laid before (my bed, mainly) has been washed since.

We don't really have a room she can be shut into. While we're out we close the bedroom and office doors but leave the bathroom door open so she has the bathroom and the upstairs landing. She actually has the whole house but I don't think she really goes downstairs.

So perhaps we could just cover the flooring of the upstairs landing and the bathroom because if she goes downstairs it'll be to go out?

I never even thought about it being the type of litter. We had a wood based smart cat litter before but I have some crystals in stock so could try them... I did get a lidded tray but left the lid off until she got used to it but she never did (have since sold it as she refused to use it).

Will also get some foil to lay down in my room when she's allowed in.

Would the feliway spray sprayed on her bed and maybe something of mine be enough or do we really need a diffuser? Just thinking it might not smell quite as bad as the diffuser because my mother has a very sensitive nose! :lol:

Lottie, I've used a Felliway for Spangle and we have it plugged in in our spare bedroom upstairs. I can honestly say I've never noticed it smelling horrible and I have an extremely sensitive nose! Definitely worth a try, I think it did the tricl for Spangles problem and my friend used one also to great effect with a different problem she had with her cat.

Good luck, poor Smitch she sounds really upset bless her.

I can't smell mine :) and had it on for a week now xx

Oh thanks! Will let you know how I get on x