Cat using the carpet as a toilet

[Gemini]

Some of you may remember that we recently had new carpet laid downstairs in the living room and dining room, which are adjoining rooms.

We have 3 cats, none of who are young any more. They have a cat door into the back garden, are free to come and go, and don't have a litter tray. They always go outside for the toilet no matter how cold or wet it is, they just run back quicker if it's nasty outside!
They have only ever had accidents when they have inadvertently been shut in a room all day.

With terrible bad timing one of our female cats has started to use the new carpet as a loo. We thought it was just messing at first but we found she had weeed the other day. We are watching her like a hawk now, taking her outside after meals and have put a piece of the spare carpet on top of the area she has been using, and a litter tray in the kitchen. Her sister went straight to it and used it!!!

We don't know if having new carpet has any bearing on it. It has been here a few weeks now, so I doubt it. She is probably scared of Sooty the male black cat next door, so that may be part of it. Also she is getting old, so that could be part of it too. As it seems to have begun quite suddenly I decided I should get the vet to check her out. This morning she had pooed a bit on the carpet and OH saw red blood in it. So, there must be a problem with her bowels, or she could be constipated by avoiding going which could have torn her a little. Anyway, a visit to the vet next week is in order.

I know Mimi recently had a problem with her cat and the vet diagnosed colitis and gave some treatment. How are things going with all that Mimi?

This cat is a nervous nature, she always acted as though we were trying to kill her when we used to put flea spot on her neck. The other 2 would just blink, she would struggle and panic and scratch us. If Sooty is scaring her that could be upsetting her tummy and making her afraid to go out..

I hope we can sort this out. We are both feeling quite despondent having waited years for new carpet and spent an awful lot of money on it.
We feel sorry for puss too, whatever the reasons this must be making her unhappy.

[ZIZI]

My old boy started peeing indoors but he liked t do it my handbag! He would go outside but because he was ve old and decrepit I would put a litter tray in a plastic e he could get to easily. He was half Burmese and was very vocal when he wanted something. One of my others used to do it on the carpet but stopped when I put white pepper down. He didn’t stop for long though and started in a different spot about a month later. I had them both checked out and one vet told me that the handbag thing was a combination of dementia and demand for attention, the younger cat, I was told it was jealousy.

[Plantaholic]

Oh Gemini that is upsetting and a worry in case she is poorly. I wondered if she was marking the carpet as it was new. \hope you get it sorted soon.

[Oma]

Sounds like a health problem Gem or stress , good idea about the spare bit of carpet ,
To neutralise the smell of the wee so she doesn't go back to that spot use laundry powder or liquid , a lot of carpet cleaner's have stuff in that attracts

It could even be the smell of the carpet that's causing it , Hope the litter tray works ,

[Clover]

Oh dear Gem that is annoying as well as worrying.It has been bitterly cold lately so that could have been a contributing factor.

[Daisy]

Gem - my first thought was as Oma said, could it be the smell of the new carpet. It could be making her anxious, just because it's different. It must be harder for an older cat to accept any changes in her life.

As you say the blood in the poo could be colitis or a tear. Rusty used to get dreadful colitis attacks until we changed his food (to raw). The fact that she's wee'd there as well, rather than anywhere else in the house, sounds as though she's chosen that spot rather than been taken 'short'. If it's anxiety about the bossy sooty next door, perhaps the vet will be able to recommend something to calm her down. I don't think cats drink gin, do they!

I hope the vet can find out what's happening for her sake and yours.

Oma - I used to use laundry liquid if R or C had accidents (they used to mark territory sometimes! ) but can't remember whether I used bio- or non-bio. Logically I would have thought bio would be best, but I'm not sure.

[Mimi]

Gem don’t want to speak too soon but at the moment our cat has stopped using the mat as a toilet but that may have something to do with the fact that we bring a litter tray in at night and so far she has been using that . Her tummy seems to have settled but with the huge price we have paid for her food I’m hoping she doesn’t have to be on it permanently. She is still having her calming powders scattered on her food each morning , again don’t know if that’s going to be a permanent thing.
As for your cat perhaps she has colitis also . How old is she ? The vet put our cat’s colitis down to stress , might be the same for your cat.

To rid the smell and stains from cats ‘accidents ‘ on the carpet we use ‘Wee Away ‘ spray . It’s very good , you can buy it from Amazon or eBay . It takes the smell off the carpet but sadly not for lingering smells in the air, for that we use ‘Oust ‘ air freshener spray, Also we permanently have a Feilway diffuser plugged in the socket in the hall. It’s supposed to calm cats .

I would certainly have a word with the vet about it because as it’s out of character with your cat’s behaviour it is worth checking it out.

[Gemini]

Thanks Mimi.
I'm glad your cat is 'behaving' again!

She is 18, so an old lady. So far having a litter tray in the kitchen (far from ideal but we have no Utility Room, and at least we don't eat in the kitchen) seems to be preventing her going elsewhere. Wees from her and her sister are appearing in the tray. Their brother is still going outside. This morning a poo right beside the tray. Although once again far from ideal, at least she is going close to the designated area and leaving the carpets alone. Cleaning up tiles with anti bac wipes and kitchen roll then steaming later is much easier than dealing with the carpet. No sign of blood either.
I will take her to the vet next week.

Thank you for your input everyone.

[Nanto2girls]

Gem, hope you get some answers from the vet.
It could be a combination of all things that have been suggested.