Expert: Jessica - 11/29/2009

Question
Hi, my cat is 16 years old and has always peed outside in our garden. He is still eating and drinking as normal. he still purrs and he is always loving and friendly. He doesn't seem to be in any pain and is not losing any weight. Why is he all of a sudden peeing in the house. He has never done this in 16 years. Is he just old and possibly going blind and too scared to go outside as his sight is poor? Is it because my other younger cat passed away recently and he is depressed or stressed. Please help me we don't know what to do! Thanks A

Answer
Hi Andrea.  Those are both good possibilities.  It's also possible your kitty may have developed a urinary tract infection and is urinating in inappropriate areas as a result of bladder pain and urgency.  He should be examined by a vet to determine whether there could be a physical cause or if this is all behavioral.  Your vet can tell you if there appear to be any changes in the eyes or his response to light that suggest blindness might be part of the problem.

If you don't have a litter pan, I would accommodate him with one of these and see if he’ll use it.  If so, you are probably looking at some sort of fear or convenience issue with not wanting to go outdoors, and it would probably be easiest to just keep the box available to him at all times.

In case it’s an anxiety issue, you might want to try a product called Feliway.  This is a simulated pheromone that aims to prevent this behavior by reducing anxiety (learn more about how it works at www.feliway.com).  There is a plug-in diffuser as well as a spray bottle that you can use directly on accident areas.

Some cats end up having cognitive problems as they get older, essentially kitty Alzheimer’s, called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.  One of the signs is urinating or defecating in inappropriate areas.  However, other symptoms come along with it, such excessive vocalization, social withdrawal, confusion, disorientation (getting “lost” or stuck in corners), and sometimes even aggression.  If any of these signs fit your kitty, talk to your vet about placing him on a supplement such as SAMe, which may help slow the progression of the disease.

Best of luck!

Jessica