Why does older cat stop using litter box?

DEAR JOAN >> One of my cats is a 15-year-old male that was feral. We’ve had him a good long time in the house, and, finally, after 10 years, he isn’t spending most of his time under a bed because there was a noise.

He has never had a problem holding everything until he could sneak out to the litter box in the dark and do his business. Then all of a sudden about two months ago he started peeing on the bath mat in one of our bathrooms. This was usually at night.

We started keeping the door shut, but he then started using the carpet in my office as his private commode, both peeing and defecating on it sometimes. I tried using some repellent that contained methyl nonyl ketone (didn’t want coyote pee smell, too) on the carpet with little or no effect on his behavior. I ended up discarding the carpet and now keep the door closed.

Now he has found the rug in our entry hall and decided this was the place to do his business, both pee and poop. My wife and I put a sheet of plastic under a cloth on the ground so it won’t soak the flooring, but he likes to go to the edge and “miss” the plastic most of the time.

We have two other cats, one older and one five years younger. They are both female and usually totally ignore the old man cat.

We took him to the vet, treated him for a UTI and now all his blood test results are in a normal range, but still he won’t use the litter box.

I thought maybe it was a UTI that hurt when he peed, but after a round of antibiotics nothing has really changed. We don’t want to get angry at him, but is there anything you can suggest? — Rob Holcomb, Morgan Hill

DEAR ROB >> I’m glad you don’t want to get angry with him. He is not doing it to irritate you or destroy your rugs. There’s a good reason for his behavior, unfortunately, it might be a reason known only to him.

It could very well be related to his age. He might be developing kitty dementia and simply forgets where the litter box is. He might be having trouble seeing in the dark, or he might have some arthritis that makes jumping in and out of a box painful. He might even find the litter painful on his feet, preferring a soft rug.

With three cats, you might need to add a litter box just for him. Although not conducive for entertaining, you should place it where he’s been going lately and leave a light on. Perhaps try shredded newspaper instead of litter.

The best you can do is what you’re doing: protecting the floor as best you can, and forgiving an old cat his peccadilloes.

Update on GoFundMe

Earlier I ran a letter from a reader who had met a homeless woman and was trying to help her and her dog find permanent shelter out of the cold. In working with the woman, some rather unsavory facts came to light that has lead the reader to suspend her GoFundMe campaign and regretfully break ties with the woman.

Thanks to everyone who donated. I know it was done out of a desire to help a fellow human being and to help a dog that really has no say in the matter. Although it didn’t have the happy ending we all wished for, you did provide some assistance.