We have an 11 year old mixed breed female. She is badly arthritic and has taken metacam daily for two years and in addition now also has a daily dose of morphine. She can easily get outside when she wants to but is now continually pooing and peeing in the house. We have used urine off to get rid of the smell but she will just pick a different spot the next time.

The vet says this is behavioural which I believe as it dates back to when I was pregnant with our first child. We have a one year old who we are worried may pick something up he shouldn't. We have to put our boys first.

We are considering having her euthanised as no one would want to take her on with these habits and the cost of the medication (£70 a month). Does anyone have any suggestions?

Have you got litter trays available for her?

As above, do you have litter trays available for her to use in the house?

As she is ill, she may no longer want to toilet outside, as she may no longer find it safe.

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and if you have got trays are they shallow enough for her to get in/out

We Used a litter tray but she either ignored it or went by the side. We do have a new cat next door who she is scared of but she still manages to go outside in good weather!

When you say used, do you mean past tense or do you still have one?

I would have multiple trays or different kinds (shallow was a good point due to her arthritis) and try multiple kinds of litter if one isnt successful. Cats are very clean and do want to use something such as a litter box rather than pooing and peeing everywhere, so for her to be going consistently at the side shows some knowledge of what to use it for. She may need 'reteaching' if she has been going outside all her life.

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Therein lies your problem....

Just think, if you were old, creaky and sore, and had to squat out in the garden to do your business...it might be plausible in good weather, but it really hurts your bones if it's cold/wet. AND then on top of that, every time you drop your trousers, the sod from next door tries to jump you, and you just can't get your trousers up and leg it as quick as you used to...it's easier, safer and more comfortable to go indoors

Invest in some trays with shallow sides, experiment with litter - preferably a soft sandy type as pellets can hurts poor old feet. Out them out of the way of the child, for the child's sake and the cat's sake.

agree to all of the above however given the vet thinks it is behavioural have you tried feliway or zyklene? It could well be behavioural given she doesn't like the cat next door.

Also if her joints are bad she would probably appreciate a flectabed which keeps them warm. My old boy who is arthritic loves his

Thanks I will try a shallower tray. We don't want to put her to sleep as we've had her since she was a kitten.

Usually when they start acting out of character, or toileting in unusual places they're trying to tell you something, in my experience anyway.