Hi guys,
My boyfriend and I adopted my mothers cat a few days ago, he is 11 years old and extremely unhappy in my mothers house - where there was a kitten, a puppy and two children. He seems to be settling in ok, eating and now going downstairs which he didn't before but every morning we wake up to find he's pooed upstairs (his litter tray is in the kitchen)

He's never had trouble with the tray before, he's even used it whilst he's been here.

My bf, who is not a cat person, is getting really stressed out about it and it's all very upsetting. He thinks shouting etc like you would a dog is what you need to do but I'm sure thatll just make it worse. I don't want to shout at him! I just want him to be happy!

What do I do?

Xxx

Can you put another tray upstairs & maybe get a Feliway plug in, that may help him settle in x

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All my children have paws!

Hey,
I'm not overly keen on putting another litter tray upstairs unless we really have to. I don't want him to get into the habit of going upstairs - mainly because of the smell. Though I'm not really in a position to be fussy!
He does use the one downstairs just not at night.
X

Maybe keep him downstairs at night untill he settles in, cats can get very stressed with change

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All my children have paws!

Have to agree with DB .Feliway Diffuser should help destress your cat and I think you will just have to accept a litter tray upstairs,at least until he settles and gets used to his new environement.Please dont shout at your cat this will not achieve anything(doesnt with dogs either)you will just make him even more confused and stressed.Just give him time and plenty of fuss he will get there.

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Agree with DB, either get another tray upstairs, or keep him downstairs at night. He's in a new environment and having a whole house to wander round in at night he may forget about the tray all the way downstairs in the kitchen when he's upstairs.