Hi,
We have a 9 month old kitten/cat. He is an indoor and outdoor cat but we can't have a cat flap because it is a rented property. At the moment he's outside while we are at work and inside otherwise. We also put him out for a couple of hours before we go to bed as well (until about 11ish) to give him a chance to go to the toilet.

He has always woken us up at pretty much exactly 4:30 o'clock in the morning nearly every morning but recently (for about 2 or 3 weeks?) he has been making more noise and meowing/scratching at the door to go outside for at least an hour. At first we let him out but obviously we can't let him out at 4:30 every morning when we get up for work at 7 so we have now stopped to get him out of the habit. However early this week he urinated on the kitchen mat and this morning he urinated in the bath.

I don't know whether this because he can't hold it in for the whole night any more or because he has a urinary infection or what.

We also have keep the room that used to have his litter tray in closed because he has defecated in there about four times previously during the night (over a few months) as he seems to think it is still okay to go in there.

Is there an alternative that isn't a litter tray or letting him out at 4 every morning?

Would appreciate a any help! Thanks!

My only suggestions are if you think he could have a UTI I would book a vet visit,secondly ,I know you say you dont want to use a litter tray but cats are very clean creatures by nature so I imagine it is very stressful for him if he needs to relieve himself while indoors but cant find anywhere suitable,I would provide a tray.Is he neutered,and lastly with winter approaching have you considered in the bad weather that he will,without a cat flap,have to sit outside in the cold/snow ect waiting for you to come home,is there no way you could provide access for him.

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Why don't just get him a litter tray? He obviously needs one How unfair on him to be denied relieving himself

I agree, get a litter tray if you get one that is covered it stops so much litter going everywhere after they have tried to cover up their wee or poop.

I have two cats and two litter trays and I clean them everyday and I have no accidents in the house and my cats are both indoors and outdoors.

If you don't want to get a litter tray, get up and let your cat out when he cries, otherwise expect accidents in your house and an unhappy cat.

Firstly do you or your partner have to nip to the loo sometimes in the night?
I know I have to sometimes. So I an glad I have a loo indoors.

Your poor puss might be having a drink when he goes out at 11pm and not a wee.
We have two litter trays and providing they are kept clean they do not smell.
We have 3 cats and sometimes the trays are not used in the night and then sometimes are. ( usually by the 17 year old )

In fact it is much safer for your puss to have a tray then be outside at night.
He is only 9 months old and is a little young to be out all day and then let out late at night.

I am sorry if that sounds like i am getting on at you, but as I drive for a living i see a lot of poor cats and animals that have been run over early in the mornings or late at night. It's very up setting to see

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Just get the poor boy a tray. Can you imagine needing a pee and not having anywhere to go? Of course he can't hang on another 3 hours until you get up!

Yes buffie, he is neutered. I don't think it is a urinary infection as he stays in most of the day during the weekend and doesn't need to go.
We have twice left the upstairs window wide open by mistake at night and both times he managed to get outside (I think by jumping onto the porch roof). However I don't want to leave it open every night as I am afraid he may slip and fall.

Most of you seem to be saying it is stressful for him and I can certainly see that it may be and it's definitely making me feel bad. I just thought it strange that he had never needed/wanted to go out at night until recently. I thought he just wanted to play or whatnot. My in-laws's cat stays inside all night every night with no problems which is why we thought it would be fine.

Maybe a litter tray would be best then - or train him to use the toilet..

I hope you dont take offence at this,but,I have to say it.You say he stays in most of the time at the weekend,does that not make you think that he is most likely unhappy being shut outside all day during the week.

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I do not think a cat should be locked outside all day.

I have no problems with outdoor cats but the cat should have a choice, it should not be shut outside all day.

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I agree with the others that your cat should have the choice whether to be inside or outside during the day. During the summer months it's probably not so bad, but in the winter or in unpredictable weather, e.g. snow, hail, heavy rain or winds, your cat will probably want to stay indoors during the day.

A cat's home is its safe place, and bad weather aside, there may be all sorts of dangers and scary things lurking out there that your cat may not want to encounter. To be able to hide in the safety of his own home is very important - he should be able to come home and curl up in his bed or somewhere safe if he wants to. At the moment, your cat is basically having to fend for himself during the day and I expect that is causing him a great deal of stress.

I have indoor cats myself, but if I were you in your situation, I would keep him in during the day when you are at work and let him out as soon as you get home, so he can enjoy the outdoors but can still get back inside if he wants to. I would also get him a litter tray which is accessible at all times when he is in the house.

Sounds like your cat is happiest when he's indoors anyway, so probably doesn't enjoy being shut out all day. I think that by changing the times he goes out and getting him a litter tray you would be helping to make his life much less stressful, and yours too, as it would mean you wouldn't have to get up so early every morning to let him out.

As for training him to use the toilet, personally I would start with the easy option of a litter tray as it can take six months (or longer?) to train a cat to use the toilet. If he's not even using a litter tray yet then it would probably be quite a leap to expect him to take to using the toilet.

Good luck and hopefully you will take the advice of the posters here on board, and the result will be a happier, less stressed cat and happier, less stressed humans too.

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Bonnie and the gang xxx