First of all, it's very, very likely that a 17 yr old cat has some sort of health problem(s) that may be contributing to or even causing this problem. 17 is quite old for a cat, and body functions do go awry at that age. Make sure your vet runs a full blood panel to check organ function and checks urine for a UTI or urinary stones.

Please do NOT put your declawed, elderly, indoor cat outdoors in a suburban area with raccoons. Even a healthy young cat with claws shouldn't be put into that environment. To put your cat outside now would be more than cruel; it would be sadistic.

Talk to your vet friend and find out what medications she was referencing. If, against all odds, your elderly cat does check out perfectly healthy, then discuss the med options with your friend and see what she recommends.

There is a litterbox additive called Cat Attract that is supposed to somehow lure cats back to the litterbox when they have begun eliminating elsewhere. It's certainly worth a try. You could also try Feliway or Comfort Zone. They are sprays for your home, both of which have been reported to minimize or eliminate inappropriate soiling in some cats.

Your first and most important course of action, though, is a thorough workup at the vet's for your geriatric kitty.

I hope you can resolve this issue with compassion and understanding for your elderly feline.

Laurie

Well putting him out was just a thought. We used to feed a declawed cat that would wander by on occassion. He seemed to mange just fine. I started discouraging his visits a few years ago during one of my pregnancies. I think he also belonged to someone. He actually seems to want to go out ad I figured it was preferable to putting him down but perhaps not. Thanks for the reality check

To be honest if this were the symptom of old age or a new condition I would be more sympathtic but the reality is he has always been a problem. I have to draw the line at destroying my wood floors. I will try the products you suggest but I doubt it will help

For the record his litterbox has been sparkling for almost 2 years now

Just my 2 cents -- it really sounds like you let the behavior go on way to long and it may be a "learned behavior" now. Also, when your cats were peeing all over the basement did you religiously clean up after them with an enzyme based cleaner like Natures Miracle? If not, it is a green light for him to pee again in those spots because his urine scent is there.

My sister had a chronic pee-er, a female, who she had PTS at age 10. It started when she moved into a house where the previous occupants had cats that had peed in the house. For years she did vet visits, enzyme cleaners and replaced thousands of dollars in carpeting. When her other cat died of renal failure, the peeing cat stopped for a few years. Then she started up again and my sister just couldn't take it anymore. It was not a decision she took lightly -- as a matter of fact she was sick with grief about it. Anyhow, now-a-days they have medications you can try.

Good luck -- and please to rule out any medical issues pronto.

I would bring him to the vet to be checked out first. Our cats did this, it turned out he had Feline urologic syndrome or something.

Sounds like a medical thing, although that can morph into a behavior thing even after the medical condition is cleared up.

Are there other cats (wild or outdoors) that come to "visit" around your house? It could be territorial in nature.

It does sound like you let it go too long.

Even if it is a behavior problem, the vet can prescribe medications which may help. But in a 17 year old cat I doubt that it is strictly a behavior problem. I don't know any cats that age without some degree of renal disease. My guess is as that age, he also has some degree of arthritis, which may be making it painful to go up and down stairs as often as he needs to use the box, especially if he has renal disease and needs to use the box more often. He needs at least one litter box in the upstairs level. Get an automatically cleaning covered one if the kid cannot be trusted to not get into the cat box. BTW when I was a kid I got into the cat box all the time, and survived just fine.

Declawed cats generally don't fare well versus raccoons. It would be cruel to put a 17 year old cat out regardless of being declawed or not. He isn't used to defending himself and probably wouldn't know a predator until too late.

Yes it is ridiculous and cruel to put a 17 year old declawed cat outside to live. This cat is 17 years old and you are thinking about having him live outside!!! That is a horrible thought.

It is equally horrible for it to be considered to put him down. You and your husband are responsible for this. As much as his advanced age and possible health issues may be contributing to this, you have clearly spelled out how this cat was not properly care for and allowed for years to pee where ever and now all of a sudden it bothers you.

There was no excuse your husband couldn't clean the litter box. There was no excuse to allow the cat to go to the bathroom in the basement. Did you really think he would stop because you finished off the basement? This cat believes he can urinate where ever he wants because this is what you have allowed. And a 17 year old cat should have a litter box upstairs.

You want this cat to act responsibly but you and your husband haven't acted responsibly. I'm sorry to be so blunt but I am shocked at what you stated you were considering. I am concerned about your cat. Most people would be grateful if their cats lived such a long life.

I have a an 18 year old who doesn't have litter box problems , but since he reached a certain age. I put a huge litter box upstairs and all the rest are downstairs. He does not "do" the steps anymore. Never see him down there. In fact he just used the box 5 minutes ago. He's a good boy. Now Maddie is another matter. She's 15 and has been pooping and peeing indiscriminately for years. It's totally behavioral on her part. Never know what sets her off. Currently she is in "time out" in my large carriage house where she has her own food, water, wet food and litter box. I was ready to bring her back in the house today since things were going well but she pooped right beside the box today and then pooped in it..!??

Op's cat may be getting dementia or senility.

I know in our dogs, when they got older, they got confused about the bathroom thing sometimes. Unfortunately it means, the end may be near.

"It is equally horrible for it to be considered to put him down. You and your husband are responsible for this"

I couldnt disagree more. I think putting him down is probably the humane thing to do here.He is very old and I doubt even with medication will he change his behavior.

Unless you want to limit him to only being in the basement where he cant cause the rest of the house damage.Putting him outside is a very bad idea though.

Dont care if I get flamed for this~I would never keep a cat who peed or pooped all over my place.It is unsanitary and makes your house stink.Especially if you have children.
Especially (which in your case may or may not be true) if it is a BEHAVIORAL problem.
Just my two cents.

Many years ago we had an intact male (a famous stud, as we were breeding Abyssian kittens) who had belonged to a well-known cattery in the U.S. and probably spent his whole life in a cage or other very confined quarters. We got him at age 8&1/2 and wanted to give him more of a life as a pet, while still having some of his kittens.

Well, it seemed he couldn't go even 5 minutes without peeing on something in the house to leave his scent. Finally, I used a polyester double knit to sew him some little bathing-suit-like pants with a hole for his tail. They fastened over his spine with velcro tape or snaps. I would pin old-fashioned kotex pads into the pants, and the cat was able to enjoy periods of being free in the house with our two females.

Obviously, he would finally saturate the pads and have to be confined again, but we had built on a large "room" outside a big window. The room had a roof, but wire netting sides and a lot of shelves for the cats and was divided in half so the "mad peer" could be kept out there and the girls could go in and out at will. They all seemed very happy with that arrangement. This sort of thing might save the day for your old boy, if all else fails.

I don't think you said, but I assume that your cat has been neutered. We finally had the cat I am writing about neutered, at the age of 11 or 12, and his spraying activity stopped. (It seemed almost miraculous.) After a lifetime of doing it constantly, we thought he would just keep on, but he didn't and became the most delightful teddy bear of a pet, soooo happy that now he could be allowed into the bed. And that is where he finally died, of cancer, and is much missed, even after 20+ years.

I had a similar problem and had to deal with the smell in my home. I was about to pull all of my hair out until I came accross a hospital grade disinfectant that i was using in my home mirely to disinfect my home.

By accident I discovered that this disinfectant was the answer to my Cat Pee problem. I buy the disinfectant from Q-Based Healthcare; puracleenrx is one of their divisions. The link is below if you are interested.

http://shop.qbased.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=42

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