Has she been checked for UTI or kidney problems?

Maybe she's going senile.

I hope you can help the kitty.

Yes, she has had a complete physical and has no physiological issues. As I said the vet says she may be stressed but offers no idea on what that means or how to deal with it,

I hate to think we must put her down when she is so well physically but I don't know how to deal with this

Has anyone experienced such a situation?

I don't know why your vet didn't recommend anything at all. Here's some info about treating stress/anxiety in cats. Yours has all the symptoms.

http://www.1800petmeds.com/education/reduce-cat-anxiety-stress-29.htm

Go see another vet.

Go to a pet store and check out Feliway. "Feliway is the clinically proven solution to help reduce or eliminate a wide range of cat behavior issues." I have 2 senior kitties, one 16 1/2 and one 12, and the older one has leaned towards being more skittish than the younger one. My vet recommended Feliway, as it can reduce and calm stressed cats. "The Feliway diffuser offers continuous comforting and calming at home."

Feliway

Get a second opinion from a feline vet.

Even the best vets will on occasion miss things. Be honest with both vets saying, "I just want to make sure nothing was accidentally missed." If it would be easier - blame it on me, say "a friend really thinks I should do this." I am a medical professional and volunteer with a feline rescue/shelter. You would be amazed at how often things are found on "second opinion," both human and feline. Did your vet check the cats vision?

find a feline specialty vet

http://www.catvets.com/cat-owners/find-vets-and-practices

feline vision

http://www.eyevet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/vision_cat.pdf

Thanks, I never thought of it being related to the dark . She sleeps in the dark closet most of the day but of course that is a different situation altogether.

I'lI leave her in a room she favours, with the lights on and her litter handy, and see if that helps. I'll look for " Feliway "as well.

There is only one vet in our area . The next closest is about a 2 hour drive and she wouldn't tolerate the travel well. This vet has treated her for years and knows her well , although she checked her eyes she didn't check her vision. I'll talk to her about that.

Thanks for the help.

Here are several articles on senility in cats. One of the drugs mentioned is Selegiline but it does come with side effects so you may want to try OTC products such as Feliway first.

You'll notice in the articles that hearing loss can cause a disruption in their sleep pattern so that could also be a cause for the night yowling. Have you noticed any signs of arthritis? If so, add litter boxes with low sides, or just cut down one side of your existing boxes so it's easier for her to get in and out. If she's losing her sight, jumping in and out of a box won't be easy.

I am convinced it is not a physical issue.

She still jumps on my bed each night and, when I think about it, she still sits crouched watching the chippers and birds out the windows so vision isn't an issue.

I can work around the night crying but her not using her litter is huge. Our Cat Lady won't come anymore and we have to be away from the house from time to time. . I could lock her in a small room to make managing her mistakes easier but that seems so cruel.

If your cat was younger, I'd be more easily convinced.

Have you observed the cat straining to go or crying out? She may chose to go elsewhere because she associates going in the litter box with painful or uncomfortable.elimination. If you confine her to a small room with a litter box and she ignores it, she may have no control over her actions. In addition to being cruel, it also signals that illness, not behavior, is the cause.

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/May-2012/Stop-Feline-Inappropriate-Elimination/

Colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, anal sac disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), liver disease, arthritis, loss of night vision - just some of the possibilities.

Every one of my senior cats started going outside of the litter box in various places, each one was in beginning stages of kidney failure. It's the first thing I consider in these types of situations. One of my cats lost her sight, she would stay in the dark closet during the day and come out at night, I think she could see a little bit night vision.

Poor kitty (and you -- it's got to be distressing).

A while back I had a senior cat that, turns out, had developed diabetes. He was a wonderful cat, very talkative. But he liked to eat and put on some extra pounds (my ignorance, I'm afraid). One of the things he did was to have wee wee accidents around the house.

Do you think Maddie's hearing is still good?

Another kitty I had, when she was old and frail, would lie beside me and purr. For some reason, cats will purr even when they are failing.

Best wishes to you and Maddie.

Has the cat had a complete blood panel and urinalysis done? Like ravencajun, all my kitties who began "missing" the litter box were afflicted with kidney disease.