Cat lovers, can you help?

Just to add to the covered litter tray suggestion - our cat wouldn’t use it to start with as it had a flap/door, which was see-through plastic, but very dark. I removed the door and she was fine. Hope your son finds a solution that works.

Does he live in the country?

I don't think the intruder cats are the problem. I would think the cat had been scared by an animal that it didn't feel it could fight, like a badger.

Mine stays indoors every time a wolf crosses the border from Germany.

More seriously, the cat could be messing and weeing indoors to try and tell his master that there is something wrong physically.

I know going to the vet is difficult right now, but if this doesn't stop again, a check-up might be indicated.

It does sound territorial, though maybe the cat needs a health check, just in case there’s an underlying physical cause. Then securing the house needs to be done followed by removing the scent of both the intruder cat and your son’s own cat’s soiling in inappropriate areas. Use a bio laundry liquid and not bleach. Bleach causes cats to soil even more to cover up the smell.

It could be worth trying Feliway to help calm down your son’s cat. www.feliway.com/uk/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser

It's a territory thing unfortunately and the only cure as someone has said is an electronic entry/exit which only the owner's cat recognises via a signal from its collar.

If other cats think there's an easy way of getting food they'll not hesitate to enter. This is a part of cats that I don't like and I resorted to some " cruel " tactics to rid an unwanted cat from my home during the summer months. Water pistol and the hose of a running hoover the noise of which scared it away.

I have 3 cats and love them----but not other people's.

Yes I think he can smell the other cats in his house, and it’s freaked him out, that’s why he’s doing it inside, he’s scared to go out, cats aren’t silly they know when things aren’t right! I’d buy a feliway calming spray, if he’s never used a litter tray inside it’s a good idea to put the poo inside it, sorry I can’t help anymore my cats are indoor cats, so I haven’t ever had that problem, but I do hope your son can sort it out, the cat is stressed though, It does sound as if this is the problem

I definitely think this change in behaviour is due to the trespassing cats and he is marking his territory.

I agree with trisher that you need a thorough deep clean with a product containing enzymes to get rid of the other cats' scent, and to fit an electronic cat flap. It also might be worth getting one of those "hooded" litter trays which have a roof over, which give the cat some added security whilst going to the loo. And perhaps something like Zylkene to help with the anxiety, or else a homeopathic product.

Trisher I will ask him if the cats have been back, that could very well be the problem.

phoenix

PS, might sound yuk, but your son could try picking up one of the poos and putting it in the litter tray, as a sort of "indicator"?

Good idea.

Think the only way to stop it is to do a thorough deep clean of everywhere the intruders might have been, while his cat can smell their scent on anything he is going to keep marking his territory. Is your son certain they aren't still getting in?

Thanks Phoenix forgot to add, the cat does still use the catflap, but not when he wants to go to the toilet!

PS, might sound yuk, but your son could try picking up one of the poos and putting it in the litter tray, as a sort of "indicator"?

Think the intruding cats theory is probably spot on.

An electronic microchip reading cat flap might be the answer, but the problem could be getting the cats confidence back.