Why has my cat started toileting inside?

(Q) My seven-year-old male cat, who always used to toilet outside, has now started going to the toilet indoors. It started after he went missing for a whole day a few months ago and he hasn't been the same since - could something traumatic have happened to him? He also sprayed on our sofa and up my husband's leg! We went to the vets but they said he's in good heath. What could be wrong?

(A) Behaviourist Jon Bowen says: You are probably right that your cat has had some kind of traumatic experience, but it was probably conflict with another cat, dog or person. It would have to be something that left your cat with a general sense of vulnerability about going outside, rather than just being linked to being accidentally shut in a shed, for example. This is not an uncommon situation, and I have had similar things happen to my own cats.

When cats are anxious and stressed they may lack the confidence to go to the toilet outside, so at least for a period it would be best to give your cat a litter tray or two inside. Prepare a couple of outdoor toilets in the garden, so that your cat can start to use them once his confidence returns. These are just cat litter tray-sized holes, dug to a depth of about 30cm and filled with soft playground sand. Situate the outdoor toilets in quiet, sheltered locations - such as in planted borders - where your cat can go to the toilet without disturbance.

You can also do a few things to reduce stress for your cat. Firstly, provide free access to food at all times, and ensure that there is no chance of other cats getting into the house (consider fitting a microchip cat flap). Try installing Feliway diffusers in the main parts of the house that your cat spends time in, to further increase his sense of security.

If you can, discourage other cats from coming into the garden, because while your cat is vulnerable he may not be able to territorialise his own garden properly. Just shoo them away when you see them, and don't offer them any kind of encouragement. It may take a few more weeks for your cat to get over what happened to him, but if you continue to see no improvement then the next option is a short course of medication to reduce his anxiety. You can get this through your vet.

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