Cat poos and wees in her house

Question
QUESTION: My husband moved in with me four years ago and brought his cat.  At fist she did poo a bit in the lounge, however once she settled she was ok for a bit.  My husband was really soppy with her and would cuddle her on his lap for several hours a night.  If he stopped stroking her she would pore him.  She did seem to be jealous of me.

About two years ago I realised that she was weeing on my lounge carpet and sprayig the walls.  It got so bad that I eventually pulled up my carpet and threw it away as I could not get the smell out of it.  She then started weeing and dirtying in any part of the house.  She would actually come in from the garden to poo on the floor!  We took her to the vet and he did blood tests and could find nothing wrong.

Eventually I persuaded my husband to build her a house outside.  He built her an elaborate house, fully waterproof and put a heat mat in it.  This was ok for a while, but now she is actually dirtying and weeing in her house.  Consequently the house stinks and she stinks.  We have bathed her and used cat wipes on her and keep changing the heat mat, but she is constantly doing it.

I think it will be a real problem in the summer as flies could lay their eggs in her if she smells disgusting.  She is now 16 years old.  Any answers please?

Many thanks for your time.

ANSWER: This question is really more of a behavioral issue but it has gone on too long for you to do much about it now with her being 16.

The kindest thing to do since this cat has been banned from the person she loves anyway is to put her down before summer comes.

She is having some sort of issue that is physically related now most likely along with the behavior issues. 16 yr old cats have problems like this related to kidney failure, liver issues etc.

So either have another vet look her over or you need to discuss having her put down at this point.

There isn't much more I can do or suggest.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: This is what I thought.  We do still get her in for a brush and some affection.  When my husband sits alone with her on the sofa she will still wee on it.

I now feel guilty.  Have I been the cause of her behaviour?

Are some cats so insecure that they cannot bear another person in the family?

Thank you so much for your help.

Answer
I am not sure the cat was the insecure one, but some cats don't tolerate new company or new surroundings very well. She apparently lived a long time with your husband before you two were married then felt very displaced moving into your home.

Whatever your reactions were to her at the time could have started the wetting but she was also trying to get used to a new home and that is scary to any cat.

At this point, she seems to be having other issues with incontinence which sounds like she needs a better work up at the vets then the one she got.

That is where I would start if I were you.