Old Cat Pooping on the Carpet

Question
Hi,
I have a 16 year old nuetered male cat who continually poops on the carpet.  He is an indoor/outdoor cat and always has access to outside.  He does go outside; but also goes on the carpet for no apparent reason.

His stool is always loose and makes such a horrible mess.  I can have the door wide open and he'll walk into the dining room or living room and just go, then go outside.

Please help -- how do I break this habit?  Its not like he can't make it to the door -- its only 10 feet away.  And he's been doing this for about 3 years now.

I'm at my wits end...

Thanks,
Carol  

Answer
Hi Carol.

You should take your cat to the vet for an elderly cat checkup. Your cat is approximately 80 years old in human years. At that age body parts and functions start to go out. Cats also get a form of Alheimers and kitty senility. He also needs his thyroid, kidneys, and liver functions checked.

I am including some links to good articles on the aging cat. Copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar:

http://www.sniksnak.com/resources/geriatric.html
and
http://www.messybeast.com/Oldcat.htm

He is probably confused and ashamed by what he is doing but cannnot help it. He needs your reassurance and love now more than ever. Don't get upset at him for getting old. You can put a plastic down with newspaper on top on the area that he goes. You need to make allowances and concessions with an old cat the same as you would your 80 year old grandfather who was having age related problems.
Remember someday soon you may wish you had your cat still here making messes.

Tabbi