A litter tray can be clean and familiar yet difficult for an older cat to reach. Stairs, a high entrance or a slippery approach may turn an ordinary trip into an uncomfortable task.
Do not assume a new toileting problem is simply ageing. Changes in urination, discomfort or difficulty reaching the tray need veterinary advice. Adjusting the home can support the cat, but it does not diagnose or treat the cause.
Follow the whole route
Watch from a respectful distance as the cat moves from a usual resting place toward the tray. Note stairs, narrow turns, noisy appliances and surfaces that look difficult to cross. Do not force repeated demonstrations or wait for an accident to justify making access easier.
Cats Protection’s older-cat guidance recommends accessible trays with a low side and enough room to turn and dig. It also discusses keeping essential resources within easy reach when stairs become difficult.
Offer an easier option without a sudden upheaval
Consider adding a suitable tray on the level the cat uses most, in a quiet place separate from food and water. Preserve familiar choices while introducing the new option. A lower entrance should still lead into a tray large enough for comfortable movement.
Avoid improvised cut edges that could be sharp or unstable. Choose a purpose-designed accessible tray where possible, and keep the surrounding area secure and easy to clean. Observe which option the cat actually uses rather than deciding solely from how tidy the arrangement looks to a person.
Keep a short note of changes in frequency, effort and location to share with the vet. If the cat strains without producing urine, seek urgent veterinary care, as explained in Cats Protection’s urinary-problems guidance. Never punish accidents; they are information about an unmet need or possible health problem.
The aim is a shorter, more comfortable route and a tray the cat can enter willingly. Small practical adjustments work best alongside attention to the animal’s changing health.