Newly acquired elderly cat and refusal of litter tray

Our nervous rescue cat tended to pee right over the edge of the tray in an arc, and as he is a large tomcat, it was usually a big clear up. (He won't go outside, even after five years. ) We bought a grey and white tray with cover from Pets at Home - it looks like a pet carrier. It was £10.00, and is excellent. He creeps in there and has privacy - a much happier chap.

On a side note here (sorry, but I thought it was rather wonderful), my last cat used to shove the door open and sit and watch when we used the loo. We heard her opening the door one day and went to check. She was balanced on the rim/seat, peeing into the bowl perfectly, entirely unbothered by us watching her. She was 6 when she learned this, and it continued until she was hit by a car a year or so later. She never missed the bowl, never peed on the seat either. (Although, obviously I cleaned it each time.) She was the most amazing, loving little cat and we still miss her.

I've had rescue cats for the past 40 years - hence the name madcatwoman - and one thing is for sure, every cat is different and there's no 'One size fits all.' I can only offer a few tips:
Cat pee smells like bleach and vice versa. First off, I would buy two new litter trays. Clean them both with bleach and rinse mega-thoroughly. Your cat will smell the faintest traces of bleach - they have fab noses - and hopefully, should put 2 + 2 together. Et, voila! Or not!
I use Tigerino which is clumping litter, so you just need to lift the lumps and all is good. No horrid, smelly trays. (Cheapest on Zooplus - 10kg lasts a month or more.) That's when it is cleaned out and trays bleached etc. twice a month.
Cats are weird - what suited in the last house, may not suit in the new house. Which is why I suggest new trays and different litter.
Good suggestion regarding trays next to outside door - maybe Pusskins wants to try a new toilet vibe ... like going outside.
Please give it time. These things can take a good while to get going. Cats are, in some ways, resistant to change (but you've just said get new trays!) I know, I know ... but you're dealing with a cat ... and only a cat understands The Way of the Cat.
My heart goes out to you, but be patient. I'm sure when she/he settles down they will repay you a thousandfold. All of mine have (little blighters) and I couldn't love them more.
Best of luck.

My first kitten used to wee under the coffee table.
Advice from my sister who had cats was to put some cat litter in the wee, scoop it up and put it in the litter tray.
It worked a treat. He used the tray every time.
I use a recycled paper cat litter. Grey pellets No smelly tray like some I'd used in the past. It's brilliant. Can be bought from B&M stores or Pets at home. Maybe other stores or online. Called Bio-Catolet.

I came back on here to suggest a Feliway calming plug-in diffuser. I see it has already been suggested, as cats often wee in inappropriate places when they are stressed. It worked when one of my cats had an injury and started to wee against my bed head. I used a Feliway and also put down a new litter tray in my bedroom, where it has remained to this day.

Our rescue girlie has 2 trays. One for wee and one for poo.
We use wood pellets and no problems. Sometimes if it's sunny and we are in the garden she will be a proper cat and have a poo, but still comes in for a wee! Bless her! 😍

The poor little dear is adjusting and wondering about her new life, new people, new smells. So happy for you that she is delightful and affectionate.

Things will work out in time. In the meantime be gentle with her - you need to build up trust with her. You have good ideas here - you need to get a litter pan that has higher sides perhaps (misfiring?), puppy pads around the box to absorb till this passes.

Maybe MOVE the TRAY - cats cannot have a litter box that is in tight quarters! They instinctively walk around and around the pan sniffing before they get in.
Give her a hug when she scores❣️ 🍀🍀🍀

When our cat was elderly he started wetting outside of his tray. We also used puppy pads, bought from Poundland so were not expensive. Sadly, he had a health issue and did pass away eventually. He found it difficult to get into the tray and when he did he widdled over the side. Nevertheless we loved him to bits and were very sad when he was put to sleep.

Sorry to jump on this thread but I have a thirteen and a half yr old tomcat (neutered) who persistently wees on my back doormat inside the kitchen. I have swapped coir for a fabric one that I can wash but he persists.
Does anyone have any suggestions that work? Thanks.

Sometimes cats do this because there is another cat hanging about outside.

Is that likely?

Unlikely I think MissAdventure as he has a litter tray and uses that as well!

Doing better with the toilet training but something frightened her yesterday (don’t know what) and she is very wary and sometimes hostile so I think quiet patience will be called for. In 40 years of cat owning I have never seen behaviour like I witnessed yesterday - I was almost frightened of her, and she is still inclined to yowl and hiss though eating well. She looked like a Louis Wain drawing of an angry cat. Calm routine and not looking directly at her should help but any advice welcome. Who knew adopting an unwanted cat would prove so challenging?