Cats can be sweet, curious, and independent furry companions. Everything is easy-going until kitty pees where she shouldn’t. As a cat parent, you know that the potent smell is the destroyer of all things bedding, clothes, and the hairs in your nose. Double, UGH! When this happens, your cat is sending you a message; something is wrong! Sometimes there is an easy fix and sometimes it can be a more serious medical issue. Let’s break it down before you find another cat–astrophe because I guarantee you won’t be able to ignore this behavior!

What if your roommate started urinating on the couch? Would you brush it off or ask them what is going on? I sure hope you would pick the second choice. Before you get angry, seek help.

The first thing you must consider anytime your cat is urinating outside of the litter box is that she might have a medical problem. Urinary tract disease or infection, diabetes, feline interstitial cystitis, and kidney disease are all common conditions that can cause an inability to make it to the litter box or an aversion to using it.

Any time your pet’s behavior changes in a negative repetitive way they are trying to tell you something. If your cat urinates outside the litter box, make an appointment with your veterinarian right away.

Cats are always calm, cool and collected. WRONG! Cats can experience stress and anxiety. You’ll know because well…you will find the evidence on your bed. I’m no Oprah Whisker, but think of it as a cry for help!

How do you feel when you walk into your home when its messy and dirty? Most likely overwhelmed. Your kitty may be desiring a clean place for relief. Poor litter box conditions are the usual culprit of inappropriate urination. If you don’t clean the cat box regularly, you may find yourself sniffing around trying to pinpoint what smell is saturating the room only to find yourself wearing cat pee socks. Spare yourself the potential smelly embarrassment. A box that isn’t kept clean enough, in a spot that doesn’t feel safe to the kitty, or that contains litter that is objectionable to the cat are all stress-triggering reasons your cat may be looking for more pleasant surroundings. Here are some great cat litter box rules to live by:

• Be sure you are scooping the litter box multiple times daily, emptying it out and washing the box with warm water and soap weekly, and replacing the box every six months.
• Keep as many litter boxes as you have cats plus one. Cats don’t like to urinate in dirty litter boxes, and if you don’t have enough boxes, they’re sure to get dirty fast.
• Keep at least one litter box on every floor of your home. Cats might not want or be able to travel too far in search of a box when they have to go.
• Don’t put the litter box in an area with loud noises- laundry room, heavy traffic- hallway, or where a cat might get “trapped” by a dog or other feline housemates.

Cats can also be stressed by any change in their environment including the addition of new family members (human, feline, or canine), a change in schedule for the humans in the household, visitors, or construction.

Remember, keep it clean and keep it many. Put yourself in your cats paws.

Nothing says ‘I miss you’ like fresh cat pee on your new Pottery Barn blanket.

Cats can have separation anxiety too, driving them to seek solace in your belongings when you’re away. If you have a change in your schedule or suddenly aren’t spending as much time interacting with your cat as you used to, she might urinate on your side of the bed as a way of coping. Combining her scent with yours might help her feel closer to you in your absence.

Stop and take time to “paws” your day to pet your kitty. We all need acknowledgment.

Everything is fine until your feline gets jealous. Think of this next one as a movie called “Cat Wars: that’s MY human and this is MY house!” Sounds ferocious, right?

Your cat is probably thinking, “keep your paws off my human.” You may have decided to grow your fur family which may strike a jealous cord in your once singleton cat. Multiple or new cats can induce jealousy similar to sibling rivalry. Jealousy over other cats (or even other people) being added to the household can cause a cat to urinate on the belongings of his chosen human. To your cat, you do not own her. Instead she owns you because they just love you so much! Cats mark their territory and re-claim what they think belongs to them= you.

Now that we know a few possible reasons for your cat’s undesirable bed-peeing behavior, here are some things you can do to help your cat break their annoying habit:

• Stay PAWsitive. Don’t react with anger toward your cat when you discover urine on your bed. Yelling, hitting, or other negative attention will damage the bond you have with your cat, and it won’t stop the problem.
• Find the stressor and offer a solution: increase attention, introduce new toys or implement a routine.
• Avoid jealousy. To do this, offer each animal special attention especially to your O.G. cat for reassurance.
• Make the litter-box likable. Think of it as a cat-doo hotel; location and cleanliness is everything. If your cat does not like where the litter box is located, the size of said box, the type of litter, or it’s state of cleanliness, they are more likely to find an alternative place to “go.” If you are too busy to scoop daily, I would suggest the use of a good automatic scooping litter pan, like the PetSafe Simply Clean Automatic Litter Box . If your cat is still reluctant to use it, a sprinkling of Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra should do the trick.
• Make the no-pee pet zones unattractive. While you are getting a handle on why your cat is peeing on your bed or other off-limited places, making the no-pee zones unattractive will help him break the habit of “going” there. Use of a cat-specific enzyme cleaner, such as Nature’s Miracle Just For Cats Oxy Cat Stain & Odor Remover, to remove any traces your cat may look for so that they can return to the same spot. Also use of a sound-producing scat mat or motion-triggered air spray repellent will make these places unpleasant for your cat to visit. Double sided tape is an excellent solution since cats don’t like sticky texture on their feet. Another natural option is citrus essential oils, which cats are not fans of. Please research the oils you use in your home and make sure they are pet safe! You may wish to keep the door to your bedroom closed when it is empty while implementing some of these techniques. You can also try playing with and giving your cat treats on the bed. Cats don’t like to urinate near where they eat, so you may be able to change your cat’s mental association of the bed from a place to pee to a place to play and eat.
• Use calming products. If Kitty Purry appears to be high strung, calming aids, such as a Feliway MultiCat 30 Day Starter Kit Plug-In Diffuser, or calming treats like NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin Cat Soft Chews , may be purrrr-fect for your cat.

Once you help your cat become the cool cat she once was, you two will once again be snuggling together high and dry at bedtime!

Melinda MeltzerSeptember 14, 2020