What causes a cat to pee on beds and bedding?

Posted May 15th, 2010 by admin




I have a 3 month old female kitten that knows where the litter box is, but I am constantly changing bedding and scrubbing couch cushions because she is urinating on them. I can’t stand the smell, but she is really good with the little kids I have. I guess last night was very upsetting because my daughter woke up in the middle of the night because the kitten had peed on her while she was sleeping in bed. This is very difficult. I don’t want to get rid of her, but I am at wits end. I don’t think its fair to coop her up in the laundry room where the litter box is, but I heard that once a cat does this, its hard to stop it. I also think its interesting because the cat is female and I have only heard of male cats having the habit of "spraying". I also use the "OUT! Natural" that has enzymes and Live Bio-Cultures that is suppose to remove the animal "smell" so they don’t go back to the same spot to urinate again- and it does work, but than she finds another area of another bed in the house (or couch) and that stuff is Very expensive. Is there anything I can do???!!!!




6 Responses to “What causes a cat to pee on beds and bedding?”

  1. Nat

    Where was she kept as a kitten? A lot of people keep kittens in a box with a towel and or blanket. Training them very early on that peeing on fabric is okay. Breaking that early training is difficult and takes time and attention. My cat now almost 3 was one of these kittens. She was such a fur ball that she would just sit there and pee right in front of us and we wouldn’t realize until she was done.
    We solved it by finding the surface types that she preferred and those blankets got put away for several months(A $500 feather blanket and ultra light backpacking sleeping bag, she had taste!) What textures she didn’t like got put on top of any other blankets, couches etc. She didn’t happen to like to pee on flannel, but you will need to find your kitties dislike. Ensuring that there are enough litter boxes conveniently located to HER favorite hangouts and that they are always clean. Texture is also a big deal to cats so try a couple of different kinds of litter in the different boxes, see which she prefers.
    If you can catch her at it, move her to the litter box while she is peeing. Tell her she is a good kitty when she uses the litter box, whether you place her there or she goes on her own. Stop giving her attention when she goes somewhere she isn’t supposed to. Bad attention is still attention and can be encouraging. As the peeing on the blankets stop, increase the distance to the litter box until you get it in the spot you prefer.
    Be prepared later. Our Cat has peed on the feather blankets twice since the trouble when she was a little kitten. Both times we weren’t spending enough time with her.

  2. kornkrazed

    This happened to me. On the bed, on cushions, on my area rugs. It was awful. I took her to my vet and he waved it off as a behavioral problem. It got much worse so I decided to get a second opinion. The second vet took a urine sample and found that she had a very bad urinary tract infection (which will kill a cat in a few months time if not sooner!) He said my baby might not make it since it went on untreated for so long. She was put on aggressive antibiotics and a strict food diet. After 3 months of having to "squirt" medicine down her throat 2 times a day she is all better.

    Don’t brush it off as a behavioral problem until you actually have the urine tested. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Usually UTI’s will clear up in 2 weeks with proper meds. Good luck!

    Also I have tried EVERTHING for getting that smell out, trust me! I came across this stuff and it is a true miracle worker! Just spray on some cheap 99 cent carpet foam cleaner on the area, dab that up and all it takes is just 2 sprays of this stuff and you’ll never be able to tell.
    https://web0.herbdoc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=38
    It’s all the way toward the bottom left column called "Air Detox" and yes you can use it on fabric just be sure to "test" an area first.

  3. lb

    could be behavioral or she has a urinary tract infection, needs meds
    or her litter box is dirty they have to be cleaned everyday or get 3 of them one for each floor, or 3 for the overflow

  4. catznkitz

    she’s way too young to be spraying because she doesn’t have hormones at 3 months.
    most cats pee outside the litterbox when they have a urinary tract infection. they associate the pain when they pee with the litterbox so they avoid the box to try to avoid the pain.
    she needs to go to the vet.
    if nothing is wrong, then keep her in a small room with a litterbox that has "cat attract" in it until she uses that regularly. if she pees on the floor, wipe it up with a paper towel that you put inside the litterbox afterwards. gradually expand her area rather than giving her access to the whole house at such a young age.

  5. i<3mindythekitty :)

    It could be behavioral or infectional. You’re going to have to get her checked out by a vet either way. It could be a UTI or your cat’s just being stubborn. A vet would be a good idea. GOod luck

  6. moodieblue

    It’s always a good idea to rule out a UT first, but I would not feel bad about putting her in owe room at night. If it’s not an infection it could be that she is not litter trained that well.

    Putting her in one room with a litter box at night is actually good until the accidents stop. I’ve always had a bedroom with a bathroom and found that to be best. Putting her in just a bathroom or laundry room will probably make her cry. When she has an accident put a piece of the paper towel with her urine on it in the box.

    For laundry I have found that just using a cup white vinegar with my regular detergent works just as good as any other cat pea spray. It took me a while to break down and try it because I was convinced that it would make our clothes or towels smell like vinegar but it really doesn’t and is like a tenth of the cost.

    For any furniture or carpet accidents I do still use the Natures Miracle.

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