Cat Peeing on Bed - Advice

13 years ago

Hello All,

I am new here and am seeking out the expertise of others with a situation that I've been dealing with over the course of the past month and a half or so. Essentially, I got a second cat for the household (Muggs). I have had my existing cat since 2006 (Chloe). When I initially brought Muggs in Chloe was very resistant to her appearance. I worked hard to integrate Muggs to the household, carefully introducing them over time to ease the relations among each cat. At this point, Chloe tolerates Muggs but they are by no means "best buddies." I have had a problem with Muggs urinating on my bed. I am pasting emails that I have sent to my vet with respect to the situation.

While I know my posting is lengthy, I hope that more information is better than less. I want to share this information in hopes that new suggestions and ideas could be offered to help me resolve the problem. In summary, I am very frustrated with the entire situation and feel that I have done a lot to try and resolve Mugg's tendency to urinate on my bed to no avail. I appreciate and look forward to any advice that members' can offer me. Thanks in advance!

1st email sent to the vet on 10-21-10

Hello,

I caught Muggs urinating on my bed this morning. I quickly told her no and took her to her litter box but by that time she had already finished going on my bed. I noticed a urine smell last night on my sheets and blankets on the bed so I removed them and have washed them. I cleaned the mess off my bed but don't have a special treatment to neutralize the odor. I don't know how long she has been doing this as I just noticed it initially last night. I clean the litter box every other day but plan on doing it daily now in case that is part of the issue. The box did have a cover on it but I have now removed that, as I read online that some cats don't like the cover on the box and to try something new. Do you have any other suggestions; should I bring Muggs in for a checkup or is there anything else I can try? Help!!!!

Thanks,

Matthew Russell

Response from the Vet on 10-21-10

Dear Matthew,

We would like to see Mugs. She may have a urinary infection and needs to be checked. You may either drop her off this morning or call for an appointment.

Dr Falk

*At that point, I spoke with the vet and they told me to make sure I don't even say no to Muggs when urinating on the bed. Since then, when I've caught her I have made sure to be as non-confrontational as possible so as not to stress her out.

Email sent to the vet 12-1-10 (Not yet answered)

Hello,

I wanted to reach out and provide an update on Muggs and the soiling situation with my bed.

As you are aware, we have utilized a variety of treatment regimens over the prior month to help combat her urinating on my bed.

I've done the following to try and stop the problem:

1. Purchased a 2nd litter box, placed in a different room

*Clean both litter boxes at least daily, if not, every other day

2. Purchased Litter Magnet and applied very liberally to both boxes

3. Purchased Amitriptyline approximately 1 month ago

*Pursuant to the instructions, I have been treating Muggs daily

4. Purchased No Mark.

*Initially sprayed my bed daily. Have reduced it to once or twice a week most recently.

Despite this, another outbreak of urination on my bed has taken place. The tracked dates and times are listed below.

1. 11/9/10 - Approx. 11:50 P.M.

2. 12/1/10 - Approx. 8:45 P.M.

3. 12/1/10 - Approx 10:45 P.M.

With the most recent incident at 10:45 P.M.; I had cleaned the litter boxes yesterday morning (11/30) and then again this evening about an hour before the incident. I could not discern a specific reason why she would have urinated on my bed after almost a month not doing so; I am surprised why she was doing so well and then suddenly had two incidents within mere hours on the same day.

I am not sure what further steps I can take to combat this situation; I feel as if I am running out of options. Are there any other potential things I can do from a treatment perspective? Muggs is a wonderful cat but I cannot continue to persevere if she is going to urinate on my bed.

If additional treatment options are limited or nonexistent I will have to look at getting rid of her. Should I choose to do this, is there any guidance you can provide me for the best place to take her? I purchased her at PetLand in Iowa City; I am not sure if I could return her there or if I would need to take her to the Animal Shelter.

Feel free to respond via e-mail if it's easier for you to outline detailed responses to my concerns. You may also reach me via my cell phone. I will be busy with work throughout the morning but will be able to touch base over my lunch hour (12-1).

Thanks for your assistance and guidance in advance,

Matthew Russell

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Comments (9)

iowapilot84
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I also want to add that she was tested for a urinary tract infection; however, the vet was not able to get enough urine from her to conclude with certainty that she had a UTI. As a precautionary measure, they provided me with the necessary medicine to treat her for a UTI as a precautionary measure and that treatment process was completed by the end of November 2010.
annzgw
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
There are many reasons a cat pees on furniture, etc., so I've included a link below that may be of help. Notice that it mentions you should have a litter box for each cat plus a third one.

I would first take her back to the vet and have another test done to rule out UTI or crystals. Personally, I would have them run a blood panel to check her kidneys and any other possible problems.
If your vet isn't able to draw a urine sample using a syringe/needle then find another vet. You may already use a clinic that specialize in cats, but if you don't, I highly recommend you try them if there's one in your area.

Questions: Are you sure it's always Muggs that is the culprit?
How old is Muggs?
Is it always in the evening when it happens and are you always in the room?
Can she access a litter box without having to pass by the other cat, and have you tried placing a litter box in your bedroom?
Are you gone from the home for long periods of time? I ask because I see your user name has 'pilot' in it.

You may also want to check out this article: http://www.stopcatpeeing.com/
I have no idea if it's worth reading!

Here is a link that might be useful: outside the box
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So, if I understand correctly, he's been doing this for a year now? My guess is something is really stressing him within the new home. Are there any other pets inside or outside the home? Are there any strays hanging around outside your bedroom? He's had a lot of changes thrown at him and I suggest you find a food he likes to eat (not what you think is good for him) and a litter that he'll use. With the litter, start with a clumping clay litter that is unscented (Petco bulk is a good one). If he's never eaten canned then you may have to transition him from dry to canned, but if he was doing well on a particular dry food, and prefers it, then give him that. It just sounds like you have an unhappy, stressed cat and the pooping on the bed is just a symptom. I think the first thing you have to do is put up some type of barrier and keep him out of the room so that he can't continue the behavior. It's just like the routine he had of going in the bathroom sink......preventing access is crucial in breaking the pattern of what is becoming a habit. Carefully observe everything in your home to try to determine what could be upsetting your cat. It seems something changed during the 6 months after your move since he apparently had no problems before the move. Check below for info re: transition from dry to canned food. Here is a link that might be useful: Cat info
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homebodymom
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I had a similar situation recently,although it was not on my bed that the new cat peed. We found a stray cat who we SLOWLY introduced to our existing pet family ( 1 adult neutered 3yr old male cat, and 2 adult neutered dogs). The new found stray ( @10 yr old neutered male cat) started urinating on the carpets in my 2 daughters rooms. After $hundreds of dollars worth of testing that showed NOTHING medical,and litter boxes being cleaned hourly- it was said to be stress. We put him on Fluoxetine ( prozac) and it stopped COMPLETELY!!! This medication saved his life and mine :o). It is very cheap- $10 per month.
If nothing medical is found, just keep this possible solution in mind, and good luck with your new kitty.
Also, here is something I used to get the urine out of the carpet-
16oz peroxide
1 teaspoon dish soap ( ie dawn,palmolive)
1 tablespoon baking soda
blott up as much urine as possible, mix ingredients togetherand DUMP all of the mix onto the spot. Let it air dry. This REALLY worked for me.
Fori
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I don't know what your situation is, but if you could just keep kitty out of your room and keep the door shut until he develops proper peeing habits, that could be all it takes. He's the new guy and a little confused about things.

And he probably does need to be able to use a box where Chloe can't glare at him.
rivkadr
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Been there, done that. With my cat, it was 100% a territorial/behavioral issue. He didn't get along with our other cat (they fought constantly), and whenever he was feeling stressed or especially territorial, he would pee on our bed. Here's a few tips:

1) Get an enzymatic cleaner, like Nature's Miracle. You can pick it up at any pet store or online. You need this to break down the odor smell, both for your own sanity, and to help prevent further accidents in the same spot.

2) Get a waterproof mattress cover. You should easily be able to find one for around $30 -- take a look online. Trust me, it's a lot easier to deal with urine on the bed if only the sheets/blankets are affected.

3) Have at least 3 kitty boxes, and scatter them around the house.

4) As homebodymom mentions above, look into putting your cat on some sort of medication. My cat was on something similar to Prozac, called clomicalm. It worked miracles for us. Only downside is that it made our kitty sleepy and less active, but we were willing to live with that.

We were able to take our kitty off the Clomicalm once our other cat died. We haven't had a single accident since then -- that tells me that it was definitely some sort of territory/marking issue caused by the other cat.
carmen_grower_2007
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Just my opinion here, people. Cats are territorial and dislike any change in their environment. I always let my cats go in and out over the last 40 years that I have owned cats (or they owned me.) In most of those years, I never had a in-door litter box. They always let us know when they needed to go out and usually spent nights outdoors. Indoor cats very simply have 'issues'. They weren't meant to stay indoors, especially at night. Cats are nocturnal.

Over those years there was lots of change in our lives --- kids going off to college, etc. Our cats adjusted and sometimes just disappeared when they were stressed. No inappropriate peeing. No problems. When life in our house adjusted, the cats came back and their lives adjusted.

It is all so simple if you let the cats be cats.
murraysmom Zone 6a OH
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I have had indoor cats for 40 years and I have never had a cat that peed inappropriately. When I have had multiple cats, I went by the "box for each one plus one" theory. I agree that stress probably does play a part in this, once a physical problem is ruled out. Keeping the litter box clean, and giving the cat lots of attention should help. If you can figure out what's stressing him and remove that, that should help. Just make sure it's not a physical problem. A urinary tract infection can be really painful for a cat. Good luck with this. Let us know if you can figure out what the problem is.
fandlil
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I suspect the problem you are having is strictly a matter of territorial competition between the cats. Your alpha cat is dominating the newcomer and not allowing it to use the litter box. So it is forced to void in the wrong places. I think it will be a persistent problem. Although you may reduce its frequency or severity to some extent, it will persist. Some cats are unwilling to accept a newcomer into the house and will make the newcomer fearful, unhappy, and will drive it to this kind of problematic behavior.

Your alpha cat wants to be a loner.
Jaymealexander_hotmail_com
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I have 2 indoor cats, they r both 3 and although they are from different litters, they are like brother & sister (they r both de-sexed) so u don't have an alpha etc.
Recently we moved inter-state & sprayed the new house with feremones to make sure the cats weren't stressed etc... That worked well, we have now been here 6 months & my girl cat has taken to peeing on our bed! She did have a UTI, which was promptly treated, yet she recently has done it again!
I need help as I don't know why she is doing it? She uses the kitty litter normally and in the 3 yrs we have had both cats, we've never had an accident??
I cant afford to keep replacing my bedding (as I cannot get the smell out) or sleeping on those plastic mattress covers! She is so naughty now as well, doesnt listen to me anymore & scratches everything!

Any suggestions would be most welcome!
Thanks

Cat Peeing on Bed - Advice

Comments (9)

iowapilot84
Original Author

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Cat Peeing on Bed - Advice

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iowapilot84Original Author

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iowapilot84
Original Author