My Cat Urinates on the Bed  

by David Brooks

Q. My cat keeps weeing on our bed. I've tried buying a plug-in thing called feliway, on the recommendation of a friend, but it hasn't changed anything. The problem started about 3weeks ago, prior to that she always did it in her litter tray. She is otherwise healthy. Help!

A. Hi, There are quite a few reasons your cat might be urinating on your bed.

A very simple explanation is that the litter tray was not as clean as your cat may normally be used to, if you were out for a long period of time maybe? Cats are very clean animals and do not like going to the toilet that is full or smells strongly but there are other explanations if this was not the case.

1)If the cat is male or you have more than one cat, then it may be marking territory however this is most commonly done by vertically spraying not necessarily squatting down. I would suggest using a strong biological washing powder to remove all left over scent or else the cat will feel the need to re-mark territory.

2)If you have introduced a new animal to your household, or even a new person, the cat may be laying down some boundaries. The cat needs to be reassured everything is OK and make sure little change is made to its daily routine as this can lead to stress.

3)Have you moved its litter tray or changed the litter brand? Your cat could possibly be avoiding its litter tray due to it being in an inappropriate place or it may have taken an aversion to using it due to change in litter brand.

4)If your cat is getting into old age, this may have been bought on by confusion. Cats can get confused in old age for many different reasons and this would need to be addressed before the urinating on your bed problem can be solved.

5)Cystitis or bladder infection can often be an underlying reason for inappropriate urination but usually only occurs as small amounts of urine not big puddles, this problem would need to be properly diagnosed by your vet of course.

6)Arthritis is an often overlooked possibliity too. If your cat feels discomfort getting in and out of a litter tray it may seek other places to urinate,again seek veterinary attention if you are concerned about this.

And finally, if anything has happened recently to stress your cat then it may just be seeking comfort. Some cats urinate on belongings they feel they own, to reassert themselves in their home environment. You will need to address this before your cat settles down, if it has had a scare in the home, maybe start treating your cat when it goes in the litter tray, a bit of positive reinforcement never goes a miss.

Good luck, I hope this has helped you.

About the Author

Dr David Brooks is part of the online veterinary team at WhyDoesMyPet.com - Expert answers to all your pet questions. Visit us today to ask your pet question.