Of cats it is always emphasized that they are clean by nature. From their earliest kitten stage they learn to use the litter box and we will only have to worry about cleaning the sand regularly. For this reason, it confuses us so much to discover our cat's urine in another place, much more so when that place is a bed, be it ours, its own or that of any other animal with which it lives.
Urine outside the litter box indicates that there is a problem and the important thing is to know its origin, organic or psychological. If this is your case, then we will explain the different reasons why your cat urinates on the bed and how you can act to solve this situation.
Why does my cat pee on my bed?
Although cats will naturally use the litter box, we must know that they are very sensitive animals. In general, when a cat urinates on the bed of his human companions, he indicates that he feels insecureabout something or that some of the factors that make up his routine has been altered. For him, his human's bed is synonymous with security because it smells like them and is higher than his litter box. Therefore, it is not surprising that he comes to this place to relieve himself, because it is the moment in which he feels most vulnerable.
In addition, the cat can urinate in the bed when he suffers from a disease such as those that affect the urinary system. He relates the places where he pees to the discomfort he feels and changes places to see if he doesn't feel pain there.
Now then, what could be going on that you've stopped using your box?
Problems with litter box or substrate preference
Cats need the litter box to meet certain conditions in order to use it correctly. Many times, the explanation for why cats pee on the bed or anywhere else is simply in a sandbox that is poorly placed, too high or not very clean
On the other hand, you may not like the type of litter chosen for your box. Cats are very selective and exquisite animals, so if your doesn't like the substrate you have chosen, it will look for another place that it likes more, like your bed or sofa for being soft and absorbent.
Thus, the first step to prevent the cat from urinating outside its litter box is for it to cover its needs. In general, these are the basic aspects to consider:
- Place it in a quiet place, away from house traffic and noise.
- The edges must be high enough for the cat to enter and exit comfortably. You must bear in mind that with age it can have problems in the joints and it has to be adapted.
- Learn about the different types of cat litter that exist and choose the one that your cat likes best.
- The amount of sand should allow the cat to bury its droppings.
- Clean it frequently, removing feces every day and urine according to the absorption capacity of the sand.
- If there is more than one cat, it is better to have more than one litter box and make sure that no cat prevents another from urinating.
Changes in your routine and stress
Cats are also very sensitive to changes in their routine. Any change, even if it goes unnoticed by us, can alter them to the point of modifying their normal use of the litter box. A move, the arrival of a new member to the home or the start of some works are typical stress factors for cats.
If the litter box and your cat's litter are not the problem because for years he has relieved himself here and, suddenly, he has started to urinate on your bed or other similar surfaces, then you should ask yourself if your cat is stressed. Check if he has changed something in his routine, if he does it when he is alone for many hours or if the environment is properly enriched, since a lack of stimuli is also a cause of stress in cats.
In case of stress, the basic measures to take into account are:
- Identify the cause of the anxiety and eliminate or treat it.
- Maintain your habits and routines.
- Introduce changes gradually.
- Place different litter boxes in different parts of the home, but away from the food. This is especially important when the problem lies in the arrival of a new cat. For these cases, the rule is: 1 litter box per cat plus another extra.
- Promote environmental enrichment, that is, provide an environment with enough stimuli so that it can develop its natural behaviors, such as climbing, playing, hiding, etc.
- Spend time on it. He needs love and games.
Marking
Also related to stress, it may happen that he does it by marking, both territorial and sexual. This happens especially when a new cat arrives in the home or when the cat or cat is in heatIn the first case, both the old cat and the new cat can urinate on the bed.
Normally, territorial marking tends to occur on vertical surfaces, while sexual marking tends more to mark horizontal areas. However, this may vary. For all these reasons, it is best to sterilize or neuter all the animals in the home, as well as foster a calm, relaxed and safe environment that allows them to establish a good relationship or, at least, tolerance between them. This is achieved through a proper presentation between the cats before the new member is introduced, a correct environmental enrichment, the separation of resources (each cat must have its own objects) and the use of pheromones
Pheromones are substances that cats produce naturally and give them peace of mind, reducing stress. At FELIWAY we copy these messages, and for this reason, their use is more than recommended when the animal is stressed for the reasons already mentioned or when a new cat is introduced. One example is FELIWAY Optimum Diffuser, the latest generation of feline pheromones that helps cats cope in more situations and visibly reduces more signs of stress.
FELIWAY® Optimum has been created to help cats be happier in our particular modern lifestyle: living in spaces closed, changes in our home, strange noises, sharing the territory with other people or pets… Our lifestyle disorganizes the territorial harmony of the cat and can collide with its essential needs.
He alth problems
Finally, if you're wondering why your cat pees on your bed when his litter box is perfect and there's no sign of stress, the answer may lie in illness. It is common for a cat with urinary tract problems, such as cystitis, to associate the litter box with pain and look for a soft surface on which to urinate. This may also explain why the cat urinates on the dog's bed or on its own. But there are other possible pathologies. Therefore, when faced with a cat that urinates outside the litter box, the first thing to do is take it to the vet In addition, it is important to take these measures into account:
- Go to veterinary check-ups at least once a year to detect this type of problem early.
- Neuter the cat. Entire cats can urinate outside the litter box. Although normally this marking is vertical, it is also possible that they leave urine on horizontal and soft surfaces.
- Offer quality food.
- Maintain good hydration. As cats drink little, we can encourage them with water fountains, various drinkers, etc. Also, if they eat fodder, it is recommended to offer a mixed diet, adding wet food every day.
Why does my cat urinate on the dog's or another cat's bed?
If the problem is that your cat urinates on the bed of the dog or another cat that lives in the house, it is likely to do so due to stress or markingIn both cases, the solutions are those described in the previous sections, that is, check that each animal has its own resources, have enough sandboxes and promote a calm environment with stimuli and the use of pheromones.
On the other hand, if what happens is that your cat urinates on its bed, this is not normal behavior because they are very neat animals that respect their resting area very much. Therefore, in this case, it is most likely due to a he alth problem, so we recommend going to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible.
How to prevent my cat from urinating on the bed?
As we have seen in the previous sections, there are a lot of causes that can explain why cats pee on the bed. A dirty litter box or in an inappropriate place, the arrival of a new cat at home, the presence of crystals in the urine or a particularly stressful situation can be behind our cat abandoning the use of the litter box.
Specifically, when urinating on the bed, with its duvet, blanket, sheet or cushions, the cat appreciates that it is a very soft surface, in contrast to the sand and the sandbox. That is why it is very common for cats to choose this place that, for different reasons, experience pain when urinating. They have established an association between pain and the litter box and look for a surface with opposite characteristics on which to urinate, trying to reduce these discomforts. Hence the choice of bed, ours, yours or that of another household animal, as well as sofas, cushions, armchairs and, in general, any furniture with a soft part. In addition, some cats, when young, mistakenly associate the action of urinating with soft surfaces.
For all these reasons, the first thing is to prevent by following the general measures that we have been explaining. But, once the problem has arisen, the first thing is to go to the vet for a general examination. If any pathology is discovered, the corresponding treatment will be initiated. On the contrary, if the cat is he althy, we can think of a problem on a psychological level. The recommendation is to seek the help of a behavioral professional or ethologist Also, keep these basic guidelines in mind:
- If you urinate alone in a certain bed, Deny accessor put food nearby. They do not usually urinate where they eat.
- Review the environment and routines and make the necessary modifications to eliminate stress. This includes castration.
- Reward your cat every time he urinates in his litter box so that he associates this behavior with positive stimuli.
- Avoid punishment, since this will only cause more stress in the animal and will not prevent it from continuing to urinate, on the contrary.
- Return to pheromones, like FELIWAY Optimum Diffuser. Its use is as simple as plugging in a diffuser in the room where your cat spends most of its time.
