Cat Peeing on Bed: Decoding the Behavior

Cats are known for their fastidious grooming and usually have good litter box habits. However, it can be quite frustrating when your cat starts peeing on your bed. There are several reasons behind this behavior.

Why Does My Cat Keep Peeing On My Bed?

The causes of cat messy urination can be multifaceted, including physiological, behavioral and environmental factors. Below are some common causes and their detailed explanations:

1. Physiological reasons

• Urinary system diseases

Problems in the cat's urinary system, such as urinary tract infections, stones, etc., will cause them to be unable to urinate normally, resulting in indiscriminate urination. In addition, chronic diseases such as kidney disease and diabetes in cats may also trigger symptoms of disorganized urination. Therefore, if your cat suddenly starts to urinate indiscriminately, you must take it to the hospital in time to rule out the possibility of health problems.

• Oestrus

Male cats in heat will leave their scent by urinating around to attract female cats. Female cats in heat may also exhibit messy urination behavior. If you don't want to face the problem of your cat peeing in heat, it is recommended that you take your cat for spaying or neutering.

Also Read:  How to Pick Up Cat After Spaying

2. Behavioral reasons

• Environmental changes

Cats are very sensitive to changes in the environment. A sudden change in the cat's living environment, such as moving house or a new member of the family, may lead to anxiety and stress, which in turn may lead to the cat's behavior of urinating indiscriminately. In addition, cats have a strong sense of territory and may also assert their sovereignty by urinating indiscriminately if they feel their territory has been violated.

• Stress reaction

Some cats are psychologically sensitive, and when they are frightened or in an unfamiliar environment, they tend to have a stress reaction, causing a series of problems such as diarrhea and incontinence. At this time, it is best not to scold the cat to avoid creating a deeper psychological shadow. You can gently soothe the cat and give it its favorite snacks, so that the cat will slowly calm down.

Also Read:  Can Cats Throw Up From Stress​

3. Litter box problem

• Unclean litter box

Cats love cleanliness, and a dirty litter box will cause them to resist using it. The pooper scooper should remember to clean the litter box in a timely manner, and it is recommended to scoop 1-2 times a day to ensure that the box is clean and full of cat litter.

• Cat litter is not suitable

Some pooper scoopers in order to cover the stench of cat excrement, the purchase of cat litter scent is too strong, but do not know that many cats do not like the smell of too heavy cat litter, and even avoid the cat litter box to look for other places to excrete. It is recommended that the pooper scooper should not choose the cat litter with strong fragrance, the natural smell is good, and if you are afraid of the smell, you can spray some deodorant spray in the cat litter box, which can also cover the smell well.

4. Age factor

• Elderly cats

As cats age, their physical functions will gradually decline, which may also cause them to urinate indiscriminately. Elderly cats may suffer from muscle atrophy and stiff joints, causing them to be unable to access the litter box to urinate smoothly. In addition, the cognitive ability of older cats will also decline, and they may not be able to accurately find the location of the litter box or forget how to properly use the litter box. Therefore, for senior cats, we need to give more attention and care to ensure that their defecation problems are properly solved.

5 Other reasons

• Retaliatory behavior

Some cats will have a retaliatory mindset after being reprimanded by their owners and thus engage in messy urination behavior. If this is the case, the owner should promptly punish the cat, preferably catching it on the spot and gently reprimanding it to let the cat know that this is wrong behavior. It is also recommended that the owner should pay attention to the way and method of educating the cat to avoid causing the cat's rebelliousness.

• Cognitive errors

The cat may think that the outside of the litter box is also its toilet and can urinate and defecate anywhere. In this case, you can consider caging the cat and letting the cat get used to the litter box to urinate and then loose.

• Doesn't like the litter box

The cat may not like the current litter box and doesn't want to enter to pee. In this case, you can prepare 3-2 different shapes of litter boxes and put them in different rooms, so that the cat can go to the nearest or its favorite litter box when it has to pee.

To sum up, the reasons for cats to urinate indiscriminately are multi-faceted and need to be carefully observed and analyzed by the pooper scooper to find out the specific reasons and then take appropriate measures to solve the problem.

How to Know if My Cat is Peeing Indiscriminately for Health Reasons?

Determining whether your cat is urinating indiscriminately for health reasons requires observation and analysis in several ways. Below are some key judgment methods:

1. Observe urination behavior

Frequency and volume of urination: Healthy cats usually urinate 2-3 times a day with a moderate volume of urine. If the cat urinates significantly more often, the amount of urine per time decreases, or it is difficult to urinate, it may be a sign of urinary system disease.

Treatment of Urinary Inflammation

Frequent urination; dysuria; hematuria; urodynia

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Urination posture: under normal circumstances, cats will squat to urinate. If the cat shows pain or discomfort during urination, such as frequent licking of the genitals and purring during urination, it may be a symptom of urinary tract infection or stones.

Urine color and odor: Normal cat urine should be pale yellow with no odor. If the urine becomes dark in color and has a strong ammonia smell, it may be a sign of dehydration or urinary tract infection.

2. Check litter box usage

Litter box preference: Cats are usually very sensitive to the cleanliness and location of the litter box. If the cat suddenly starts to avoid the litter box, it may be because the litter box is too dirty, in the wrong location, or the texture and odor of the litter is not to its liking.

Frequency of litter box use: If the cat frequently enters and exits the litter box without urinating, or urinates outside the litter box, it may be a sign of urinary tract disease.

3. Observe the overall health of the cat

Appetite and water intake: A healthy cat should have a good appetite and sufficient water intake. If the cat loses its appetite and water intake decreases, it may be a sign of ill health.

Activity level: Cats are usually active animals. If the cat becomes lazy and unwilling to move around, it may be a sign of ill health.

Weight changes: sudden weight loss or gain may be a sign of health problems.

4. Check for other symptoms

Vomiting and diarrhea: These symptoms may be related to digestive disorders or may be a complication of urinary disorders.

Fever: An elevated temperature can be a sign of infection and requires prompt medical attention.

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What to Do to Keep Cat from Peeing in the House?

I. Cat litter box

• Keep it clean

Clean the litter box at least once a day to remove feces and clumped litter. If possible, change the litter thoroughly once a week. A clean litter box will make your cat more willing to use it.

• The Right Litter

Try different types of litter, such as bentonite cat litter, tofu cat litter, and pine cat litter, to find one with a texture and scent that your cat likes. Also, the thickness of the litter should be appropriate, usually around 3 - 5 centimeters is suitable.

• Proper placement of the litter box

Choose a quiet, private and easily accessible place for the litter box. Avoid placing it next to noisy electrical appliances or in an aisle where there is a lot of human traffic. You can place a litter box on each floor (if it is a multi-storey house) for your cat's convenience.

II. Health Care

• Regular medical checkups

Take your cat to the veterinarian for regular medical checkups, especially to check whether the urinary system is healthy. If any disease is found, such as urinary system infection or stones, treat it promptly, so as to avoid indiscriminate urination due to physical discomfort.

• Neutering Surgery

If the cat is not spayed or neutered, consider having it spayed or neutered. Neutered cats usually reduce messy urination behaviors such as marking territory, especially male cats.

III. Environmental Management

• Reduce stressors

If there are new members joining the family (e.g. newborns, new pets), gradually allow the cat to adapt to the new environment. You can provide a separate, safe small space for the cat to have its own sense of territory.

• Using cat urine cleaner

If the cat has already urinated somewhere messy, be sure to clean it thoroughly. Ordinary cleaners may not be able to remove the smell of cat urine, and it is recommended to use a special cat urine cleaner, as the cat may pee in the same place again based on the smell.

How to Effectively Punish Cat for Pooping in the Wrong Place?

Here are some effective punishments you can take when your cat urinates or defecates in the wrong place:

I. Stop on the spot

Sound warning

When you find that your cat is urinating and defecating in the wrong place, you can stop it with a loud but not harsh sound, such as clapping your hands or making a low “no” sound. This will make your cat realize it is doing something it is not allowed to do, but will not unduly alarm it.

Gentle repellents

Fill a small spray bottle with water and spray it gently next to your cat (not directly at him to avoid scaring him) while guiding him away from the wrong place and in the direction of the litter box. The touch of water will let the cat know that this place is not for defecation.

II. Aftercare

Isolation method

If the cat has urinated and defecated in the wrong place, isolate it temporarily in a small space, such as a separate small room or cat cage, not too long, about 10 - 15 minutes. This small space should have a litter box, water and a comfortable place to rest, so that the cat knows that it has lost a certain amount of free space to move around because of its misbehavior.

The Ignore Method

After finding your cat urinating or defecating in the wrong place, do not give it any attention, including not petting it or talking to it. Cats are animals that need a lot of attention from their owners, and this kind of neglect will make them realize that their behavior is not approved.
It is important to note that you must not overdo it when punishing your cat, and avoid using violence or means that cause physical injury to your cat, as this may create fear and distrust in your cat, which in turn is not conducive to correcting its behavior.

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Conclusion

Your cat peeing on your bed can be a complex issue with multiple potential causes. By understanding the possible medical, behavioral, and territorial reasons behind this behavior, you can take appropriate steps to address the problem. Whether it's through a trip to the vet, better litter box management, reducing stress, or protecting your bed, you can work towards getting your cat back to using the litter box and keeping your bed dry.