A lot of cat owners will ask themselves at one point or another why would their cat pee on their bed? One of the most annoying things a cat can do is urinate on the sheets that you just took out of the washing machine. This behavior can be explained in a lot of different ways, although the first thing that goes through your mind is that the pet is just being a jerk. You will only be able to stop this ugly behavior when you figure out what is inside the head of your furry companion.
Most of the time, the cause for a cat peeing on your bed is pretty complex, and trying to annoy you is usually the least plausible reason out there. Below you will find some of the most obvious reasons for a cat picking up this habit and how you can stop it.
Why do cats pee on the bed?
This is usually a rather serious problem that you should try to fix, regardless of whether it has medical causes or not. The first thing you need to do is find the exact cause of its behavior. Among the most common reasons for a cat peeing on your bed are:
- They aren’t fixed. If they aren’t neutered or spayed, cats will usually mark their territory by spraying carpets, walls, and pieces of furniture. Fixed cats are less likely to mark their territory like this. For this particular case, there is an easy solution, and this involves calling your vet and setting up an appointment to have the cat neutered or spayed.
- Unappealing litter box conditions. If they have a litter box that they believe is outside of their standards, cats will choose to urinate in other places instead, like your bed, for example. If she doesn’t feel comfortable using her litter box, she might simply refuse to use it altogether. This can happen when either the box isn’t the right size, or you don’t scoop the poop often enough. And that’s not all. You should know that your cat is a highly particular creature. She might also object to the type of litter you bought, the type of box, or the location of the box.
- Jealousy. Your cat might feel threatened or might become jealous when you add a new member to the family. This can be anything from a baby, a dog, or even a different cat. The first thing they will want to do is mark their territory, and of course, this will start with things they cherish the most, like the bed where she sleeps with you from time to time.
- Attachment issues. Your cat might use your bed when you’re away because she finds it comforting, due to it having your scent. If your kitty has a hard time keeping away from you, then she might try to combine her scent with yours to find comfort. She does this by peeing on your bed, of course.
- Stress and anxiety. Cats sometimes urinate as a way of coping with life problems, especially when they are stressed out or overwhelmed. A cat occasionally peeing outside her litter box might be anxious or stressed by all kinds of factors.
- An underlying medical condition. The three most common reasons for a cat having difficulty controlling its bladder are kidney disease, diabetes, and urinary tract infection. This might be the case especially if your cat is not only urinating on your bed but in all kinds of other places aside from their litter box. If you notice this behavior, you should bring your cat to the vet as soon as possible.
Is there anything you can do to stop a cat from peeing on the bed?
Before trying to stop this behavior is very important to figure out the cause. Most of the time, the actual reason is an underlying medical condition, especially if your cat is litterbox-trained. This is why you should talk to a vet before trying anything else. If your vet is able to rule out any medical issues, give some of the tactics below a try and see if any of them help:
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- Convince your cat to use the litter box with the help of positive reinforcement and treats.
- Get a scat mat or give your bed an unappealing scent to make it as unattractive as possible to your pet.
- Identify and remove any outside stressors that might cause your cat a bad mood.
- Try multiple litter boxes and play around with the litter box location to find the perfect combination for your cat.
- Always keep the litterbox as clean as possible for the cat.
- Give your cat enough love and a lot of cuddle time.
- Reduce the stress and anxiety your cat feels by giving it long playtimes.
Finding out why is your cat peeing on your bed is only the first step. As soon as you’re done taking care of the underlying issue that is causing your cat to pee on your bed, you will have to take some steps to help the pet relax and reset. To make sure that your bed stops smelling pee, you will have to clean it thoroughly. Then, Try to wrap the bed in a shower curtain or plastic tarp to make it as unattractive as possible. The cover will not only protect the bed while the cat starts using the litter box again, but the pet will also have issues with its texture.
Your cat might also urinate on your bed due to stress or underlying medical conditions. Although you might find this behavior gross, unsanitary, and straight-off frustrating, it will also show you that your cat has some kind of problem.