MY cat is peeing in a corner of our new couch. I have tried and cannot make her stop. Do you have any ideas?

Question

My cat is eight years old and lived in the house all its life. We keep her litter box downstairs with a pet door on the door for her to go downstairs. We recently brought a new couch. She started after it was only a day old going to one corner of it and peeing. We have tried spraying it with the "Stay Off" spray training aid. It has not had any positive results. We have tried covering that area with a rug, and spraying it. She will just pee in the same area on top of what we covered the it with. She has gone downstairs to use her litterbox and when she comes back up go straight to that corner of the couch and pee. How can I get her to stop before she completely ruins my brand new couch?

Answer 1

Sorry to tell you, the cat will never stop hitting that area, even if you get a new sofa. The urine permeates the floor - even cement slab! Once the area is marked by her scent, she will habitually keep going back to that area.

We had the same problem and tore up the carpet, cleaned with an enzymatic cleaner, then plopped down a can of moth balls right on that spot. She stopped going there, but just started going somewhere else.

The best results we had was keeping an immaculately clean litter box all the time. If it got too dirty for her, she would start the bad habit again...I think out of spite.

Answer 2

Last year my beautiful Manx cat Theodore went out for the evening and never came back. I love cats and the house didn't feel the same without one, so I picked up Lola from a rescue centre. She was very frightened and would pee all over the house. I found Cat Spraying No More� on the internet and the techniques worked almost immediately. I haven't had a problem with Lola since. Amazing!

Can't stop your cat peeing in the house? Then worry no more...

Answer 3

I work at an animal hospital and this is what the vet tells everyone that has the same problem: For every one cat you have you should have 2 litterboxes that are cleaned well every day, Dont use covered litterboxes, Use premium scoopable litter, Try getting a bigger litterbox, Buy a feliway diffuser. If none of these work then it is probably a urinary tract infection and she will need to go to the vet.

Answer 4

Unfortunately you will find it almost impossible to stop her. Once the smell is in the fabric she will be attracted to it and go there, for whatever reason she has marked that area and will continue. Cats especially ones that are older once they've done that it's hard to break them of the habit. I don't that without a professional cleaning you won't be able to break that habit. And if it's in the corner it will be hard to get to all the areas. I wish I had more help to offer. My friend who had the problem ended up getting rid of her cats because it started in one place then after awhile it spread. It has to do with the smell and the stuff that is in her urine. I wonder if even though your sofa was new a stray didn't pee on it in the warehouse and they cleaned it without you knowing it. It is always a possibility, and that is why she is drawn to that corner.

Answer 5

Get rid of the cat.

The cat's trying to tell you he/she's not happy with the new couch. My guess is that the cat used to sleep on the old couch and like it a lot.

My cat started peeing on things when he was unhappy about us moving his waterbowl. We put it back where it was and he stopped.

Answer 6

Cats don't handle change very well. She's probably just marking it with her scent so it fits in with the rest of the house. You might want to just keep it covered when it's not in use or you're not around to chase the cat away from it.

Answer 7

Try some type of pepper (either liquid or small flakes) on your couch (as long as it doesn't stain or is visable). The smell will drive the cat off. Pet stores sell similar products.

Answer 8

Try placing a second litter box upstairs. It's also possible that you're not keeping her primary litter box clean and odor free. Cats are clean animals, and will not use a litter box that is too dirty or smells.

Answer 9

Squirt her with a water bottle. Cats dont like water. After a while she should get the hint. Or try using vinegar on the spot, then rub her nose in it!...

good luck.

Answer 10

Cats are territorial. It may be that she's trying to claim the new couch. She may also be sick. Either way, a visit to the vet seems in order. Good luck.