how to i stop my cat from peeing on the couch?

Question

I found spots on my bed and on more spots on the couch.
He's 10 months old and nuetured.
He has a litterbox i clean 2x a day, not scented.
i've never spent more than 10 hrs away from him-which i have to becasue i work.
It is just me and him in a 2 bedroom apartment.
I have never seen him do it.
Could he just be that needy or rebelous? I don't know why he would be mad at me and do this-i spend plenty of time with him.
Is there any way of telling if it is medical w/o going to the vet?

he pees in and out of the litter box.
he only poops inside the litter box.

he was a shelter kitten i got at 6 months.
he doesn't pee a lot on the bed or the couch, just a few spots ive found over the months, it's just been more and more.

Answer 1

Hi there...please first consider all the possibilities such as:
- changes with litter brands
- location of the litter box isn't private enough
- some cats like to have one box to defecate and another to urinate
- cleanliness (some cats are very finicky and prefer a super clean box)
- as a general rule there should be one litter box for each cat plus one extra as a back up
-senior cats over the age of 10 develop age-related disorders/diseases such as chronic renal failure (CRF), hyperthyroidism, diabetes, etc.

If all these have been ruled out, there's a chance that your cat may have developed another underlying medical problem which can contribute to accidents outside of the box. Cats will associate pain while using box and change their habits as a result.

Here's an article about why cats inappropriately soil outside their litter box by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures...

House soiling is the most common behavior problem reported by cat owners. It includes urination and/or defecation outside the litter box, as well as urine spraying.

Why do cats eliminate outside of the litter box?
One common misconception is that cats soil in inappropriate places for revenge. It is tempting to conclude, "He defecated on the living room carpet to punish me for leaving him for the weekend." But this kind of calculation requires sophisticated cognitive abilities that cats aren't believed to possess. Furthermore, this conclusion assumes that cats view their urine and feces as distasteful, when in fact they do not. It is only we humans who view it that way.

Medical Problems
So why do cats urinate or defecate on your bed or carpet? Medical problems are one possibility. Inflammation of the urinary tract may cause painful or frequent urination, inability to urinate, bloody urine, and crying during urination. An affected cat is likely to eliminate outside the litter box if he comes to associate the box with painful urination, or if he has an increased urgency to urinate. In addition, kidney, liver, and thyroid diseases often lead to increased drinking and urination. Inflammation of the colon or rectum, intestinal tract tumors, intestinal parasites, and other gastrointestinal conditions may cause painful defecation, increased frequency or urgency to defecate, and decreased control of defecation. Age-related diseases that interfere with a cat's mobility (for example, arthritis, nervous system disorders, or muscular diseases), or with his cognitive functions can also influence his ability to get to the litter box in time. In short, any medical condition that interferes with a cat's normal elimination behavior can lead to house soiling.

Litter Box Aversions
Behavioral problems, such as litter box aversions, inappropriate site preferences, or urine spraying can also lead to house soiling. An aversion implies that there is something about the litter box that your cat finds unsavory. It could be the box, the litter, the location of the box, or all three.

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 am sorry to tell you, but once he starts, he'll never stop. Your apartment will be stinking of cat pee and the smell is hard to get rid off. It seems he just didn't have a good mother that showed him the ropes when he was a kitten. Happens sometimes. Do you know where he's from, did you get him from a pet shop. Because barn cats will pee anywhere. I am not kidding, I have a friend who's children have two cats, the moved into brand new house and then got the cats from friends that have a farm and when you come into the house all you smell is cat pee. They have tried anything and everything to get rid of the smell.Nothing works. You can try the vet and see if there's a physical problem.

Answer 4

There's always a chance it's a medical problem so it's best to have him checked by a vet. I don't think there's any other way to know for sure. If the cat has any pain (like from an infection) when he uses the litter pan, then he starts to associate the litter pan with the pain. That's often what starts them going in other places instead. My cat started doing the same thing and it turned out to be a bladder infection. The problem resolved as soon as she was treated.

Answer 5

Cats will mark if they are scared or anxious, not if they are angry. My siamese has a fav spot in our basement behind the bar. If you move a lot, it tend to upset some pets. (I know this from moving 6 times in 8 years.)

To stop the "bed wetting", shut your bedroom door(s). For the couch, they make stuff to take out the urine smell and stain. I also suggest getting a spray that makes your pet avoid that area.

Also, check out a product called "Comfort Zone". It's like a Glade plug-in for your cat. It emits kitty feramones to help calm and soothe them and helps get them used to their environment. It does wonders for my cats. Once you start to use it, you must continue to use it. Mine just ran out, and my siamese is back to being a jerk. = )

One last tip: Make sure the cat's food and water are in a different room than their litter box. Good luck!

Answer 6

re-train him to use the litter box. confine him in a room (large closet, bathroom, laundry room) for a while until he is used to useing the box. When use is regular, move it slighty each day until it is where you want it. Don't move it and clean it often. Try different boxes, litter, etc. There is a product you can get for the litter that attratcts the cat to use the box called "Cat Attract" available at Petsmart or any pet supply store.

Answer 7

You can't and even if you do, he will do it somewhere else. Its funny how some people say that house guests can't tell if they have cats. I can tell right away from the smell of urine. The thing is. a lot of cat owners are immune to the smell. They think there house smells normal....when there is a hint or cat pee everywhere...

Answer 8

You may need to re-train him to the box: That's what I had to do with my two younger cats after I got them home. And cover the couch with a plastic tarp: He won't like the way that feels to his paws when he gets ready to do his business on it. You may want to shampoo your couch, or steam-clean it so his scent will be gone too.

Another thing you might want to do is get him checked for urinary tract problems: That was one of the first signs I noticed that something was going wrong with one of the males I used to have.

Good luck!

Answer 9

I've never had a cat do this...it may be medical. Possibly a bladder or kidney infection. I suggest you see a vet.

Answer 10

They sell a spray at the pet stores that you can spray on things that you don't want your cat to get on