My daughter's cat has started peeing on her bed. It seemed to start a few wks. ago when daughter was working more hours and away from cat more. . . but now she does it all the time. Is there anyway we can know what to try before we take her to the vet? Thanks, and HELP!!!???
2007-05-27 04:03:38 · 15 answers · asked by deborah r 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
you need to take her to the vet and see if she has a uti . and if not then she has a socialization issue and needs to be homed if possible .I had a friend just had to give her cat away because it was peeing on her during the night and on her furniture when she would leave the house .
2007-05-27 04:12:28 · answer #1 · answered by Kate T. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My guess is behavioral, although I would take her to the vet just to rule out anything physical. Assuming it's not, I would try to address it two ways, 1) getting rid of smell since now it's habitual. Don't know what you've treated the bed with, but would repeat treatment with product called 'Nature's Miracle' (?) - find it at a petsmart or petco. White bottle with red printing on it. They are enzymes that eat anything organic (urine) and their waste product is water. Treat mattress very well, as label says. If after treatment there is still smell of urine, treat again. As long as organic material present, there will be a smell. You can use a lot of the product, it doesn't stain or ruin it. Wash sheets/pad in machine with the product, it is great for laundry uses too. 2) Then work at it from behavioral aspect - cats can't talk so when there is REALLY something they want you to know, often urination in inappropriate places is the only way they know to get your attention. Yeah, I know... Anyway, from your question, I'd say it was separation anxiety/unhappiness that her person was gone more. Can your daughter find a couple times (at least a.m. and p.m., more if possible) during the day when she is home that she can spend some intensive bonding time with the cat? Serious petting, talking to her in a calm, loving voice. While the jury is out on just how much cats can understand our words, it seems that the effort to talk to them and calming reassuring at least lets the cats know we're trying to allay their worries. At least for awhile, I would keep the cat out of the bedroom when the daughter is gone. But the special time could maybe be on the bed. Try to change her thought pattern - the bed now becomes the special place for attention instead of the empty bed representing that her person is GONE. Not trying to sound too new agey here, but when the daughter is with the cat, can she really think 'good thoughts, reassurance, calm, loving' to the cat? And while its very understandable that your daughter might be tense when she first gets home from work (oh dear, what am I gonna find on the bed now?) she needs to really monitor her own stress/anxiety levels. The cat will pick up on the stress/anxiety, and if its directed at the bed/bedroom, the cat may just get more worried (well, I know mom is worried, so that EMPTY bed must be even scarier/worse than I thought...)
Also, does the cat enjoy catnip? If so, give him/her a treatment first bi-weekly, then just weekly (I'm not sure if cats get immue if they get it too often). Can the catnip be given right before your daughter leaves for work? Also, at least for the beginning, have your daughter be very specific in talk to the cat before she leaves for work. Tell the cat in a very normal, converstational tone, it's okay, I'm going to work, I'll be home at 'this' time, you don't have to worry, I'll come back and then we'll have a nice pet/brush/whatever. When she gets home, she should make a big fuss over the cat, Oh, I'm so glad to see you, I missed you so much, what did you do today, etc. but really fuss her up. This should let the cat know that leaving is calm and okay and her person will return and will recognize what a hard day it's been without her... Try to think of the cat as a small child. Everything is now. They hate mom or dad leaving and are sooooo glad when they come back. Good luck! Don't get discouraged (although I know it's a very uncomfortable situation)! Temporarily, don't worry about setbacks, that enzyme stuff is great and truly will get rid of all the urine, so while that's very unpleasant, she CAN deal with it!!!
2007-05-27 04:30:08 · answer #2 · answered by holly_a_johnson 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be either. She could be showing her displeasure at the changed home situation. And now she's going back to the same spot because the odor is still there. Clean the bed thoroughly and saturate with an enzyme cleaner from the pet store (Simple Solution is a good one). Buy a plastic coated mattress cover and use it for now to save the mattress. Make sure the litter box is always clean.
If a cat has a UTI or bladder problem, it will also go in inappropriate places to let you know there's a problem. Mine used to pee in front of my toilet or in the tub when he had a problem. They're looking for a spot where you will notice and do something about it.
You're going to have to thoroughly clean the bed, regardless, so try that first. Until the scent is gone she will return to the spot. If the problem isn't resolved, take her to the vet.
2007-05-27 04:16:10 · answer #3 · answered by justme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds behavioral but take it to the vet to rule out UTI or other problem. Keep the cat OUT of that bedroom. Separating a cat from it's ability to complete the behavior that has become a nuisance often breaks the habit after a period of time.
Change up the litter. Some cats get picky about their box.
2007-05-27 04:12:03 · answer #4 · answered by J S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its common for a cat to start defacing a person's bed with urine or feces if the cat feels hurt somehow by that person. In this situation, it seems like the cat may be suffering from some kind of abandonment issues. This will be hard to solve since obviously your daughter's absense cannot be helped, but the cat doesnt know this. I would try simply being especially nice to the cat and pay it a lot of attention and see if it gets better.
2007-05-27 04:14:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally a cat will only use it's litterbox UNLESS the litter box is not being cleaned frequently, OR they have a possible UTI (Urinary Track Infection). I would definitely suggest taking her to the vet, there is no way to treat a UTI without proper meds. If the doctor rules out the UTI, then it could be behavioral, BUT that is not normal for a cat.
2007-05-27 04:15:41 · answer #6 · answered by thedothanbelle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cat started peeing on everything when she got sick with FUS, Feline Urinary Syndrome.
This is a serious disorder that can lead to death.
See if her bladder area is hard.
Does she pee in laundry baskets? (I know that sounds weird but cats with FUS do that)
Does she cry out a lot?
Or read this link:
2007-05-27 04:27:49 · answer #7 · answered by hedgemaid 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bingo. Behavioral
2007-05-27 04:41:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a cat that would do the same thing. It was only a phase, thank God. It's like they get pissed and retaliate. Taking her to the vet wouldn't be a bad idea but considering the locations of her peeing, it sounds like she's mad.
2007-05-31 03:50:36 · answer #9 · answered by Jenny A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Firstly it needs to go to the vet to check for any UTI and a few other things, tell the vet what's been happening.
Based on his findings, if there is nothing wrong, it's more likely behavioural and the kitty would need to be retrained for litterboxes.
2007-05-27 04:51:10 · answer #10 · answered by Unicornrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋