Why does the cat pee in our bed?

Question

We adopted an 11 year old male cat a month and a half ago from the shelter. He's wonderful - very sweet, affectionate, loves to play and we finally found the food he likes. He's had two accidents on our bed before, but we did go on vacation soon after we adopted him, so we figured that was just his getting back at us for leaving him. Then last night he peed on our bed again. He sleeps with us every night and hangs out in our bedroom during the day. We give him lots of attention, play with him everyday, brush him three times a week, has his litter box cleaned twice a day, etc. I don't know why he does this. We don't have any other pets in the house - we were just focused on spoiling him for now, so there are no territorial issues. When I took him to the vet a few weeks ago, he said he was perfectly healthy. Is there something someone can suggest to make him stop? Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

I had a cat that hated a certain pair of sheets I had. She would only pee on my bed if those sheets were on the bed. Crazy I know, but it might be something as simple as that.

Answer 2

You seriously clean the litterbox twice a day? Maybe you are overdoing it. I would suggest cleaning the litterbox every other day at the most. Litter-trained cats should instinctivly "cover" their waste with the litter. If your cat doesn't do this, then simply cover it up for him when he is done. This helps block any odors, so it shouldn't be horrible if you wait and clean every other day. This may also help your cat remember and find the litterbox. 11 years is starting the "old man" years for most cats, so even if he's healthy, he may get lazy or forget where to go.

If he peed on your bed... chances are it's in the mattress as well, and even if you can't smell it, maybe he can. So right now... to your cat, the bed smells more like a toilet than his litterbox does. Don't be offended, this doesn't mean you're dirty or anything. Cat urine is extremely potent and very difficult to clean... especially once it's gotten soaked into fabrics and/or a mattress. I had a cat that would occassionally pee in a particular spot on the carpet... I had to replace the floorboard before the smell could be completely rid off and my cat realized that he shouldn't pee there.

I've never had to train an older cat, but I imagine it's a similar process as with kittens. When you find your cat not using the litter box, immediately tell them it is bad (don't rub their face in it though), pick them up and put them in the litterbox (whether they still need to use it or not). Then, while they are in the litterbox, praise them and comfort them. Also, it sometimes helps to offer a small/healthy treat to them when you witness them using the litterbox on their own.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

He could have a urinary tract infection. I had a cat that would pee on a chair and I had to take him to the vet for shots, and they said he had an infection, supposedly anytime a cat pees like that, its because they are sick.

You might wanna bring him to the vet just in case he has a UTI.

Answer 4

your cat might have an infection make an appointment with your vet. the cat is set in own ways now you can't break .did you have an pet that soiled the bed before that he is picking up the scent from?
Thank you

Answer 5

Take him for a check-up: Accidents like what you describe were one of the first warning signs I had that my kitty was catching a urinary tract condition.

After my kitty was well, he still kept using the bed, until I started covering it with a plastic tarp. After that, he went back to his box.

Good luck!

Answer 6

possible because your bed feels like the soil outside to him. as for training him, get litter box, cats are stubburn, but they can work with you if you know how to please them.