Female Kitten keeps using piles of clothes as toilet, Help!?

Question

My one and a half year old female kitten keeps weeing every where if there clothes in front of washing machine or pile of clothes in the ironin basket. We have recently moved but she did this in the previous house as well. There is a clean litter tray everyday so i dont know why she isnt using it. My older female cat which i left at my parents house also does this?! I didnt think female cats were teritorial or my cats are just daft!

Can anyone help or have similar problems?

Thanks in advance.Sam

She has also been sprayed (if thats what its called)

Answer 1

See www.petrx.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=511 for this:


Feliway 75 ml. (Feline Behavior Modification Spray)

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Detailed Description
Feliway 75 ml. (Feline Behavior Modification Spray)
Proven to end urine marking and scratching safely and naturally.
Stop cat spraying. Cats, both male and female, because of changes in their environment or hormonal changes, may start spraying urine on vertical objects due to stress. Furniture, doors, or walls are all fair game. Feliway uses pheromone-like substances to discourage the behavior when applied on the area the animal has sprayed. The cat recognizes surfaces that have been marked with these pheromones as familiar and comforting, relaxing the cat, which in turn stops the cat from spraying. Veterinary clinics even use Feliway to calm stressed cats. Comes in a convenient 75 ml spray bottle .

This is from www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=1000 :
"Litter Box Avoidance: Not Always a Behavior Problem" by
Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff :

The owner of Ricki, a five-year-old calico cat, woke up one morning to find Ricki had dug up one of her plants, leaving a mess on the living room carpet. The owner dismissed the behavior as simply a reaction to the stress of having company the previous day.
Something just wasn't right...
The next day, however, Ricki had dug in the plant again, but this time, the owner smelled urine in the soil. Upon further inspection around the house, another spot of urine was found – this time on a rug in one of the bedrooms. Since Ricki had displayed no problems urinating outside her litter box previously, the owner began to suspect something was wrong.

Careful observation pays off...
She kept a close eye on Ricki all day, witnessing her squatting in her litter box many times and seeming to have difficulty urinating. When Ricki did go, she produced very little urine. At other times, Ricki eliminated in off-limits areas like a pile of laundry, a soft rug, and even on a sofa. Ricki also meowed in pain when picked up.

Getting help...
She brought Ricki in to our clinic right away and we examined Ricki, suspecting she had a urinary problem. We performed a urinalysis, which confirmed our suspicions: Ricki had a bacterial bladder infection.

Home again...

We sent Ricki and her owner home with antibiotics, instructions to provide the cat with plenty of fresh water, and an appointment for a month later. When we performed a urinalysis at her next visit, Ricki's infection had cleared up. The owner also reported that Ricki was back to her lively self, eliminating in her litter box again, and eating and drinking normally.


.

Veterinary Perspective...
(Factors Contributing to Inappropriate Elimination)
Medical Conditions: Cats avoiding the litter pan should be examined by a veterinarian to rule out a medical condition. Laboratory tests will need to be performed in most cases, however, if a condition does exist, immediate treatment will help resolve the behavioral problem. Possible medical conditions include: colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, kidney or liver disease, or feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). Medical conditions such as arthritis, FLUTD, anal sac disease, and some forms of colitis, which cause pain urinating or defecating may also result in inappropriate elimination.
Stress: Cats of all ages experience stress at some point in their lives (just like us). Stress can be a major cause of inappropriate elimination, and known stressors such as moving, changes in routine, or changes within the family structure (new members added or family members leaving home) can result in inappropriate elimination. Reducing these stressors or decreasing their impact on the household will benefit your cat and you, too.
Box Location & Contents: Some cats may not like where their box is located; too close to their food or water, in a high traffic area, or on a different level of the house than where they spend most of their time. Some cats are very particular and will not defecate in the same box in which they urinate or go into a box which has been used by another cat. Most cats do not like a dirty litter box. Clean out waste from their litter boxes at least once daily, and wash the litter boxes weekly so that they don't decide to eliminate elsewhere in your home.

Negative Effects of Stress
We are familiar with the negative effects stress has on our behavior and health. We notice changes in our eating and sleeping habits, not to mention our physical and mental well-being. Stress has the same negative effects on our pets. The overall effect of stress manifests itself differently in each cat. Some may "act out" to relieve pent-up stress and others may internalize the stress and develop neurotic behaviors or habits. While we humans are able to find constructive ways to alleviate stress, our pets require our assistance.

Determining the Cause
There are several ways to alleviate stress experienced by your cat, but it is important to visit your veterinarian first to rule out any physiological causes. Changes in your pet's behavior may be a symptom of an underlying physical ailment or illness. Once you have eliminated physiological causes, consider one or all of the following approaches - relaxation, play/exercise, environmental changes, and pheromone therapy - to help alleviate stress and curb your cat's problematic behavior.

Relaxation
Help alleviate pent-up anxiety and stress by including a "relaxation" session as part of the quality time spent with your cat. This is a special time dedicated only to relaxing, so find a comfortable, quiet spot away from noise and distraction. Use a soft, soothing tone to praise and gently stroke or massage your cat. These sessions create periods of deep relaxation that benefit your anxious cat. Don't be surprised if you feel more calm and relaxed as well.

Play/Exercise
If inappropriate behavior is due to pent-up energy, increase playtime and spend lots of quality time with your cat. Play or Exercise therapy differs from regular play since it is structured quality time. Select a time of day when your cat seems to have the most pent-up energy and dedicate that time of day to play. Make it a routine. Bring out a favorite toy just for this purpose, alternating toys every day to prevent boredom.

Environmental Changes
Changes in your cat's environment can be the cause of problematic behavior, as well. Environmental changes include: the addition of a new pet or baby to your home, the move into a new home, and even a rearrangement of your furniture. To help your cat through these changes, make sure your cat has a quiet, safe place to retreat, such as a cat tree, hideaway, or window perch. In multi-cat households, make sure you provide several large litter boxes - at least one more than the total number of cats. Make sure they are easily accessible and well-maintained, but located out of the way of traffic areas in your home.

It could also be due to the type of litter you are using:
The best cat litters are made from natural, nontoxic ingredients. Studies have shown that most cats prefer litters that most resemble beach sand and unscented clumpable litters appear to the favorite of cats. We suggest you not change litters unless your cat is not using the litter box. Cats can be notoriously finicky, especially when it comes to change. Similar to moving a litter box location, changing litter types can cause your kitten a wealth of stress. If you must change feline litter types or brands, however, we recommend slowly adding small amounts of the new litter to the litter you currently use. Gradually, over a few weeks, increase the amount of new litter you mix with the old litter until you've completely changed over to your new chosen litter. If your cat refuses to use the litter box at any time, however, it is best to stop the conversion process and, if necessary, revert back to the original litter.
a cat who stops using her litter box is reason for concern and should be seen by a veterinarian. Possible causes for this inappropriate elimination include:
Medical Conditions such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney or liver disease, and feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), or internal parasites (intestinal worms). See your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
Stress caused by events such as moving, changes in daily routines, an addition to the family (human or animal), and more. Consider using stress control treats or sprays to help calm your anxious cat.
Substrate Changes between clumping litter, sand, newspaper, or other materials. The smell of "perfumed" or "antiseptic" litters may also discourage use.
Litter Box Location too close to your cat's food or water or in high-traffic areas.
Unless unavoidable, it is best to keep your cat's litter box in the same location. However, if you only have one litter box and need to move it, the following might help minimize stress to your cat. First, place a second, new litter box in your desired location without removing the original box. Place your cat in the new litter box and, if possible, rake her paws in the litter a few times (this works, too, if you just change litter brands/types). Allow your cat to use both litter boxes for a time. Eventually, you may be able to remove the old litter box. Another option is to slowly move your original litter box in small increments - just a few feet at a time - over a period.
For kittens and older cats, always have a litter box on the level of your house where the cat spends most of her time
Generally, the bigger the box the better. Cats prefer being able to comfortably jump in and move around in the litter box. Ease of entry and plenty of room are especially important for older cats who may be arthritic. Kittens, too, may need litter boxes with lower sides.

(Hope this helps. )

Answer 2

It is very difficult to change that habit since your clothes most probably have the smell (even if you don't smell it). So your cat identify this spot (both clothes and the physical place) as part of her territory marking spot.

Since you will never be able to get rid of the smell on your clothes completly (short of using bleech on everything which is probably not possible) you cats will always see your clothes as a marking spot.

Try the following
1) At the place where your clothes normally rest and on the washer, use a special cleaning stuff sold in all pet shop to remove the sents (its a stuff with an enzyme). Wash it again and again whithout putting any clothes there for a while. Then use lemon juice (real stuff not concentrated) on the floor and the washer. This is to repeal your cat. They hate that smell.

2) Meanwhile, try to use a different spot to pile your clothes and see what happen. If the cat pee on it even in this new spot, you should consider disposing all of your clothes and redo your wardrobe because you will always have that problem otherwise and I don't want to be pessimistic but I'm guessing that's what you'll have to do because all of your clothes have the marking that make your cat want to go again and again. And be carefull if only one piece of clothing remain contaminated among 50 pieces of new clothing, your cat will go again.

3) The obvious solution is to put the piles of clothing in a place where your cat won't be able to go but I'm guessing that if you ask for help on this it's because you can't do that!

I hope it will help

Answer 3

A urinary tract infection is a possibility and only a vet could tell you for sure. It is also possible that she like the feeling of material better than kitty litter. Did you other cat teach her? You could try setting out another box with cloth diapers or another material. I know it sounds gross, but sometimes they just prefer something different. Be sure to wash the clothes she has urinated on in a product that will remove all the stains and smells, ie. Nature's miracle. You may also need to confine her to a small room with the litterbox to retrain her to use it.

Answer 4

Cats cover there urine so that they dont attract preditors so if there is a pile of anything whether its litter or clothes they will use it because they can cover it even if her pawing doesn't move the clothes its just nature.. try not to have piles of clothes near her you can get a hamper with a lid that will do the trick.. my cat used to use my comforter when the bed wasn't made I started making the bed everyday and she stopped instantly. good luck

Answer 5

I agree with the above statement, she probably has a UTI. Take her to the vet!! Then you need to clean all the stuff with a enzyme product like Nature's Miracle to get the smell out, and possibly enclose her in a room with the litterbox for a few days.

Answer 6

Hi there....moving can be stressful for some cats and as a result they can develop a urinary tract infection (UTI): http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_feline_lower_urinary_tract_dis.html

Please consider ringing your veterinarian to have come in to be evaluated and treated respectively.

Why cats inappropriately soil by Cornell Unversity College of Veterinary Medicine: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html

Answer 7

It's ''spayed'', no 'r' in it.

Has she been vet checked to rule out urinary tract infections? I know that it was the cause behind my male cat urinating on our clothes instead of in his box. The clothes were softer, which was a relief to his already irritated body.