How To Stop Your Cat From Peeing On Your Clothes
So now that youve determined the problem behind the peeing, you will want to prevent it from happening in the future.
- If its a medical condition, then you will need to address the underlying health problem first. If you notice other indicators of a disease , then it might be worth to visit your vet as soon as possible. Your vet will then determine how to proceed from there.
- If you dont notice other problems co-occurring with the peeing on your clothes, then it might be worth to address other potential issues. The first thing youll want to do is to neuter your cat if you have a male cat, of course. This will prevent them from engaging in territorial and mating behaviours such as peeing on clothes for marking their territory.
- It might be worth checking on your litter and how it is set up. If you have two or several cats, buy several litter boxes ideally, one for every cat. Then, also make sure every litter box is completely clean, and importantly, large enough for your cat. The litter box should also be easily accessible.
- Eliminate the stress your cat endures. This includes contact with other pets, especially dogs or larger cats. Make sure your cat isnt subject to constant stress while this doesnt mean you shouldnt invite guests over, at least give your cat some breathing space when you do.
- If all else fails, consider contacting a behavioural specialist for pets that will help you determine the treatment for your cat.
Why Is My Cat Peeing Everywhere
If youâve had a cat for long enough then youâve probably witnessed them peeing somewhere they shouldnât. Whether its on purpose or accidental, when a cat pees outside of their litter box it can be a nightmare. The smell, the mess, the anger, it can be very stressful cleaning it up. But just when youâve finished cleaning it up they do it AGAIN. At this point youâre probably grabbing your hair and screaming âwhy is my cat peeing everywhere!?â.
Believe it or not, there are actually several explanations why your cat is peeing outside of their litter box. From behavioral issues to genuine accidents, letâs have a look at the top reasons why your cat is peeing everywhere.
Why Did My Cat Pee On My Bed In Front Of Me
Why is my cat peeing on my bed all of a sudden? If your cat is fully potty trained and suddenly starts to pee on your bed, it could be that theres a medical problem to blame. Issues such as bladder infections, bladder stones, and urinary tract infections can cause your cat to pee outside of the litter box.
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Reasons Why Your Cats Peeing In The House All Of A Sudden
It’s safe to assume that you’ve clicked on this article because you’re dealing with a cat who is all of a sudden peeing in the house .
I have experienced this with a few different cats over the years and each time it is a frustrating and upsetting problem. Not only was I worried about the cat, but I was concerned about the cleanliness and the smell of my home.
Luckily, once you get to the bottom of the underlying issue, it is easy to fix and both you and your cat will be much happier. Let’s take a look at the 9 possible reasons why your cat may be peeing inside of the house so you can get it taken care of as quickly as possible.
Her Litter Box Is Dirty
A dirty litter box is a major bane for cats so if they smell something off with it theyll skitter off and find somewhere soft and nice-smelling to pee on, which, unfortunately, are your clothes! Dont blame your pets for that, rather, blame yourself for forgetting to clean and fill her litter box with fresh litter!
Cats cherish their litter box so be sure to keep it clean and scoop the box at least once a day. Always provide an ample amount of clean litter. Its also advisable to clean the entire box at least once a week with a mild detergent.
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Attraction To Another Location
As mentioned previously, cats like to toilet in places that are easily accessible, quiet, and have specific odors, and if the litter box is not meeting their needs, they often will find somewhere else that is more preferable. Additionally, when a cat has marked an area, it is essential to do a deep cleaning of that spot as soon as possible, as cat urine can soak through to the padding of the carpet, making it almost impossible to fully eliminate, and will continue to attract them to use this location. Using enzymatic cleaners such as Natures Miracle helps to naturally break down the components of urine to eliminate the smell. You should always avoid harsh chemicals or those with intense scents, as this may cause your kitty to want to mark over it.
What Can You Put On Furniture To Keep Cats From Peeing
Below is a look at some top solutions to stop cats from peeing on your carpet, floors or furniture:
- Clean cat pee using enzymatic cleaners.
- Use essential oils to deter cats from peeing outside the litter box.
- Use home-made vinegar cat pee solution.
- Use a citrus solution to repel your cat.
- Use cat repellent sprays.
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How Do I Determine Which Cat Is Eliminating When I Have More Than One Cat
When there are multiple cats in the home, it may be difficult to determine who is actually soiling. Confinement of one or more cats may be necessary to discover who is not using the litter box. However, if social conflicts between cats contribute to the problem, separating cats may make the problem diminish or stop.
“Therefore, the best solution may be to place a video camera in the area where the soiling occurs.”
A fluorescent dye can be administered to one cat, and the soiled areas can then be evaluated with a black light to determine if that is the cat that is house soiling. However, results are not always consistent and the dye may stain some carpets. Therefore, the best solution may be to place a video camera in the area where the soiling occurs. For stool elimination a small amount of a nontoxic colored crayon can be chopped and mixed into the food of one of the cats.
Make Sure The Litter Tray Is To Your Cats Liking
This can be difficult and may involve a long trial and error process! You should experiment with different litter tray types, different litters and different positions of the litter tray. You could also try purchasing multiple litter trays to place around the house to give your cat options. If you have more than one cat, it is particularly important that you get more than one litter tray to avoid conflict over resources which may lead to one of them peeing on the floor. You should also make sure litter trays are kept clean, but avoid using cleaning products that smell too strong.
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Behavioural Causes Of Cat Urinating On Clothes
As weve noted, its most likely that your cat is peeing on your clothes due to behavioural causes. In any case, you do want to make sure its not due to a medical condition or disease.
If you notice no other changes in your cats health condition, then its most likely due to behavioural changes. Mature males will commonly mark their territory by urinating, and its the most common reason that your cat may urinate on clothes.
However, there are also some other external factors that might be causing this unusual behaviour. Here are the most common ones .
How Can I Determine Why My Cat Is House Soiling
A cat may not use the litter box if it prefers another location or substrate. This change in preference may arise independently or may occur because of aversion to the present location or substrate. A substrate or location preference can be diagnosed by a careful history into where the elimination is found. If it is always found in one place, this indicates a location preference, while elimination on one particular surface type or texture , indicates a substrate preference. Of course a preference for more than one location or more than one surface may also arise, and they are not mutually exclusive. For treatment, if it is happening in only one or two places, the problem might be resolved by preventing your cat from having unsupervised access to that location. When no one is home, or you are asleep, the cat may need to be confined. When you are at home, you should always know where the cat is. This can be accomplished by watching the cat or by using a bell on an approved cat collar or a leash and harness. Alternately, the location could be made aversive to the cat.
“Relatively speaking, making the soiled areas less appealing may get the cat back to using its litter or may drive the cat to a new, unacceptable area.”
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Reasons Why Cats Pee On Things
Cats have a reputation for cleanliness and trainability, especially when it comes to litter box training. Many cats take to the litter box easily and have accidents in the household infrequently, no matter the sex, breed, or age.
If your cat suddenly starts peeing all over the house, it can be a problem. No one wants to clean up constant pee spots and deal with the strong odor of urine, especially from a cat that had no problem using a litter box before. Find out the top 5 reasons cats pee on things and how to stop it.
Cats Sometimes Pee On Humans If Theyre Incredibly Afraid In The Moment
Youve no doubt heard the figure of speech I almost peed my pants to describe a heightened sense of fear and anxiety from another human before.
If youre incredibly afraid, as a human, it is possible to lose control of your bladder, and the same is true for cats.
If your cat happened to be in an incredibly stressful situation such as seeing a carrier come out right before being taken to a vet its likely your cat peeing on you had more to do with fear than anything else.
You can absolutely help cats who are stressed by the most common triggers: fear of carriers/getting into carriers, and fear of cars/being in vehicles.
Ive written up a guide on how to reduce and maybe even eliminate carrier fear here, and how to get your cat used to being in cars/vehicles here.
Check those out in case youd like to help your cat be less anxious with both these.
I promise you its incredibly easy and it will make your life so much less stressful whenever you need to get Fluffy to the vet for check ups and possible emergencies.
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What Can I Try First
Although correcting house soiling can take a great deal of time and effort and may require a fairly extensive behavioral assessment, there are cases when a few simple suggestions might do the trick. You can start with determining whether you made a change to the litter or litter area around the time the problem started if so, switch back to the preferred litter or site. Alternately try a different type of litter such as one that is clumping. Many cats dislike kitty litter that contains strong deodorizers or perfumes. Cleaning the soiled spots with odor eliminators may help prevent re-soiling. Ensure that you provide one more litter box than the total number of cats in the home, in at least two different locations . Consider putting one of the boxes near to the area where the soiling occurs. Clean the boxes daily and change the litter in the boxes weekly. If after a couple of weeks the problem has not resolved, then a more intense evaluation of the factors that might be causing the problem will be required and other treatments may be needed.
“The first step you should take is to review the basics of litter box training.”
Changes In The Home And Other Stress
Cats arent fans of change, especially changes inside their territory. Any changes about the home can result in stress or anxiety, causing your kitty to urine mark their territory. So if you have recently made changes, such as rearranging furniture, or had new visitors that your furry friend isnt accustomed to, consider if that coincides with your cat starting to urinate outside the litter tray.
You can help comfort your cat during these changes by making sure they have key resources available. Ensure your kitty has access to resting / hiding places, plenty of space, food and water bowls, as well as litter trays – and make sure they have a predictable routine.
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How Do I Stop A Cat From Peeing On My Front Door
If you see your cat peeing on your front door, it may mean the same thing, and you can stop it from doing so.
A cat that pees on the front door is usually trying to mark it as territory.
Since many people come in through that door, it may create a stressful environment for your cat.
As a result, your pet will pee on it to deal with such a stressful feeling.
While the scent can ease the stress of your pet, it can cause you otherwise. Dont worry, though, as you can do something about it.
You can always try spraying some cat pheromone product like Feliway on your front door.
If you dont know what a pheromone is, it is a type of chemical that cats use to communicate. It works as a scent but is only sensible to felines.
Since such a product doesnt smell bad, a few sprays wont affect us.
At the same time, your cat may sense it and stop peeing in a particular area.
The scent it emits is the same with cats. Thus, a few sprays would be enough to stop them from peeing and even clawing on furniture.
Your Cat Peeing On The Bed Or Couch Is A Sign Of A Medical Problem
Whenever your cat has a behavior challenge or exhibits a change in behavior, have her examined as soon as possible by a veterinarian. There are no exceptions to this rule, and this includes a cat peeing on the bed.
Many serious medical problems can cause cats to avoid using litter boxes. A short list includes urinary tract infections, diabetes and arthritis, as well as a host of other painful and serious conditions.
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What’s The Difference Between Cat Spraying And A Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box
While different, they can definitely have common roots. Both can be stress related, but the location, quantity, and the purpose are usually very different.
It is unclear as to whether or not the chemical makeup is different when a cat sprays vs. pees outside the litter box.
When cats spray, they are basically scent marking, and making a big overt gesture. They are saying, “I am here! You will smell me! Mine!” When a cat is eliminating outside of the litter box, it’s usually for a much different purpose.
The amount of urine being released when a cat sprays tends to be less than when a cat pees outside of the litter box though Marci has seen some kitties mark “their” territories using more of a Super Soaker method.
Spraying can be in response to things like:
- Territorial insecurity
- In response to strays outside
- Issues with another cat inside the home
- It can even be in response to smells coming into the home from outside
Gathering as much data about when, where, and what is happening at the time, will help solve the issue of “why”, and get you closer to finding a solution. For this, Dr. J and Marci both suggest having a web camera set up to record the circumstances surrounding the unsolved pee mystery.
How To Clean Up Cat Urine
Cleaning up cat urine properly is incredibly important. There are certain things within a cat’s urine that will attract them back to the same spot time and again. This means they will often keep re-marking in the same spot.
There are various dedicated anti-urine sprays and cleaners which do a great job of not just removing the odor of cat urine, but also destroying the chemicals which will attract your cat back time and again.
Another option, if you dont want to purchase a dedicated cleaner, is to use is biological washing powder. Mix this with a bit of water and then really scrub the area and allow it to soak in. What will happen is the enzymes in that biological washing powder will help break down all of the things that are attracting your cat back to that area.
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Theyre Trying To Attract A Mate
One of the most common reasons why cats spray is to advertise that they are looking for a mate. By peeing or spraying outside of their litter box they are letting other cats know that they are available.
Both male and female cats can spray, but its often male cats that are the culprit. With their high levels of testosterone and natural instincts, they do everything in their power to attract a mate. Female cats can also sometimes try to attract a mate but its very unlikely. If you have a female cat thats peeing everywhere then itâs probably to do with another reason on our list.