Overview:
Inappropriate urination is a
fairly common problem but has many causes.
There are generally two reasons why a cat will urinate (or
defecate for that matter) on your bed. Behavioural or medical.
With this in mind, it is always important to take your cat for a
physical check up at the veterinarian if it starts urinating
outside the litter tray as there could be a medical reason for
this. If your cat gets the all clear, then you will have to try
& figure out why it has stopped using the litter tray. Some
possible causes include;
-
Litter tray
is too dirty
-
Placement of the litter tray is
also important. Just as humans like privacy, so do cats.
Placing the litter tray in a busy area may result in your
cat's refusal to use the litter tray. Also, some cats will
enjoy the privacy of a fully covered litter tray, while this
may be too confining for other cats. Generally I prefer to
have a combination of both trays to suit my cat's different
preferences.
-
Another thing to remember is that cats do not like to go to
the toilet near where they eat. So make sure the litter box is
placed far from your cat’s food and water.
-
Doesn't like
the brand/type of litter in the tray
-
Stress is major cause of inappropriate urination in cats.
Factors causing stress in cats can be moving house, the
introduction of a new family member (pet or human), a
neighbours cat roaming your garden etc. Helping your cat
overcome these stresses may well result in the inappropriate
urination stopping, however this isn't always the case.
Sometimes the behavior can become so ingrained in the cat that
even once the stress has been removed, the behavior continues.
If this is the case it is a good idea to seek advice from your
veterinarian as to how to re-train your cat. Some cat owners
have had great success using Rescue Remedy on their cats,
although this isn't advisable until you have spoken to your
vet.
-
Declawing sometimes leads to refusal to use a litter box.
Often the cat's paws are tender & scratching around in cat
litter can lead to pain & discomfort. In this case it is
advisable to find a softer litter which is less harsh on your
cat's feet.
Cleaning cat urine from carpets:
If the urine is still wet,
blot up as much as you can with paper towels. Stand on the
paper towel to help absorb as much moisture as possible. There are many
commercially available products on the market designed to
remove & neutralize cat urine odour. Some of these products
come in powder form, so can be easily vacuumed off, others are
liquid (often as a spray), so once you have applied it, it can
be dried with the aid of a hairdryer.
Old cat urine is a bigger
problem as it begins to break down, it is this process which
results in the offensive odour. If the urine has dried &
you are having problems locating the soiled area use a
blacklight. Turn out your lights & move the black light around
the floor, walls & furnishings to help identify soiled areas. Cat urine will glow green. You should be able to purchase a blacklight
from your hardware store, or pet store.
You may also want to try
some home remedies. Blot up as much urine as you can with
paper towels. Apply baking soda to the wet urine stain.
This will draw out the urine. When the baking soda turns
yellow from the urine, remove & apply some more. Repeat until
the baking soda stays white. If possible, leave on the
carpet overnight. The following day, vacuum it off.
White vinegar is a
time tried and proven ingredient that aids in removing both
urine stains and the odour. Combine one part distilled white vinegar to two parts warm
water to create a spray. Remove as much urine/spray as
you can using a paper towels. Mist vinegar spray over areas of
cat urine and rub with a paper towel. An alternative
method is to mix the solution in a bucket and dip a clean
cloth into the liquid. Rub the stain with the vinegar
solution. After the vinegar
dries, wipe away both solution and stain with warm water.
Another
simple to make spray uses 15 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, two
tablespoons of baking soda, and two squirts of liquid hand soap.
Mix in a plastic container with a plastic spoon. Discard
after use. Apply this solution to cat urine stains or odour
areas, and then rinse away with warm water.
Common
mistakes made by pet owners:
-
Failing to clean the
litter tray often enough.
-
Punishing the cat.
Smacking or yelling at the cat will only serve to make him
more fearful of you & this in turn can in turn make the
problem worse.
-
Failing to seek
veterinary advice. If your cat is urinating in inappropriate
areas it is always advisable to have him checked over by the
veterinarian to rule out a medical cause.
-
Not having enough litter
trays.
-
Having the litter tray in
the wrong location.
-
Please bear in mind that as the cat ages the frequency of
inappropriate urination may increase. Conditions such as
arthritis may make it painful to enter & exit the litter
tray, especially if it has high sides. Poor eyesight,
dementia & incontinence may also be contributing factors.
Again, if it is always best to seek advice from your
veterinarian on these matters as he/she will be able to best
advise you on how to help your cat in old age.
