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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat Urinates on Anything Soft
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Question
During the night, I keep my cat in a bathroom to keep her out of trouble. She has her litterbox on one end, food and water on the other. When I adopted her, she was used to sleeping in her carrier. I have tried to buy her cat beds and soft mats for her to sleep on, but she doesn't use them. Instead, she urinates on them, even though they are far away from the litterbox. She loves to use her litter box, and I keep it very clean, and far away from the carrier and the bed. The thing is, she only pees on the soft stuff I put in the bathroom, but never on the sofas or carpets outside the bathroom.
Does this have to do with how she was raised as a kitten? Is there anything I can do to get her used to sleeping on a regular cat bed? She likes to sleep on the sofa during the daytime, and doesn't pee on it.
Amy,
One of the most common feline responses to stress is inappropriate elimination. The bladder is the cat’s stress target. She may be stressed being locked in the bathroom, or she may be afraid.
I would leave a night light on for her if you don't so it is not totally dark for her.
If she was used to a carrier to sleep in, I would put one (without the door on) in the bathroom with something soft in it and see if she sleeps in it or pees in it.
I would consider getting her a kitty friend. Most cats love to have a friend to play kitty games with, to snuggle with, and to comfort them when they are alone. That may help her stop having problems at night.
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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