Expert: Ali - 10/17/2008

Question
We have a 7 month old Birman kitten. We got her at age 3 months. She was already spayed and litterbox trained. We used the same cat litter that the breeder used in his house. It is called cat crystals. Her litterbox is situated in the ensuite bathroom to our bedroom. It is far away from where her food is. We clean the box everyday. We change the sand regularly. She used her litterbox well for the first two months. She never eliminated anywhere else than in her box. Then suddenly after about two months she urinated on our bed once. We thought it was just a mishap. We didn't yell at her or hit her. We washed everything. Then she used her litterbox again nicely, but again all of a sudden urinated on our bed twice. We again didn't hit or yell at her.We decided to take her to the vet. He examined her properly and found nothing wrong. He recommended the Feliway diffuser. We started using it and the problem stopped. Then 3 weeks ago she started urinating on our bed again and occasionally defecating as well. She didn't do it everytime, inbetween she would still use the litterbox. We were still using the Feliway diffuser and we also started using the spray simultaneously. Nothing changed in the house before this new spell of urinating. We still have the same bedding, the same litter, the same litterbox, the same litterbox location, the same catfood, the same routine. We are both medical doctors so we have busy schedules and are sometimes not at home for long periods of time. But again, this is not new. We try to spend as much time with her as possible when we are home. We play with her, we cuddle her, we bath her once a week, we brush her daily, we cut her nails. She is so loving and sweet. She follows us around like a shadow. she sleeps in our room and on our bed. She cries when she cannot see us or be with us. We have goose down duvets and pillows. Someone said that can be a problem so we removed all down products from our room. It didnt help. We don't really want to ban her from our room because her usual spot for her litterbox is in there and we spend lots of time in the room with her. Her bed is also in our room. We have also put another litterbox at a different spot in the house, but she hasnt used it yet. We love her so much and she is such a soft, loving sweet tempered thing that is fond of us too. We are just at a loss about what to do with this problem, as it is becoming worse. Please help!

Answer
Lize,

There could be a number of different things going on at this stage. If the veterinarian that examined your kitten didn't perform a full pre-anesthetic blood test and a complete urinanalysis it is possible that there is something going on that wouldn't necessarily show up on a physical exam. Sometimes cats can end up with crystals in their bladder and urinary tract which can be quite painful and cause the kitty to look for less painful places to urinate. Cats are very intelligent creatures and if there is something medical going on it's very possible that she has begun to associate her litter box with pain or discomfort and is seeking out an alternate place to eliminate. I don't really think that this is the issue in your cat's case, however it's very important to rule that out because if your cat has a physical health issue and it goes untreated trying to correct the bad habits on a behavioral level isn't going to be successful. Once you have completely ruled out any possible medical reason for your kitten to be eliminating outside of the litter box then you can treat the issue as a behavioral one.

It has been my experience that there are a few consistent reasons why cats begin urinating or defecating outside of the litter box. Cats are very fastidious animals and some are so picky that they won't urinate or defecate in their litter box once they have used it to go to the toilet that day. Given the information that you have provided about the routines that you have established for cleaning the litter box I highly doubt that your kitten is eliminating outside of the box because her litter box is dirty. I usually recommend that cat guardians have one litter box per cat plus one in their home. In your case that means that your kitten would need at minimum two litter boxes - you have two litter pans, but you may find that she uses both of them if they are placed in the same room.

Cats can be quite finicky about the litter that's used to fill their litter boxes. Some cats will begin soiling outside of the litter box if they don't like the texture of the litter. Even though the  brand of litter is the same as the one that the breeder used with his/her cats it is possible that the manufacturer has made small changes in the formulation that aren't obvious to human beings. If your kitty litter has any fragrance or dyes added to it your cat may be trying to tell you that she is sensitive to the perfumes or dyes commonly found in certain brands of kitty litter. My oldest resident cat is extremely clean, but she will urinate on the floor if the litter is even slightly scented. If the litter that you use is made from clay or silica it might be worth trying clumping kitty litters made from different materials such as wheat or corn. From what I have heard these kitty litters clump just as well or better and they tend to be flushable even if your home is on a septic system. With litters made from wheat there are sometimes natural enzymes within the litter minimize any odor that could potentially be offending your cat. This kitty may be sensitive to dust or chemicals commonly found in standard clumping kitty litters. It's possible that your kitten would prefer to have two litter boxes side by side rather than having them in different locations. Sometimes cats living as only pets like to have two litter boxes so that they can urinate in one and defecate in the other.

Some cats prefer specific types of litter boxes. There are many different designs and types of litter boxes available on the market. If you use a self cleaning model your kitten may be uncomfortable with the motion and noise commonly associated with these high tech kitty toilets. If your litter boxes are open your cat may prefer a covered litter pan. Some cats need more room to dig, use the toilet and bury the waste. There should be plenty of room for your kitten to stand up, turn around, dig and squat to urinate or prop herself up on her hindquarters to defecate. I have cared for cats that have been uncomfortable using the litter box if the area is dark. It may be worth installing a night light that automatically switches on once the room is dimly lit and see if having a light on helps with the issue at hand.  

Since you mention that you and your husband are both doctors I would assume that your work schedules aren't consistent. Cats are creatures of habit and they like to be able to anticipate the comings and goings of their human guardians and they prefer to lead a somewhat consistent and routine life. Some cats aren't comfortable with the hectic schedules and shift changes that a career in medicine often comes with. It's possible that your cat has separation anxiety, this condition usually happens for a few reasons. First of all if people spend a lot of time focusing on their cat when they are home the cat becomes accustomed to that routine. It's quite obvious to me that you love your little one very much and that you want the best for her. You may want to consider leaving the radio or television on for her to help her feel less anxious in your absence, you could even set up timers so that your cat gets the feeling that she isn't all alone. If you set timers to turn the radio and/or television on at set times throughout the day initially when you are home, and then when you and your husband are gone to work, starting around an hour after you have gone to work this might help to ease her anxiety.

Another solution that's well worth trying out is to try and provide your kitty with comforting scents while she's home alone. My youngest resident cat (Kizmit) was a rescued stray and she developed a serious case of separation anxiety. I found that placing my dirty laundry in an open laundry basket helped to ease her anxiety levels. I often came home from work to see Kizmit sleeping peacefully buried in the dirty clothes. Prior to making the dirty laundry accessible my youngest cat would urinate in the middle of my bed and/or cry all day until I came home. Coming home after a long shift to find urine in my bed was less than pleasant and when the neighbors started to complain I realized that Kiz was experiencing anxiety and communicating it in the only way that she knew how to. In your unique situation your kitty most likely feels safest and most confident when you and your husband are at home. Some cats will develop high levels of anxiety when their humans are away from home. If your cat is used to being cuddled and pampered while you and your husband are at home it's possible that she becomes anxious when you leave home because she doesn't understand why you have to leave her or how long you will be gone. Separation anxiety doesn't usually happen in cats whose caretakers pay minimal attention to them - it's a disorder typical of well loved pets.  

As of yet I can't say that I've ever heard of any link between bedding or other products that contain down creating instances and  cats being more likely to mark them with urine or feces. It's been my experience that some cats associate the smell of down with prey animals. I have seen some cats try and get to the feathers inside of down filled bedding. I must admit that in a situation like yours where the cat is soiling the bedding it's best to avoid using bedding or other items that your kitten may urinate or defecate on until the issue has been resolved. Items that are down filled are quite expensive and difficult to clean, especially if they must be cleaned every few days.

I would strongly suggest that this kitty be spayed as soon as possible if the surgery hasn't already been completed. At 7 months of age your kitten is sexually mature and capable of reproducing. Cats that are sexually mature and intact are far more likely to use urine and feces to mark their territory than cats that have been spayed or neutered. There are a number of behavioral and medical benefits to surgically sterilizing pets. Spaying and neutering is important and not just because it reduces the numbers of accidental litters that are born worldwide. Spayed and neutered cats don't have the urge to breed. Surgical sterilization reduces the risks of serious health issues like cancerous tumors of the mammary glands, prostate, testicals, ovaries, and uterus. Female cats can develop painful infections of the mammary glands, commonly referred to as mastitis. Unspayed female cats are at risk of developing a life threatening infection of the womb called pyometra. If a queen develops pyometra she will die without prompt medical attention and emergency surgery to spay her because there is a risk that her uterus could rupture allowing pus to spread throughout the abdomen. In the event that the cat's uterus ruptures her chances of survival are fairly bleak. Cats that are sterilized are less likely to develop behavioral issues such as marking their territory with urine or feces, wandering, fighting or howling and caterwauling to advertise their availability to mate. Cats that get injuries as a result of fighting can develop abscesses that must be drained by a vet and many cats will require a course of antibiotics. Serious viral infections like feline leukemia and FIV can be transmitted by fighting or coming into contact with an infected cat's saliva or blood.

In my experience the fact that your cat has been eliminating on your bed is more likely a behavioral issue. In your cat's mind the bed is the place that has a higher concentration of your scent than most other places. This means that your cat views the bed as your territory, so she is leaving messages in an area that she is sure you are going to find. Cats try to communicate with their human caregivers and unfortunately we don't usually recognize inappropriate elimination as a means of communication because we no longer consciously communicate by scent marking and territorial displays - in fact we've become more accustomed to communicating verbally or by using a pad of paper and a pen.

I am assuming that your kitten is the only furry pet in your household. It's quite possible that she is lonely, anxious and bored while you and your husband are away from home. One way to remedy this situation would be to adopt a cat companion for her from a local shelter that is approximately the same size and age. If you decide to try out a kitty companion it's very important to introduce them properly because if you don't there's a good chance that the cats will fight with one another and generally react poorly to each other's presence. I would recommend that you adopt a cat that is similar in age, size and temperament. Your local shelter probably has dozens of potential "siblings" that will help your kitty feel less lonely and give her someone to play with once the introductions are complete. You may find that your kitten responds very well to having a new feline friend and that the inappropriate elimination fades into the background quite quickly.

If you adopt from a shelter you are quite literally saving a life because animal shelters operate with minimal resources and are often forced to euthanize perfectly health and adoptable cats and kittens simply because their time has run out or they are in need of space. It's very important to spay or neuter your kitty's new companion - this will ensure that there are no accidental litters and cats that have been sterilized tend to be less territorial and get along better with one another. It's very important to remember that your kitten is probably lonely, anxious and/or bored because she spends so much time alone while you and your husband work. I would be more than willing to offer some advice on what to look for in a shelter kitty so that you and your husband are able to make the most informed choice possible and provide a homeless kitty with a forever family. Questions regarding proper new cat/kitten introductions are quite common and you can certainly check out my previous answers on the subject.

If you live in an apartment building your kitten may not be getting much in the way of stimulation, especially when you and your husband are both at work. I have found that sometimes with kitties that are bored it helps to provide different forms of stimulation. I think that it might be a good start if you began rotating your kitten's toys so that she doesn't always have the same ones to play with. There are a few versions of a particular toy on the market that I think may be useful in this situation. Essentially the toy is a ball that you can place treats in, the unique thing about this ball is that you can record a short phrase that will play every time that the kitty plays with the ball. You could also try looking into the Cat Sitter DVD series. These dvds are movies geared towards cats. As far as I'm aware there are three videos in this series. The Cat Sitter DVDs all feature great video footage of small prey animals and different wildlife.

In my experience these videos can occupy a cat for quite awhile, they are designed to entertain a cat when their human caregiver is away from home. The footage in these videos is looped so that once the entire movie has been viewed it will automatically restart. The first two volumes feature some great footage of birds, mice and other small animals. The second and third volumes of the series include scenes that the production company refers to as "digital catnip" which is essentially a computer generated bug that flits back and forth across the screen in an unpredictable fashion that appeals to most cats. The third DVD in the series focuses on aquariums and there are some phenomenal shots of fresh and saltwater fish. You can often find these videos in pet supply stores and if you are able to set your home entertainment centre to play the videos at set intervals throughout the time that you and your husband are away your kitten may be less anxious, after all, she will have plenty of visual stimulation to occupy her time. If you do opt to purchase these videos I would strongly suggest that you make sure that the top of the television is kept clear and a chair is parked in front of it because most cats like to bat at the prey animals and fish and in some cases these animals disappear from the screen in one direction and the other and your cat is likely to try and find out where the animal or computer generated bug has disappeared to.

If your home or apartment is at ground level it's possible that your kitten spends a fair amount of time looking out the window and watching the world go by. If this is the case your cat may have heard or seen something that frightened or frustrated her. Since cats have sensitive hearing and they are territorial animals by nature there are a number of possible situations that may cause inappropriate behavior. If neighborhood cats spend a significant amount of time walking through your yard and marking their territory with urine or feces your kitten may be responding to the threat to her territory in the only way that she can - indoors. Some cats become anxious or fearful when loud sounds like a car backfiring or road crews using a jackhammer nearby.

If your cat is sensitive to loud noises it may be worth consulting a holistic veterinarian to see if he/she is able to offer a non-pharmaceutical approach to minimize anxiety and stress that can be caused by seeing other animals within your kitten's territory. A holistic veterinarian is trained in conventional medicine as well as one or more alternative therapies such as homeopathy, massage or acupuncture. My family vet is a holistic practitioner and she has given my pets homeopathic remedies on more than one occasion. I must admit that in my experience cats respond very well to homeopathy and I have seen some incredible things happen when the right remedies are administered. Cats can also benefit from acupuncture and massage if these tools are properly administered by a knowledgeable and experienced holistic vet.

Your family vet could prescribe an anti-anxiety/anti-depressant drug that would reduce any anxiety that your cat might be experiencing and could potentially stop the issues that you are having with inappropriate elimination. The reason that I typically recommend a pharmaceutical approach as a last resort is because many of the drugs commonly prescribed by vets in this situation are actually small doses of human anti-anxiety/anti-depressant drugs. The use of powerful psychotropic drugs isn't without risk or side effects in cats, so it is extremely important to do your research and make an informed decision prior to agreeing to administer powerful mood altering drugs to your cat. Cats are very sensitive to the drugs that are often used to treat anxiety, depression and behavioral issues like inappropriate elimination so I would recommend that you exercise caution if you opt to treat your cat with these medicines. Any drug that alters the way that a cat's brain functions isn't something to be used lightly - some cats can have serious reactions to these and other medicines so I do believe that it's to your cat's benefit if you try other less invasive options first.

If your feline friend is lonely or she has separation anxiety just being able to count on spending time with a human companion at different points during the day may end the litter box issues and keep your bed clean and dry. I would suggest that you consider having a family friend stop by if at all possible because sometimes cats can be quite shy and unwilling to interact with unfamiliar people. If your cat is naturally outgoing then she may enjoy having a human visitor come in for fairly short time periods each day that you and your husband are working. If you work long shifts I would suggest that you consider having a family friend or pet sitter come in and see to your fur baby fairly frequently because if your kitty has separation anxiety or is simply afraid of being alone she may be calmer and happier with occasional human visitors.

In the event that you live in a single family home it's possible that your kitten is anxious or upset by something that she has seen or heard outside. If your cat has access to windows and tends to spend a lot of time looking outside it's possible that the house soiling is related to anxiety or frustration caused by seeing another cat or small animal in "her" territory. If this is the case I would suggest that you consider applying a removable privacy film to the windows. Privacy films now come in a variety of designs and price ranges so I would suggest that you take some time and shop around - you just might find something that you really like. You can usually find removable and permanent privacy films in hardware or home improvement stores. If you own your home and you don't want to try a privacy film there is another considerably more costly option. Many window manufacturers are now selling windows that are energy efficient and safety conscious when it comes to young children and pets. Conventional blinds and window coverings often have strings or chains that children or pets can become entangled in - the solution is a window that houses the blind between two panes of glass. This type of window allows you to feel completely confident about children and pets because it's typically adjustable by using a dial or lever and you can control the amount of light and privacy that the shades provide.

In situations where a cat or kitten is very anxious I sometimes recommend that their caregivers try out a homeopathic remedy called Bach's Rescue Remedy which contains a blend of flower essences that help to calm and reassure. Your situation is unique because you and your husband spend so much time away from home. Although the situation hasn't changed since this kitten has lived in your home, it's important to remember that your kitten's life has changed since she has come to live with you. I suspect that this kitten had plenty of feline and human companionship when she was living in the environment that she was born in. I would suggest that you try out the Rescue Remedy by adding 6-7 drops to your kitten's fresh water each morning. You may notice a difference in her behavior quite quickly. Rescue Remedy can usually be found in health food/natural health stores and it usually costs around $15 CAN. Bach remedies are very safe and many pet parents and veterinarians around the world use them to treat different causes of anxiety or fear in pets. Rescue Remedy is particularly well known and in my experience it's well worth trying in a case where a cat is overly timid or anxious.

Sometimes repeated urination and defecation in the same place may mean that the cat is making the mistake based on scent alone. Most household cleaners and detergents appear to remove the scent and stain permanently, however the smell will still be easily found by a cat as their sense of smell is significantly better than a human being. The best way to deal with removing the odor permanently from your sheets, bedding, etc is to use an enzymatic cleaner. Cleaners like Petzyme use beneficial bacteria (enzymes) to permanently break down and remove the organic components of substances such as urine, feces, blood and vomit. I have found that a product called Petzyme works well to remove stains and odors. Petzyme has so far proven to be safe on upholstery and carpeting throughout my home and the manufacturer provides instructions for how to use Petzyme in the washing machine. Petzyme is available at Petsmart - I recommend that you purchase it from the dog section because it's better priced and you can pick up a gallon for roughly $20 CAN which will last awhile even if you have to clean up accidents fairly frequently. I simply fill a spray bottle (the type used for misting plants) and use it when I need to. If your local pet supply store doesn't carry a good selection of enzymatic cleaners in the cat section it's worth checking out the dog section as these cleaners are often used during puppy potty training. In the event that you aren't able to find Petzyme in your area you can try checking with your local janitorial supply store because enzymatic cleaners are often used in institutions where body fluids must be cleaned.

Given that this kitten tends to urinate or defecate on your bed there are a few humane alternatives that you may want to consider. Cats are very clean animals and they generally won't eliminate where they eat. You could try placing a dish of your kitten's regular cat food on the bed where she usually urinates. I have had people tell me that their cats have simply opted out of eating or urinated on the same surface at the furthest point from the food. If this happens with your cat you may find that using partially crumpled aluminum foil will work well. Most cats don't like the feeling of partially crumpled tin foil on their feet, probably because the edges tend to be a bit on the sharp side and it moves while they are walking on it. The trick is to loosely crumple the foil and then gently uncrumple it slightly so that it's about half of the size of the original piece of foil. The more sharp edges the better, if you simply place tin foil that hasn't been crumpled on your bed there's a good chance that the cat will simply urinate on the flat foil. If your kitten decides to remove the foil from the bed so that she can urinate below it you can try a couple of different things.

There is a great product called Sticky Paws available in most pet supply stores. This is a medical grade double sided tape that is safe for most fabrics and surfaces. Cats don't like to have anything stick to their paws so applying a layer of double sided tape will certainly mean that this kitty will most likely avoid getting up onto the bed while the tape is there. If you want to deter your feline friend from hopping up onto the bed you can use motion activated tools to get the message across. There are products such as Ssscat which is a motion activated behavioral modification tool which sends off a burst of compressed air from a can when the motion sensor is tripped. Some cats will find that very offensive and you may only need to use these types of products for a short period of time to correct the issue.

You can also find a product called Scat Mat which is a pressure sensitive mat that administers a mild static electric shock when stepped on - this will certainly convince your kitty that she doesn't want to get up onto the bed. I have heard mixed comments about using an indoor cat repellant, the general consensus is that the cat repellents typically repel more people than they do cats. You can however place dried hot peppers or citrus peels in areas where your kitten has eliminated - for many cats these two natural substances will be offensive enough to keep them away from places that you don't want them to be.