Expert: Ali - 10/20/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi, my male cat, Smoky, keeps urinating on his cat bed. We have bought him two, and after he urinated on the second one, we had to throw it away. What's interesting is that he will not urinate when we just lay a towel out for him to sleep on. Any advice for us?

ANSWER: Quin,

I have a few questions to ask you so that I can get a better picture of what's happening with Smoky.

- Has Smoky had a full check up with the vet including blood and urine testing to ensure that he doesn't have any medical issues which may be contributing to or causing this behavior?

If Smoky hasn't had a complete check up with the family veterinarian it may be wise to have him examined. Urine tests can often reveal hidden health issues like crystals in the urinary tract or a low grade chronic bladder infection. A full pre-anesthetic blood panel will allow your veterinarian to have an accurate idea of how Smoky's major organ systems are functioning and whether or not he has any type of infection present in his system that may require treatment.

- How old is Smoky?

There are a number of different factors that may help to determine why Smoky is urinating on his pet beds, sometimes age can point to a specific cause.

- Is Smoky neutered?

If Smoky isn't sterilized he may very well be marking his territory which is perfectly normal for intact cats that are sexually mature. Having a cat spayed or neutered has a number of medical and behavioral benefits. Cats that are spayed or neutered are far less likely to fight over territory (except of course in the case of an inappropriately done new cat/kitten introduction), wander, or use urine or feces to mark their territory. Those are just a few of the behavioral benefits to sterilizing cats. Spaying and neutering cats reduces or eliminates serious medical conditions such as testicular, prostate, mammary, ovarian and uterine cancers. Cats that are spayed or neutered and kept indoors are less likely to contract serious viral infections like FIV and feline leukemia. These viral infections can be passed from cat to cat during the course of a fight or other situation where body fluids can be passed from one cat to another. Unsterilized male cats fighting over a mate or their territory can inflict serious bite wounds on each other that often result in abscesses. Cats with abscesses usually require medical treatment and a course of antibiotics. Spaying and neutering saves lives for a couple of different reasons. First of all, when cats are spayed or neutered they don't produce kittens that can end up in shelters or rescue organizations. Unfortunately many healthy and adoptable cats and kittens are euthanized every year in North America simply because there simply isn't the time, space or resources to keep them in a shelter environment indefinitely. Sadly the most common cause of death for cats in North America is euthanasia due to behavioral problems. Spaying and neutering saves lives and it is a fairly routine and safe procedure. Veterinarians have been using human anesthetic gas for some time, this means that although there is always a small risk when anyone goes under general anesthesia the risks are far lower than they were years ago. Cats are monitored by skilled veterinary technicians while they are under anesthesia and afterward until they come around. Vets generally administer pain medication along with a short acting sedative prior to performing the operation which means that the majority of cats that I have seen don't experience post-operative pain.

- How many cats live in your home?

If there are 2 or more cats in your home it's quite possible that Smoky is marking his territory when he is given a new pet bed so that other cats and pets in the household know that the beds belong to him.

- How many litter boxes do you have?

I usually recommend that pet parents have one litter box per cat plus one. The reason for this is so that more submissive cats can go to the toilet without being bullied by more dominant cats. It's also important to know that if the food dishes are near the litter box Smoky may be trying to communicate to you that he is uncomfortable with his food being near his toilet, after all, we certainly wouldn't want to eat where we use the toilet.

- Does Smoky use his litter box except for the accidents on the pet beds?

The answer to this question will allow me to have some insight as to what may be triggering these accidents. It's unlikely that you will know for sure whether the issue is strictly behavioral until you have Smoky's blood and urine tests back.

- Have you cleaned the floor below the area where the cat beds have been kept with any type of cleaner?

If you place the pet bed in the same location each time and Smoky urinates on the bed in the same place it's possible that some of the odor is seeping down onto the floor beneath the bed. If this is the case Smoky could be repeating the accident simply because he can smell urine on the floor. I would recommend that you consider cleaning the area where the pet bed is usually placed and all of the surrounding area with a specialized type of cleaner. Enzymatic cleaners use enzymes (beneficial bacteria) to digest and remove odors and stains from organic matter such as urine, feces, vomit, blood, etc. I have found an enzymatic cleaner called Petzyme and so far I am very satisfied with the effectiveness, the ease of use and the cost. Petzyme successfully removes vomit and feces completely with ease. This product also has instructions on the packaging for use in the washing machine in the event that a cat vomited on your bedding. I found Petzyme at Petsmart and I'm not entirely sure whether or not the product is carried in other pet supply stores. If you are unable to find Petzyme in your area I would recommend that you check out other similar cleaners either in your local pet supply store or janitorial supply store. I have found that some pet stores don't stock cost effective enzymatic cleaners in the cat section. The products in the cat section tend to be overpriced in my opinion and they have also been less effective in some cases. I usually purchase my Petzyme in gallon sized jugs and fill my own spray bottle at home. A gallon sized jug (I doubt that you'll actually need that much of it in the near future, however it's good to have on hand for cleaning vomit off of the carpeting, etc) costs somewhere around $22 CAN if memory serves me.

- Does Smoky urinate anywhere other than on cat beds?

If Smoky urinates in specific places that could be a clue as to why he's actually having these accidents.

- Where do you typically place the cat beds that Smoky urinates on?

If the bed is usually located near his litter box that could be the issue. It has been my experience that cats typically enjoy sleeping near warm places in the house or near their favorite human caregivers. It's possible that Smoky would stop having the accidents if the bed was in a different location.

- Are the pet beds that you purchase that Smoky has urinated on made of any specific material?

Some cats dislike certain textures or types of material, if the pet beds that you bought for him had a specific material or smelled strongly of chemicals from the manufacturing process your kitty may be sensitive to these issues. It's important to remember that a cat's sense of smell is significantly more sensitive than ours so things that have a mild odor or no odor as far as we're concerned can have quite a strong and possibly offensive smell to a cat.

- What type of litter do you put in Smoky's litter box?

If your using a non-clumping kitty litter or your litter is scented Smoky may be trying to let you know that he is sensitive to the harsh perfumes and dyes commonly added to these products. If you are using a standard clumping litter containing clay it's possible that your little guy is no longer comfortable with the smell and dust commonly associated with these products. You could try using a clumping kitty litter made from ground wheat or corn. The clumping litters made from plant materials are supposedly the same as or better than traditional clumping litters, however they are a bit pricey. Some of the litters made from corn and wheat contain natural enzymes that reduce or eliminate odor. Another bonus is that if the clumps from these plant based clumping kitty litters are broken up and soaked for some time they are flushable even if you have a septic system. I would strongly suggest that you look at and follow instructions pertaining to flushable products in order to avoid costly plumbing mistakes. If Smoky is an only cat naturally based litters may be worth a try.

- How frequently is Smoky's litter cleaned and changed?

Litter boxes filled with non-clumping clay litter should be emptied every couple of days and discarded. Clumping kitty litter must be scooped a minimum of once daily to remove solids. It's also a good idea to totally replace the kitty litter in the boxes completely every week or two at minimum.

- Do you use air fresheners in the area of Smoky's litter box or pet beds?

If you use air fresheners Smoky may be trying to tell you that he is sensitive to scents. If this is the case there's a good chance that if you stop using these highly scented chemical air fresheners Smoky's litter box habits will return to normal.

- Have you tried anything specific to discourage Smoky from urinating outside of the litter box?

I'm wondering what if any strategies you have tried to discourage Smoky from soiling the pet beds.

- Do you allow Smoky to go outdoors?

If Smoky has been allowed outdoors he may be marking his territory just the same as he does outside. All cats are quite territorial and will use urine or feces to mark their territory, especially if they aren't spayed/neutered or if they feel that the territory that they have established has been compromised by another animal.

- Is there a specific time or set of circumstances that precedes or follows Smoky's accidents?

If these accidents typically occur when you are watching or at some point in the daily routine the circumstances surrounding the accidents could possibly provide a clue to help solve the mystery behind the pet bed urine marking.

- Are there other pets in the household that may be causing Smoky to want to mark his bed as part of his territory?

If you have two or more cats in the household it's possible that Smoky is attempting to establish or maintain his status as top cat within the social structure between the cats.

- Have you recently had any tradespeople in your home to do repair or renovation work?

If there has recently been construction or repairs in or around your home Smoky could be upset by the noise and commotion. Changes like this can result in litter box issues.

- Is Smoky able to see any neighborhood cats or wildlife from a window near the area the cat beds are typically placed?

In the event that Smoky spends a fair amount of time looking out the window near his pet bed it's possible that he is upset by other animals invading his territory. If this is the case you could try applying a removable privacy film to the windows that your little guy has access to. Removable privacy films come in a variety of designs and price ranges. I would recommend that you shop around, you may find something that you like and pay less if you comparison shop.

- Have you recently added or subtracted a two or four legged family member?

Due to the fact that cats are territorial and they aren't fond of change this can sometimes create litter box issues.

- Have you tried placing a litter box near the area that you normally place Smoky's pet beds?

If you place a litter box in the area where the cat has been urinating you may find that the accidents stop. If this is the case and you aren't fond of where the litter box is being kept then you could gradually move it to a more acceptable location.

- Have you tried giving Smoky a meal or special treat on or near his pet bed?

Cats are very clean animals and they don't normally eat where they use the toilet. This strategy has worked for me in the past and it might work for you.

- Has your recently moved into a new apartment or home?

Cats don't like change, they like to be able to predict what's going on in their environment and what's coming next. A recent move may have just upset him.

- Has anyone's work schedule within the family recently changed?

People are a very important part of a domestic cat's territory. If the cat has come to expect that specific human beings leave for work at a specific time and they come home at the same time daily then shift changes can be upsetting for the cat.

- Have you tried using different designs of litter box and different types of litter along with adding a couple of litter boxes to your home?

I will be waiting to hear about the answers so that I can help you and Smoky out by providing some suggestions that could work.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Smoky is about six months old. Yes, he is neutered. Smoky is the only cat in our household. Smoky also has had all of his tests including blood and urine. We only have one litter box, which is very close to his sleeping area. Yes, he uses his litter box at all times except for on the beds. Yes, we have cleaned the area under where the beds used to be. Smoky doesn't urinate anywhere else but the cat beds. We do place the beds near his litter box. We don't know what the beds are made of. We use "World's Best Kitty Litter," which is made of corn. We change his litter box every day. We do use air fresheners in the area of his bed and litter box. We haven't done anything to discourage Smoky from urinating outside of his litter box. We do allow Smoky to go outdoors. We haven't had any tradespeople in our household recently. He can't see any pets from a nearby window. Smoky has been our only pet. We haven't tried giving Smoky a treat near his bed. The children in our family have recently started going back to school. We have lived in the same house during Smoky's lifetime. We haven't tried using different designs of litter boxes and litter to our home.
Hope this helps!

Answer
Quin,

I would recommend that you consider relocating Smoky's beds or litter pans. The air fresheners would be best avoided as this can create or contribute to litter box issues. Some cats are highly sensitive to the harsh chemicals and fragrances commonly used in air fresheners so the best ways to ensure minimal litter box odor are to ensure that the litter box is scooped at least once daily, you can also use baking soda in the litter pan, it is harmless to the cats, however it may affect the way that the litter clumps depending on the consistency of the litter and how well it normally clumps. You can also try the cost effective solution of the sponge type odor absorbing products, they generally retail for roughly 99 cents and they come in a sealed plastic container. Initially the product is moist, over time, as it absorbs odors it becomes hard. The odor absorbing products are completely safe around children and pets, to my knowledge this is the case even if they are adventurous and take a taste! I would also recommend moving Smoky's food dishes to a location near his pet bed, this will generally discourage litter box issues as cats are very clean animals and they don't usually eliminate where they eat. If you placed the pet bed and the food and water dishes in a quiet corner away from the litter box I think you'll find that Smoky's litter box issues will settle down. It may also be useful to add a second litter box as some cats prefer to urinate in one litter box and defecate in the other - the two litter pans can be side by side. It's very important that the food and water dishes and the pet beds are kept away from the litter box to avoid any further issues. Since Smoky is neutered you have effectively reduced the risk of him marking his territory with urine or feces. If Smoky is close to a specific child in the family it might be worthwhile to have that child place a dirty t-shirt on Smoky's bed as this allows Smoky to smell his favorite human and may prevent future accidents. When cleaning up house soiling accidents I would strongly recommend that you use an enzymatic cleaner. They are environmentally friendly, very effective and when purchased in bulk they are quite cost effective. I use a product called Petzyme, the gallon sized jug costs roughly $22 CAN and so far it has proven to be safe on furniture, carpets and floors. I hope that this advice helps to eliminate the elimination issues from here on out! I am certainly willing to offer further suggestions if the litter box issues still persist.