Expert: Ali - 12/13/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Ali,
My 1 yo neutered male cat has started peeing on my dog beds. He also uses the litter box which is cleaned every other day so it's not due to a dirty litter box. It's also not medical as I have had that checked. I have very large dog beds because I have an Irish Wolfhound and 3 greyhounds so you can imagine how difficult it is to wash those daily! I am getting to the end of my rope so any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Allyson

ANSWER: Allyson,

I would like to start off by letting you know that I understand your frustration and that you feel as though you don't know what to do next. I am going to provide you with some options that will hopefully turn this issue around so that you and your cat can get back on speaking terms. I would suggest that you check into some of  my previous answers on inappropriate elimination, but I have taken the time to send you the short version so that you have an idea of what you are working with. Inappropriate elimination is a very common issue and I have answered numerous questions on this subject. There are a few recommendations that I always make in this situation. Firstly the cat should be completely assessed by a qualified veterinarian including blood and urine testing to rule out any medical causes of the inappropriate elimination. Once the medical side of things has been ruled out then you need to look at the litter boxes and whether or not anything in or surrounding them may be the reason for the litter box avoidance. Despite what many pet parents believe the cat isn't going to the toilet outside of the litter box just to tick you off, there's a reason for it, if you find the reason you can often find a solution that will work. Sometimes cats are sensitive to scents commonly found in kitty litters that are perfumed, if cats are sensitive to chemicals and scents scented cleaners, air fresheners or perfumes used in the area of the litter boxes they may opt to find other places to relieve themselves where they aren't going to be exposed to perfumes or scents. I usually recommend that pet parents try to avoid scented kitty litters, air fresheners, and scented cleaners around the litter boxes to avoid this problem. Some cats prefer specific types of litter boxes or specific fillers, you can experiment with both of these to see if this makes any kind of difference in the toileting issues you are experiencing. If your cat food is located near the litter box that can cause problems in the litter box as well - cats are very clean and don't like to eat where they use the toilet. Sometimes cats will eliminate consistently in the same spots, this can be remedied by using an enzymatic cleaner to permanently and completely remove any odor or stains left behind by organic matter such as urine, feces, blood, vomit, etc. I use an enzymatic cleaner called Petzyme which I purchase in the dog section by the gallon at Petsmart for roughly $25 CAN. I do think that it would be well worth placing a couple of litter boxes in the area of the dog beds to see if your cat will respond to that and go to the toilet in the appropriate place, if so you can gradually move the litter boxes away from the dog beds over time. If your dogs have access to the litter boxes it's quite possible that they have upset the cat with a disgusting but common habit - eating cat poop from the litter pan....If this is possible I would suggest that you find a way to make the litter pans inaccessible to the dogs while still allowing them to be used by the cats, a baby gate or two may be in order. You may want to try consulting with a holistic veterinarian - a vet that has been trained in conventional medicine as well as one or more alternative therapies like homeopathy, massage or acupuncture to name a few. I have seen incredible results with homeopathy when my family vet has used different remedies in different situations for my cats, it's certainly worth a try. You could also speak with your vet about a referral to an animal behaviorist, this would be an option that would work with your cat's behavior and trying to change it. Another option commonly recommended by vets to treat inappropriate toilet issues is using anti-depressant/anti-anxiety drugs to treat your cat. I normally recommend that pet parents use this option as a last resort and that they take the time to do their research prior to starting any pet on these powerful psychotropic drugs - the drugs used are often small doses of human anti-anxiety/anti-depressant medications.


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

QUESTION: Hi Ali,
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, none of those solutions are the answer. He has had a full vet work up and he uses the litter box more than he pees on the dog beds. And it's not the location because I can take one bed out of the dryer and while I am putting something else in and turn my back, he will run in and pee on the freshly cleaned bed that is on the laundry room floor. Of course, I now close the door behind me. It does seem to be only the dog beds in MY bedroom and not the ones in the living room. And the litter boxes are located in my bedroom so I wonder if that has something to do with it. ??? Hmmmmm. It really does seem to be behavioral. I know he is not stressed as he acts and thinks he is a dog. He's the most laid back cat anyone has ever met. Anyway, hoping that a little more information will help. Maybe my dogs just won't have the luxury of beds at night. :-(

Answer
Allyson,

I think that a change in location for either the dog beds or the litter boxes would likely settle things down some for the inappropriate elimination issue. This is a behavior that is changeable and your vet could recommend a behaviorist if moving the dog beds or litter boxes aren't an option. Your vet could also prescribe medication to help your cat's behavior change and reduce or eliminate the need that your kitty has to mark his territory.