Expert: Becky - 6/7/2006

Question
I'm not sure what is going on in my 6 month old burmese kitten's head- whenever she sees me after a period of absence, she is really happy to see me but then she urinates right in front of me. When I let her in my bedroom in the morning, she wants to urinate on my bed. When I get home from work, she urinates on the lounge where I always sit. She knows that I don't like her doing it, because if I catch her just before she does it, she runs off. I have read on some websites that cats do this to people they don't like, but I pretty sure she likes me because she always wants to sit on my lap and follows me around.
Has she got some sort of separation anxiety? I was wondering if I should get another kitten to keep her company? She always uses her litter box when I'm not around and she only ever urinates in inappropriate places, never number 2s.
Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated, I want my little kitten to be happy.

Answer
Hi Sam,

Honestly, I have never heard of a kitten doing this.  I know that puppies, when excited, will urinate because they can't hold it, but I have never known of a kitten to do this.  It does sound like some type of separation anxiety, or some type of psychological problem.  I agree that it doesn't sound like anything that she is doing out of spite. I would like to direct you to talk to someone who is more knowlegeable regarding behavioral problems.  I just do not feel qualified to really help you.  I do think another kitten would help, but someone who is more experienced in this field might be more helpful.  Check out the other "experts" and see if you can find one that specializes in animal behaviour and/or training.
I wish I could be of more help.

Good luck and God bless,
Becky