Help, my kitten has started peeing outside the litter tray

[AC14MUZ]

My 5 month old kitten has started randomly peeing outside the litter tray, she doesn't do it every time just now and again. Saturday night she peed on out bed and this morning on our sofa. She has peed on out sofa twice before in the last few weeks. There are two litter trays in our flat which get cleaned out daily and the litter changed throughout the week. Food and water are in a separate room. We have another kitten who is absolutely fine and a 2 year old cat. They all seem to get on with each other and play. They are all indoor cats. My husband is talking of getting rid of her because we have a baby on the way but that would break my heart!! Any advice please??

[FuzzyWizard]

Are the litter trays in the same place? For three cats you really should have four litter trays, ideally in different rooms.

[jwww]

Getting rid of her is a complete over reaction. Has she been spayed if not this could be a cause as she's marking what she pees on as hers. Are the litter trays clean? Mine won't go in the litter tray of its due a clean because cats are fussy like that! Also don't clean it with house hold products as they contain ammonia which will attract your kitty to pee there again, use special animal safe disinfectants designed for the purpose!

[jwww]

Didn't read the bit about how you cleaned the litter trays that doesn't sound like an issue. But the other poster is right you should have a minimum of 4 litter trays in different rooms if all your cats are indoors. the reason is when they do to the toile they're leaving there scent of your other two cats are using the trays they're essentially marking them as "there's" so your problem kitty might feel she has no where to go to the loo! Also try giving her treats after she uses the litter tray as a positive reinforcement :)

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Not enough litter trays. Also, give them a good sniff from a few inches away. A weekly refresh of the litter may well not be sufficient.

Also if cat has uti then may come to associate litter trays with pain, maybe a wee vet checkup would be a good idea?

[AC14MUZ]

Thanks all, we do a complete litter change at least 2/3 times a week. Trip to the vets is booked, we will try the treats as positive reinforcement and get another litter tray for the flat. I really hope we can crack this! I just want her to be happy and ok

[Wolfiefan]

Perhaps she's stressed being in a multi cat household. Try different litter in one tray? Use one with a hood? (They like privacy!) ditto put tray in quiet place and away from food.

[Findmuckery]

My elderly cat sometimes is a bit off with his aim so I put puppy training pads around the tray to absorb any spillage

[Findmuckery]

Ah sorry just read she did a wee on your bed. Some cats do this if the litter tray has been used. They seem to want it pristine

[Weedsnseeds1]

Will letting them outside be a possibility once spayed and old enough? That could help

[AmberNectarine]

Mine did this. Took me a day or two to realise he didn't like the litter tray liners I was using. Have given those up and he is good as gold again.

My previous cat was fastidious and needed the litter changed very regularly.

[AC14MUZ]

We have litter trays with And without liners so she has a choice. She peed on the bed again this morning and from what I can tell, judging by how much she peed, she had been holding it in since she previously peed on the bed a few days ago she uses the litter tray to poop though. I'm taking her to the vet tonight but she seems to have a preference for peeing on soft fluffy surfaces. She seems happy enough with the other cats, plays with them, purrs a lot and happy to have fuss from us, just really wants to pee on my bed!

[FuzzyWizard]

Try puppy pads perhaps?

[AC14MUZ]

Good call, I'll pop to pets at home tonight and pick some up, can't hurt