Cat wees in bed

[EnormousBlisterPack]

Advice really needed

We got 2 brothers from rescue 3.5yrs ago. One was always very nervous & skittish. We took our time & built his confidence so much that he would sometimes sit beside me on the sofa for a cuddle. But he remains a bit skittish.

Our house is busy, one DD but lots of friends coming over & family to stay. He hates people other than us in the house & spends most of his time outdoors (generally always out he loves it).

But he keeps weeing on the damn beds! Sometimes it's obvious that he's gotten a bit scared but others for no apparent reason, I've spent ££££ on cleaning them I could've bought a house of new ones! He's just fine it again after 2 adult relatives to stay, they didn't bother him.

What can I do?? I'm seriously thinking he needs a different home

[NecklessMumster]

Has he been checked by the vet for kidney problems? Sometimes a symptom is weeing in the 'wrong' place. Rule out physical reasons then move to behavioural

[Jins]

Our ancient rescue cat pees on the sofa given half the chance.

In the last year she's developed some health problems and we put litter trays around the house. No sofa peeing since. I guess she always wanted a litter tray

[EnormousBlisterPack]

Nothing physical it's behavioral but we just haven't been able to stop it. We try to close bedroom doors but sometimes we forget or he can push it open. He's a happy cat otherwise but hates other people in our house. That we are not going to change. We don't force others on him, quite the opposite he gets totally left alone.

Any behavioral advice?

[EnormousBlisterPack]

He's only 4 as well so it's not an aging body thing.

[Wolfiefan]

Feliway
Get door closers?
Has he seen a vet?
Ensure he has a safe space to go if people are round. And try and limit how often that happens.
How many litter trays? Where? Does he use them?

[Wolfiefan]

Oh and is he neutered?

[RefuseTheLies]

Our cat poos on the couch when she’s unsettled, including when we have people staying over. She’s also quite skittish and doesn’t care to have her routine disrupted.

We put a strip of tinfoil on the couch and that stops it because she won’t walk on it.

[EnormousBlisterPack]

Done feliway when visitors here, didn't stop it. He does use the litter tray & is now fine when no guests in house. We're not limiting family & friends, no family live close so they must stay over when they visit.
We have litter tray downstairs in utility & in bathroom upstairs. He'll do it even after he just comes in from outside. He has a safe place but will choose to be outside mostly.

[EnormousBlisterPack]

Yep neutered before we adopted him.

Tin foil is a good idea

[Wolfiefan]

Has he seen a vet? My boy did this when on dried food and he got a UTI.
I would look to ensure he can't get into bedrooms.

[EnormousBlisterPack]

He's physically fine. Only happens now if we have people stay or a workman in so it's a definite behavioral issue

[Wolfiefan]

So restrict his access. Or restrict people staying as much as you can.

[EnormousBlisterPack]

Thanks for input, I do feel we've tried hard to resolve this.
We're not restricting family visits, they're only 4/5 times a year anyway. We do try to keep bedroom doors closed but with a young child & guests it does sometimes get forgotten.
Will give some more thought.

[girlwhowearsglasses]

I have two brother cats that came as young adults. I’m not sure they like each other at all - and long term we may need to find one a home for his own happiness

The one that is unhappy was weeing everywhere - in particular on washing in baskets, and on musical instrument cases

What has worked is taping open the cat flaps so they can’t be lazy and not go through (they don’t like them). Also wierdly I’ve removed the litter tray totally from the house. Since no litter tray indoors no wees and poos indoors - about three months now. We were cleaning wee up with white vinegar and bicarbonate daily before that.

I think it’s counter intuitive but worth considering

[EnormousBlisterPack]

That's an interesting strategy not to have a litter tray at all. My boys rarely use theirs as they're out a lot in the day so it's the odd time at night.

We don't have a cat flap & if they want to go out they come mew at me. I'm at home most of the day.

He's happiest when the house is quiet, DD is at school & he can stretch out in a sunny spot. We do have a busy house at times so other than move him to the garage when we have guests I'm not sure what else may work. Nor am I sure he'll know that's where he's supposed to be, plus it's freezing this time of year so not an option.

We have more visitors for new year so I need to come up with something.

[girlwhowearsglasses]

Hmmm.

I think your first move is to get a cat flap! Cat an come and go as he pleases then. They do like autonomy and if someone’s at your house and they feel trapped (even if you open the door for them happily) I can imagine a protest wee is likely.

[girlwhowearsglasses]

I also fed them outside at the start of trying to get them to use the cat flap - when it was still warm. They eat inside now but go outside to toilet

[EnormousBlisterPack]

I know cat flap would be better but our back door is triple glazed glass ££££ to get a flap done. Even looked at front door my builder said door would be compromised because of where letter box is. To move it & put in a flap also ££££ so that's why we haven't got one..,....

[EnormousBlisterPack]

I know I seem to be putting up barriers but I really have tried to sort this & have no more ideas

[Helena17]

Have him checked for any kidney problems. Maybe it's one reason why he wees in wrong places. If it shows he's healthy, then that's the time you teach him potty training.

[Wolfiefan]

You can apparently put a flap in an actual wall! Or shut bedroom doors.
And yes to a vet check.

[thecatneuterer]

I think a cat flap would also be the best first step. And yes, you can get them put in walls. I've had a few put in walls and they cost around £50 to do.

[EnormousBlisterPack]

Ahh hadn't thought about through a wall! Ok that might be the answer. Thanks!

[girlwhowearsglasses]

Yep you have to get special tune extensions to certain cat flaps - we have a cat ‘tunnel’ between two rooms.

Probably cheapest option. I honestly think this is first action

[girlwhowearsglasses]

Here you go

Here