Help! How do I stop my 12 week old kitten peeing on my son's bed?!

[Bicnod]

We have a gorgeous 12 week old kitten who is usually very good at using her litter tray.

However, she has formed a habit of peeing on my son's bed - it's happened three times now over the last week.

We are trying to keep the door shut, but she snuck in there this morning and peed on his bed again.

Is there any sort of spray we can buy to deter her? Or any other ideas? We are keeping the doors to the bedrooms shut at the moment, but with three children in the house this is never going to be a long-term solution...

Obligatory photo of sleepy cuddly one attached.

TIA.

[Fluffycloudland77]

either she’s got a urine infection OR her litter is too rough for her paws and she’s in so much discomfort walking on it she’s soiling in the house instead.

[Bicnod]

Thanks for replying...

She's still using the litter tray for pees and poos - we use the wooden pellets - the same ones she had at that the rescue centre - so I don't think it's to do with not liking the litter or the litter tray.

She's not in any sort of discomfort walking (she's dancing around like a crazy kitten and playing as much as ever) and still eating and drinking fine, no indication of any discomfort at all, so don't think it's a urine infection either.

It's like she thinks my son's bed is her second litter tray...

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

Are you getting rid of the smell totally. Otherwise she will keep returning as she can smell her wee there and think she’s it’s the right place.

Bio washing powder is good for getting rid of the enzymes.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Wood pellets are very hard on soft paws that aren’t hardened from going out and walking on rough surfaces. It’s widely used in rescues and catterys for economy.

Try a non clumping kitten litter. They evolved using soft soil to dig in, cat litters a very new invention, and they’ll seek out a substrate that mimics that softness.

Mine would use wood pellets in the cattery but wouldn’t have stood for them at home.

The important thing to remember is she isn’t doing it out of being dirty or naughty, there’s a problem that makes her avoid her tray.

[HappyHammy]

Shes a beauty. Is she oriental with those ears. Like pp says try a different litter.

[Bicnod]

We'll try another litter then in case she doesn't like the wood pellets. I'm slightly scared that using a different litter will put her off using the tray (she is still using it for most of her wees and poos at the moment) but will give it a go.

I have done a bit of googling and apparently cats don't like citronella so I might also make my own citronella spray for my son's bed to try and put her off going on it - has anyone else tried this with any success?

Good tip re: bio detergent - we've only got non-bio so I'll get some bio powder next time I'm shopping.

@HappyHammy - no idea what breed she is - she is a mix I think! She is a gorgeous cat - her ears go into bat mode when she's on the prowl - she's very playful and we're all completely besotted with her...

[Bunnymumy]

Rabbits do this too. Because the bed smells like you and they want to mark you as theirs xD

Not sure it's the same thing for a young kitten though...

[Fluffycloudland77]

Kitten litter

This ones widely available.

When she’s older an ultra clumping ones very soft on paws. If kittens eat clumping litter it can cause a lot of damage.

[Bicnod]

@Bunnymumy well DS is her favourite so that might well be the case!

@Fluffycloudland77 - will try that one, thank you!

[thecatneuterer]

Where is the tray? Is it on the same floor as the bedroom? If not, then you need another tray upstairs.

[Fluffycloudland77]

How is she getting on?

[Bicnod]

Well she pooed on his bed this morning so not great 😂 thanks for asking.

Poor DS left his door open accidentally.

Citronella spray made no difference clearly.

I had planned to put another litter tray in his room but it and the litter don't arrive until this afternoon so plan was to keep doors shut until then.

If litter tray in his room works will try and move tray slowly to upstairs bathroom...

[Mumoblue]

Found this video, it might help.

Is it possible she might be stressed about something around that area? Can she see other cats out his window or something?

It could be a more emotional rather than physical reason. My cat has only ever gone outside the little box twice and both times it was Fireworks Night, so fireworks literally scare the crap out of her.

Hope you're able to figure the reason out!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Yes that’s less than ideal behaviour!.

[speakout]

Don't let the cat in the bedroom.

[Elieza]

Keep the bedroom door shut and put a litter tray outside it? You can gradually move it at a rate of six inches a day to where you want it to be.
Or leave the bedroom door open but put something across the whole bed so it’s not comfy to pee on, like a load of books or an old table too (the kind of thing we all have hanging around, not!) so it’s no longer a soft absorbent surface. Litter tray on the floor near it if she wants to use it. Gradually move the tray outside the door and to wherever you want it. Once they start scenting somewhere it’s hard to stop them.

Little minx.

[Bicnod]

We've propped the mattress on its side so she can't pee on it and moved all the bedding out of the room and put the litter tray (with a tiny bit of peed on litter from her downstairs tray on it) right next to the bed. All other doors to all other bedrooms are shut... Fingers crossed she goes in the tray at some point today...

I know keeping the doors shut seems like the easiest option but with three young children in the house it isn't a long term solution...

[Fluffycloudland77]

It’s a good job their cute isn’t it?.

[Bicnod]

Yes indeed 😂

[Bicnod]

Butter wouldn't melt...

[Elieza]

Aww kitten love 💕

[Didicat]

She’s a stunner! What age did she leave her mum? I would have multiple trays for her. My current cat only likes the paper based litter. Might be worth getting a few types to try.

Is her litter tray well away from her food and water? They don’t like going where they eat, a bit like you wouldn’t eat a sandwich on the toilet.

[Fluffycloudland77]

How’s it going?.

[Bicnod]

She was 8 weeks when she came to live with us. She was from a rescue and they always rehome the kittens at 8 weeks - she was the last in the litter.

We've put a tray upstairs in DS2's room and have been tipping his mattress on its side and removing his bedding each morning. She hasn't used the litter tray upstairs yet but she hasn't had any accidents either (all happening in the downstairs tray).

Currently keeping all other bedroom doors shut but will start reopening them if/when she finally uses the upstairs litter tray!

She's not been outside yet (we're waiting until she's spayed) so I think that will help as well when it finally happens.

She's quite chilled, here she is with DD...