Cat randomly weed in bedroom

[crimson72]

I was woken up this morning by a trickling water sound. I switched on my lamp, only to see my cat spraying in an open suitcase in the corner of the room! I think he knew he’d done something bad as when I tried to stroke him he ran off (he’s normally very affectionate).

The cat is male, about 2 years old and has a cat flap to come and go as he pleases (although we do shut him in at night and give him full run of the house). He also had two litter trays downstairs which he’s trained to use.

In the year that we’ve had him, he’s never done anything like this before - does anyone know what could have caused it? I’m reluctant to let him upstairs again now...

Vets. When mine started doing this it was a kidney infection. Course of treatment and it all stopped. Was bloody horrible though!

Same here Teddy, our cat started randomly weeing in the kitchen sink even though she had a clean litter tray just a few feet away. We took her to the vets and she was duagnised with an infection. After a course of daily injections she was fine.
Get him to the vet OP, I hope he's ok.

Just to add that we were given a new cat bed by a neighbour the other day. She said her cat used it a handful of times but didn’t really take to it, so she thought it might be nice for our cat. Could that be anything to do with it? The bed is downstairs in the lounge though, so quite far away from where he weed. But it’s the only thing I can think of that has recently changed in the house.

Thanks for the replies. He actually went to the vets two weeks ago for his booster jabs. I’m taking him back in a week’s time for a follow-up appointment so could ask then, if that’s not too far away?

Well he might not like the catbed due to the scent of your neighbours cat, he could be marking his territory but I'd still say a visit to the vet is the way to go.

I’m taking him back in a week’s time for a follow-up appointment so could ask then, if that’s not too far away? I'd go sooner, if possible. If it us an infection he may be in a bit of discomfort/pain.

Ok, thanks DBN. How do they diagnose a kidney infection - will I need a wee sample? His diet is a mix of wet and dry food - should I cut down on the dry? (I read it can cause urinary problems in male cats...)

Also - could it be that one half of the open suitcase sort of resembled a (rather large) litter tray in shape and he got confused? Just trying to cover all bases!

I dont think our vet did any tests (I was waiting outside) but I know we didnt take a sample. According to my husband, the vet examined her, took into account the change in toilet behaviour, diagnosed an infection. Whether it was kidney, I'm not 100% sure but the injections certainly did the trick.
As for the suitcase being mistaken for a litter tray..... possible, but I think rather improbable. Where had the suitcase been? Could it have another animals scent on it?

Sorry, I missed the bit about food. All 4 of our cats are on dried food and (aside from that one time) have never had any problems. The vet didn't ask what she was eating or tell us to give wet food.

DBN I don’t think the suitcase would have had another animal’s scent on it. There is also a tiny pile of soil/leaves outside on our patio (which I haven’t gotten round to clearing up yet) and he started trying to use that as a litter tray the other day, which I thought was a little odd. He does use the flowerbeds though so I suppose that is understandable.

Using the leaves could just be because he is used to using the garden, in his mind it could be the same thing.
The weeing inside though is not normal behaviour so I'd definitely just get him checked out, for your sake as well as his because if he continues to wee in inappropriate places (through illness) it can be difficult to completely get rid of the smell and this could attract him to do it again in the future.

Cats do that if they feel unsettled about another cat being in their territory. The cat bed you mention may be the problem.

My cat has never once used a tray (he's got one, available 24/7, all clean, just in case. He goes out when he likes.

I came home from shopping one day to a terrible smell - the cat had shat on my husband's clean t-shirt! It was folded-up on a pile of washing. I didn't tell him off (the cat!). I think he'd been upset as a new cat moved into the neighbourhood recently.

Thanks Lynne. I’m getting rid of the cat bed as I’m not taking any chances!

My vet took bloods to diagnose a kidney infection. It was very quick.

Cat has done another wee and also a poo downstairs this morning, next to where the neighbour's cat's basket was (which I've now thrown out). I've no idea what could be unsettling him or causing this (other than the basket) but I've booked an appointment with the vet.