Advice needed please - cat weeing on sofa

[Twinstar29]

Hello!
I'd be very grateful if anyone could give me some advice on how to stop my cat weeing on my sofa.

I discovered today that he's been weeing between the two sofa cushions, probably for the past few weeks (there was a biiiig stain under the cushions).

I've only had him since February, but this is relatively new. I can't shut him out of the room as it's open plan and has no doors.

Does anyone have advice on how to stop him doing this?

Failing that, can anyone recommend a waterproof sofa cover? (I've seen some on Amazon but the reviews say they're not really waterproof).

Thank you...

Have you taken him to the vets to be checked over?

Yes, they checked to see if it was a UTI but didn't find anything.

Is he neutered? Is his litter box kept clean? Perhaps he doesn't like the kind of litter you buy. Is he sharing the litter box with any other cat/cats?

He is neutered. He's the only cat in the house. He does use his litter tray, it seems he's using the sofa as well! I'll try changing the litter more often

Ps thanks both for your replies

My first plan of attack would be to keep the litter box very, very clean. Some cats get very distressed over a dirty box. I would also get a second litter box for another area of the house, if possible. Are you using scoopable litter? It's mush easier to keep clean than traditional litter.

Thanks, I'll try both those things. What's scoopable litter? Is it like clumping litter?

I would get a second litter box, put it in a different part of the house and perhaps try different litter (wood pellets are good) and, very importantly, make sure it's kept clean.

For the sofa try Simple Solution from Pets at Home and maybe, just temporarily, cover it in a big sheet of plastic (you can get from B&Q) whenever you're not there so as to get him out of the habit.

Yes, clumping litter.

Are you absolutely sure the stain is cat wee? I'd have expected it to be much more smelly if he's been doing it for 2 weeks. Are you sure someone hasn't spilt something?

We have a Male cat who will wee in random places for fun - he’s been fully checked over. It generally relates to him having his nose out of joint for something (dinner being late is one of them, his favourite person being away is another). Weirdly he managed to wee on beds and mattresses and it didn’t smell - despite the fact litter trays smell very strongly to me the second they’re used. Anyway you need something to neutralise the existing scent - don’t use normal cleaning g products look for a cat wee specific one. And then prevent access and hope you can break the habit. However preventing access to the sofa may result in him sneaking off somewhere else instead...

I had this with one of mine. The only thing that actually stopped it was putting thing on the sofa and blocking her favourite spot. Changing to a leather sofa made it easier to keep clean.

My solution for this problem with my elderly cat (who doesn't use the box as often as she should due to being bullied by other cats): Wait until cat dies and then toss sofa and get a new one.

Not sure what to do if cat is under 16....

@DulciUke I really hope that's not the only option here!

@Toddlerteaplease, @GookledyGobb, @thecatneuterer, @Aquamarine1029, thank you for the advice, I'll head out tomorrow for Simple Solution, clumping litter and something plastic to keep him off the sofa for a while.

@HardAsSnails I'm fairly sure no one has spilled anything, there's only me and DH. I know what you mean though, it's not as smelly as I'd have expected.

I got waterproof sheets to put on he sofa. Didn't want to use puppy pads as thought it might encourage her. Tried all the sprays and they didn't work.

If it's a behavioural protest-pee, a Feliway plug in might also help. Humans cant smell it but cats smell calming pheromones. Our cat peed on everything after we moved house and it really helped