Cat keeps weeing on the bed!!

[ToothlessIsMySpiritAnimal]

I need advice please!

I have a 16 month old tabby girl (and tortie sister), and she's always been timid - only comes to me when I'm sat in my usual spots, avoids everyone else. Seems to actively dislike DH, and keeps weeing on his side of the bed. Every few months she does it randomly for a few days, and this morning I have had to entirely strip the bed again for the third day in a row.

No UTI, I always use enzyme cleaner, vinegar and water and bicarb, but I can still smell it. The mattress is just over a year old, and it's getting ruined.

Does anyone have any tips how I can stop this happening, and also how to get the smell out?

The first question is how many litter trays do you have and where are they located?

I have a very large one downstairs, big kitchen and tucked away near the back door, away from food. They mostly go outside so hardly use the tray in the summer.

Do you think it would be worth getting one for upstairs?

Keep the cats out of your room. Mine are allowed everywhere except bedrooms.

Difficult, I have young DC and an incredibly forgetful DH who keep leaving the door open, and also I don't like sleeping with the door shut as the room is small and gets very stuffy.

Our cat used to do this. In her case, we discovered that it was when the utility room door had been shut so she couldn't get to her litter tray. She doesn't like to wee outside! We got a cat flap for the utility room door so she was never shut out, and tried to kept the bedroom door shut for a few months to break the habit. She doesn't do it now.

Has she been spayed?

But yes, if you are confident that the cat is never shut in the house and unable to access either the garden or her kitchen litter tray, then I would consider a second litter tray upstairs and see if that helps. I think the usual advice to have at least as many litter trays as you have cats, as they can be territorial about areas of the house and if the kitchen litter tray has been claimed by her sister, she may not feel comfortable using it.

Thanks for all the responses - I shall invest in a second litter tray.

And yes, she was spayed at about 8 months as I recall.

You say the mattress is getting ruined - is there cat urine in the mattress? If so surely you have to get rid of it? I don't think there is any way to get urine out of a mattress, that's why mattress protectors exist.

I suggest that you keep bedroom door shut during the day (and if your DH leaves it open perhaps he could deal with the cleaning up) and at night if you want the door open you could restrict access to the landing/stairs ie keep a downstairs door shut.

How do you know it's not a UTI btw?

AnotherEmma - we use a mattress protector, but I think some has still gotten through. I'm going to use a carpet cleaner on it to see if that helps, otherwise yes I will have to get rid.

I know it's not a UTI as I have taken the cat to the vet.

My post about keeping them out of the bedroom and not being able to keep the door shut also said that I can't sleep with the door shut because the room is too small and becomes stuffy. We also have young DC who leave the door open and I like to be able to hear them at night so this isn't really an option. Getting my DH to clean up isn't going to solve the issue.

All I was asking for is advice how to deter and clean.

The general advice for cats is to have one litter tray more than you have cats. To be fair, we have two and only two litter trays, but you might find having one more tray helps.

Did you actually read my post?

But surely, she isn't doing it when you are actually in bed at night so it doesn't matter if the door is open then. You need to get another litter tray and keep the door closed when you aren't using the room. And yes, if your DH is leaving the door open he needs to clean it up.

RE: cleaning - you could try steaming, but if it's soaked into the mattress it's probably a lost cause.

AnotherEmma yes I did, not sure exactly what your point is.

And yes, she has actually peed on the bed whilst I have been trying to have a lie in, so again, I am unable to keep the door closed the whole time.

I am going to try steaming, and I will replace the mattress if it doesn't work. As we have the protector, I don't think it's soaked right through so hopefully I can sort it as I cannot afford to replace the mattress really - it's only a year old, and I want to stop this happening again.

And thanks Violet - I've ordered another tray

Yes it was clear that you missed my point entirely

Good luck

Fair enough

Get a protector with a waterproof bottom.

On my list Elektra

Just need to research and find one that doesn't feel plasticky.