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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Indoor cat constantly weeing on beds

73 replies

Janus · 07/06/2022 09:54

I’m so upset I just don’t know what to do. Our cat is an indoor cat and is about 18 months old. This weeing thing started when she was about 9 months old, the vet thought initially it was an infection and she had a short course of antibiotics which helped but it started again a week or so after the short course. She then had a longer course, stopped but started again after about a week.
The vets took her in and ran a full wee diagnosis as we couldn’t get a wee sample ourselves. Discovered there was no infection and said she must be stressed in life. I don’t really understand how she can be as she has an adored life!! We have 4 bedrooms she floats between, she spends the night with one of our children so has company. She has cat towers, play toys, we plug in feliway etc.
When she was about one we had her neutered as she was coming into season every 2-3 weeks. Strangely the weeing nearly stopped, she just liked to do the very odd wee on the dog’s bed!!
About a month ago everything got much worse, she has weed on a bed nearly every night. I am constantly washing duvets and bedding and I don’t know how I can carry on. She now sleeps in our biggest bathroom with 2 litter trays. In the day I feel sorry for her so I let her back in the bedrooms but put a plastic sheet on the bed.
She is going to the vets again tomorrow but I think they’ll just tell me again she’s stressed.
I just wondered if anyone else as ever had this and it was something else? If so I could at least get the vets to check if anyone has any other ideas?
Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
Original poster
Janus · 07/06/2022 12:45

The building work is temporary, I cannot stop it. She is about 300ft away from the painting being done in a conservatory with all the doors and windows open, I’m in the next room and can’t smell a thing. She won’t be being poisoned Lizzie.
We have a large garden that backs on to a field at the back which I’m hoping she will love once we can safely introduce her to it. Our flip side is down our driveway is a busy road but have to hope she goes out the back and stays away from the front.
So in a month or so she can have a better life exploring that, the road is a chance we will have to take for her to have a happier life.

OP posts:
Original poster
Janus · 07/06/2022 12:49

I do have a minimum of 2 litter trays and we use what was used when she was with her mother as didn’t want to change things she was used to and as I say she uses it 90% of the time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Janus · 07/06/2022 12:51

Thanks stationary I will buy the blankets, I think it’s my children she’s most attached to so I will get them to sleep with it and then leave it next to her. Thanks.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 07/06/2022 13:02

Just to ask, you do know that cats purr when they're distressed as well don't you? It's their way of trying to calm themselves.

Fluffycloudland77 · 07/06/2022 13:04

Humour me and try an extra tray with ultra clumping. My Bengal was brutal, if his tray wasn’t perfect ie right litter, talcum scented, ankle depth and freshly wiped tray sides he’d wee on the splashback and hob.

My current cats indoor only, apparently she did used to go out but I just can’t imagine her outside. She runs under the spare bed if the doorbell rings. I think the local wildlife would bring HER home not the other way round.

Original poster
Janus · 07/06/2022 13:06

I can on Amazon ‘clean paws ultra fine grain’ cat litter, would you say that’s the type of thing?? Must be worth trying one tray with the one she’s used to and one with this??

OP posts:
Original poster
Janus · 07/06/2022 13:09

@gamerchick I go up to her and she lies back and lets me tickle her under the chin and even her belly (which I didn’t think cats liked?) and once I’ve been there for a couple of minutes she starts purring. Would that be a sign or does that sound normal?

OP posts:
GingerFigs · 07/06/2022 13:10

Hi OP. It sounds like you are trying hard to understand and help your cat so it's understandable that you sound a little defensive about some of the comments. People are genuinely trying to help but appreciate some of the comments are 'to the point'.

Keep in mind that although you think the building work is quiet and your cat is far away from it, that your cat has far far better hearing and sense of smell that you can imagine. You mention things escalated a month ago and it does coincide with building work so either they were doing something particularly disturbing to her or she has reached her limit.

Based on her history it sounds like a combination of stress weeing and habit. Both can be difficult to resolve but the latter especially so. You have multiple litter trays (I assume they are in quiet spots so she doesn't feel hassled or watched) so that's good. Have you tried different types of litter? Or putting the trays in alternative places? Maybe a tray with a cover? It could be trial and error.

Suggestions above about familiar blankets and using puppy pads are good. It's really hard to get rid of the smell once they start. If she has areas that are wee favourites then look at them and see if you can work out why - is it position (quiet), surface (soft and squashy) etc. a cat behaviourist maybe able to help you.

If a urine infection has been ruled out and no other potential health issues then you could try Feliway tablets that support the urinary system - they're cheap so worth a try. I had a cat who used to have weeing issues and his was caused by stress if I wasn't around (away for a night etc).

Could you maybe create a pen or catio in your garden if you're too close to a busy road to let out.

Your cat may have what looks like a great life to you and I'm sure she does but some are sensitive and small things can make them unsettled and have underlying stress which they can mask very well.

Good luck x

Fluffycloudland77 · 07/06/2022 13:12

Yes that’s the kind of thing.

MrsVeryTired · 07/06/2022 13:13

Vicky Halls is great for cat behaviour, there are books and a website. One of my previous cats was terrible for weeing in the wrong place. I suspect she was part siamese/oriental breed and just very sensitive.

Its very difficult. Make sure and wash bedding etc in Bio wash powder as the non-bio doesn't get it out properly and cat can still smell it.

Good luck!

MrsVeryTired · 07/06/2022 13:15

My cats all liked the wood pellet litter best

AnnaMagnani · 07/06/2022 13:18

I'd also strongly recommend the Vicky Halls books. They were incredibly helpful in sorting out my problem weeing cat.

Original poster
Janus · 07/06/2022 13:20

@GingerFigs thank you, honestly I feel I am trying very hard to find out what may help and I know the building work is one of the causes but that’s the only factor I can’t change at the moment - it has to be finished and then she can hopefully settle again. It’s not like we chose to do the building work now (that we’ve had permission for for 2+ years but couldn’t start until after Covid) to annoy her!
I am just looking at litter now, I am going to try some of the fine type as maybe she’d prefer that for wees, I am sure she is very particular about her litter tray. I clean them out at least 2 times a day so there’s nothing in it as she does prefer it that way. May well be she prefers the very soft sand type for wee and the wood fibre type for poo! Has to be worth a try!
Thanks for your kind words.

OP posts:
GingerFigs · 07/06/2022 13:24

I hope you find a solution. We love them but it's frustrating, especially when you're trying really hard. Once your building work is done hopefully she will settle (and you can't put your life on hold for her, these things need to get done, mine hate the hoover but it doesn't mean I don't hoover, well maybe not as often as I should!!).

The Vicky Halls book mentioned above def worth a read too.

Cats...remember we are their servants Wink

Original poster
Janus · 07/06/2022 13:25

@MrsVeryTired and @AnnaMagnani i will look at her site now, thank you.
I didn’t know feliway did tablets too. I forgot to say someone once said to add rescue remedy to her water so I’m trying that too. She has a water fountain as she likes running water rather than a bowl so I bought the spray rescue remedy and will put one pump of that in too.

OP posts:
Albgo · 07/06/2022 13:28

OP, big hugs and please ignore the judgey responses telling you you're cruel and should let your cat out.

Original poster
Janus · 07/06/2022 13:32

@Albgo thank you, to be honest I think we started off over protective and worried so much about the road at the front, couldn’t bear the idea of her going near it. I’m hoping she may just like to explore the garden and not go farther once we can let her out.
Just also remembered she is on a special urinary food diet too, forgot to say that earlier.

OP posts:
Original poster
Janus · 07/06/2022 13:33

@GingerFigs I love ‘we are their servants’ it’s very true!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 07/06/2022 13:41

I lost mine on the road hence the indoor puss now. I have window screens up and she sits by the open window giving the cat across the road evils.

We only moved here because it’s a nice quiet cup de sac and he was very street wise.

GingeryLemons · 07/06/2022 13:41

Female cats dodon'tend to roam far, so theres every chance she won't go out the front, especially if the back is full of safe and exciting spaces. Good luck, OP. They can't speak, so it's up to is to interpret theory behaviour, but it isn't always easy!

TheHallouminati · 07/06/2022 13:45

Wondering if dcat is weeing on the beds because she prefers to wee at height? Feels safer maybe? Just a consideration.
All the best op.

Albgo · 07/06/2022 13:50

@Janus we've had a cat die horribly after getting run over. Our current kitty is an indoor one for this reason. Prior to that I fostered cats and they all had to stay in - some just for their own safety and others as they had FIV. There are plenty of valid reasons for not letting a cat out. x

Pestoisthebesto · 07/06/2022 13:51

Could she have anxiety? One of my indoor cats gets really bad anxiety and it's worse when the seasons change (bloody annoying in the UK when we never know what the weather is doing) our vet gave him some medication which helped him dramatically, he's gone from weeing on the sofa every night to only doing it when something drastic changes or when fireworks are set off, we now get him some tablets called cystophan from pets at home.

pearly1792 · 07/06/2022 13:54

Is she weeing in the same spot on the beds. Try changing the mattress and all the bedding on one of them and see if she still wees on that bed.

She maybe re weeing on places she can smell her wee even though you've to human standards got rid of the smell.

goodplanbatman · 07/06/2022 13:54

Has anyone suggested Royal Canin Calm dry food? This made a massive difference to my cat who was stress weeing.