Cat peed on daughters bed while we were on vacation

[Tanktop]

Title says it all really. Our eldest daughter stayed home while we were on vacation and didn't realise the cat had been using our youngest daughter's bed as a litter tray. The tray wasn't as clean as I usually keep it but was no way near filthy. I think she was left alone more often and DD did have lots of friends over for sleepovers. All fussed over the cat. She was still using the try to poop in and has never peed outside her tray before. Does anyone have any idea why she would have done this. We are all going on vacation in October and my MIL has offered to cat sit so any advice on how we can try to avoid this happening again. Obviously we can keep all bedroom doors closed but she may then pee on our sofa. Also don't want my MIL stressed while we are away. So upset as it has really put a damper on our return from holiday.

All the best op, accidents happen

Stress. Classic response from an unhappy cat..
Has she stopped now you're home?

Huh?

Your cat was in the company of strangers, relaxed rules and pee'd on the bed.

Wash the bedding.

Crack on.

Stressed as you were away. I don't think it's a big deal in the grand scheme of things

Thanks,. I realise it was a little break in her normal routine but as my eldest daughter was staying home I hoped she would be fine. Bed is all clean now and so far no more pees outside the tray. My main concern was how to try to avoid this happening in the future. I hate to think of her being upset or stressed so was looking for any useful tips. I know it's no big deal in the grand scale of things but not great returning home after a 12 hour trip to stripping and cleaning a bed.

Plug in Feliway?

It will be stress.

Some suggestions for next time:

• make sure the litter tray is really clean before you head out on holiday, and make sure it's being cleaned daily by whoever is cat sitting
• if your cat uses the tray very regularly then having two trays is preferable
• create somewhere kitty can sleep while you're away where she feels safe and comforted
• use a Feliway plug in to help relieve stress and anxiety
• consider getting someone she is familiar with to stay in the house rather than having someone just coming in to feed her

@BoxOfCats op's daughter stayed home

My cat poops in random places when we're away but it's the lesser of 2 evils as he's even worse at a cattery

My cat did this when we went on holiday and left her with my son. She adores my son but was really stressed when we arrived home. She had peed on the bed so badly it went through a new mattress. I don’t know why she did this on that occasion. We had recently moved house so that may have been the issue, combined with us being away . She’s never done it again. We now lock our bedroom door when we are away.

@Beamur @BoxOfCats do I need a plug in for all rooms or just the one where she sleeps most.

If your daughter had lots of friends over who were petting the cat, then to your cat it was strangers, lots of noise and possibly unwanted attention and stress.

Possibly the younger DD’s room was the only place no one went into, so was the safest place to go for a pee.

I would have thought if your MIL is cat sitting alone that would be easier for the cat.

Just make sure she knows to keep litter tray scrupulously clean. Perhaps put something absorbent on the sofa, when your Mil isnt around.

Depends on the size of your house. But they cover several rooms.
I have 3 cats who don't love each other! I use the multi cat one and it's very helpful. It works best on my very highly strung cat the best thankfully! I put a fresh one in a day or two ago and she's been walking around looking vaguely stoned and happy 😁

Thanks @Beamur . I will get a few just to be on the safe side. Great advice from all. She is our first cat and has been super at using her tray etc so just feel crap that she was upset and maybe overwhelmed with the attention while we were gone. MIL loves her so we know she will be in safe hands for our next holiday. Cat is certainly delighted to have us home. 😻

It's really not unusual behaviour given the circumstances. Different people in the house, etc.
I wouldn't worry about it too much, she's probably going to stop now everything is back to usual.

Stressful situation for the cat - massive change to it's normal routine, load of new people in the house, familiar people not there, own litter bin probably not that nice.

Cat goes to somewhere it feels v safe to do a wee. Classic stress response from cat.

Next time you go away cat may be happier in cattery than it's own home but weird. My cats definitely do better there, last attempt with my mum cat sitting was a disaster.

@AnnaMagnani that's interesting. I had considered a cattery but was worried she would think we had given her away. She is a 100% house cat due to her bred so is only familiar with our home. Does your cat settle back in easily when they come back home.

The chilled cat barely notices he's been away.

The stressed cat shouts at us for an evening and that's it, she's fine.

We let my DM cat sit for the last holiday instead of cattery and it was awful. They know my DM, she knows their routine and despite this stressed cat hid in a cupboard for a week. She got better for week 2 but by the time we returned she had full on feline urinary tract disease.

2 months on she's still on meds and we have to watch her behaviour like a hawk or the bladder symptoms come back.

Never again.