Cats have an instinct to mark their territory, and it can often be difficult to understand why they choose the wrong spots.
In this article, we’re providing some useful advice on the subject of the cat marking behavior problems, including how to identify if your pet has a problem in the first place and what you can do if they do mark inappropriately in certain situations.
Why might my cat pee on my bed?
There are many reasons why your cat may have started urinating in strange places around the house, including:
- Stress: Cats can be very easily stressed, leading to inappropriate urination or even feline lower urinary tract disease otherwise known as idiopathic cystitis. The exact reason for this disorder is unknown, but overweight and predominantly indoor cats are at higher risk of developing it, as are stressed.
- Inappropriate litter tray: Some cats won’t use a tray in a busy location if it’s the wrong size/shape or shared with multiple other cats in the house.
- Urinary crystals or stones: Some cats can develop crystals in their urine which can progress to stones (uroliths). The irritation that these cause can make cats want to urinate more often and in strange places.
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) – urinary tract infections are uncommon in cats but are still a possible cause of cystitis (inflammation of the urinary tract) or inappropriate urination.
- Kidney disease – Cats with poorly functioning kidneys often drink more than normal and therefore urinate more than normal too, which could lead to urine accidents
- Diabetes – This condition causes an increase in thirst, which could lead to more urination, plus the abnormal level of sugar in the urine makes it more likely for a cat to get a urinary tract infection
What might my vet do?
Your vet will perform a physical examination to detect any health issues that might be leading your cat to act differently than what is considered normal.
They will look for abnormalities like their hydration level, weight, and heart rate. After performing these checkups, they may suggest a blood sample of your cat to look at organ function.
A biochemistry and hematology test commonly involves checking out the organ functions such as the kidney or liver functionality and blood sugar level.
They will also make sure there are no signs of possible infections or inflammation towards the cells in your pet’s body, contributing to the observed behavior changes.
If these tests come back as negative, then it may be that your cat has a behavioral or stress issue.
What should I do to stop my cat from peeing on my bed?
Suppose your vet has ruled out underlying health problems and your cat has no significant past medical history. In that case, you should consider whether there has been any environmental change recently that may potentially be the cause.
Changes such as moving home or sudden disruption in their routine can make cats feel anxious.
- New pets in the household
- A new baby Pets or new family member moving into the house
- A cat house move
Manage the stress!
For cats experiencing a stressful situation, calming pheromones can be quite helpful. For example, they are particularly useful when you are unable to remove the source of that stress;
such as a very skittish cat or temperamental cat who doesn’t like being touched or handled. You can purchase these from pet supply stores in either spray form or as an air freshener for your home.
If your cat has been diagnosed with a bladder problem, then there will be supplements sold at medical supply stores for you to use for UTI relief because prevention is very important!
Jealousy and the Single Cat
As everyone knows, cats and dogs can be very jealous creatures. They never want to share you with anyone or anything else. This jealousy, in turn, manifests itself in a very unpleasant way – that is, the cat pees on things belonging to you.
Again, it is the act of marking its territory, and it’s trying to claim ownership over your belongings which it looks at as its own only. Some people say that even though animals have feelings and emotions, it does not necessarily mean they have any idea of the consequences for what they did so.
It could be that there’s no intent by any animal to harm us, but I would argue this is much less likely when it comes to cats or dogs because we’ve had this kind of relationship with them for longer than some other animals (like a cat for example).
Stress and High Anxiety
Peeing outside of the litter box can also occur if your cat feels anxious or stressed. Sometimes this brings about changes in their eating habits as well.
If one notices that a change has occurred, it’s important to talk about it with your veterinarian and determine whether these changes could be related to something more serious.
Stressful changes in the household can sometimes lead to cats getting into other people’s belongings and overeating. And because most cats hate change, look out for sudden turmoil in the household that may be causing stress – such as a new pet or baby being introduced.
Cats tend not to like sudden changes, so you should question what’s going on since some of these changes could very well be something your cat wasn’t expecting!
Conclusion:
If you suspect that one of your family’s pets is sick, even if it is just a little bit, we strongly urge you to take them to the veterinarian ASAP. It’s important not to miss anything regarding their health.
It can be difficult to identify any disease symptoms unless they are blatant enough, such as lethargy and lack of appetite, because cats and dogs are notoriously good at hiding illness from humans!
However, there may be other symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, which could be signs of something more serious.
Common causes might include:
- Food allergies.
- Urinary tract infections in older cats.
- Even thyroid issues in older and younger felines.
- So if you notice any strange behavior or signs whatsoever, it is vital for your cat’s welfare that seeks expert veterinary advice!
