| Inappropriate elimination remains one of the most frustrating problems cat parents face. When it comes to urinating on personal possessions, like your clothes or your bed, it seems to strike a different chord and feel like a personal attack. First, please know, your cat is not peeing on your bed out of spite. There is no research to show that cats or dogs display the spite emotion. But there are many other reasons why your cat is displaying this behavior, with stress and insecurity being the most likely. Let’s dive in. |
Rule Out Medical Reasons First
You can do all the work and training you want, but if your cat is having a medical problem, you will never fix the problem unless you address their health. Medical reasons cats go outside the litter box include:
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) – Cats often will go in and out of the box, strain to pee, pee in more tiny puddles as opposed to one giant puddle, or even have reddish/brownish urine because there is blood present.Your vet can diagnose a UTI through a urinalysis, and will sometimes suggest a urine culture for confirmation on what type of bacteria is present. The treatment is an antibiotic.
- Bladder Stones & Crystals – In some cats, minerals stick together in the kidneys and form crystals or stones. They can be extremely uncomfortable for your cat, causing inflammation of the bladder, pain, and even cause a blockage down the road. Because your cat is uncomfortable, they may pee in random areas of the home.Stones and crystals are typically diagnosed through blood work and a urinalysis. If stones are suspected, your vet will want to do a radiograph to confirm. Treatment is a diet to dissolve the crystals or stones, but sometimes, surgery is needed to remove them.
- Chronic Kidney Disease – Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is when the kidneys lose function over time (it often comes with age). Cats with CKD, even in early stages, have increased thirst and urination. Although it can appear in younger cats, it’s more common in older cats.Seniors spend even more time sleeping than younger cats, and when they wake up, they may have to go so badly, they don’t have enough time to make it to their box. Kidney disease is diagnosed through a blood test, comparing the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) to the creatinine.There is no cure for kidney disease, but it can be managed with fluids (subcutaneous or intravenous), kidney-specific diet (low in protein, phosphorus, and sodium), oral medications, and some other treatments.
- Diabetes – Cats with diabetes have excessive urination and thirst, and they are usually obsese. This combination will make it difficult for your cat to wake from a deep nap, realize they have to pee, and quickly make it off the bed. Your vet will diagnose diabetes after viewing a blood panel and urinalysis with high levels of glucose. The best treatment is insulin therapy.
