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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / August 2006Kitten peeing on my dog's bed
We recently got two new kittens (previous kitten had run away/got lost) . They are both 3 months old and are spayed/neutered female and male. We also have a 4 year old lab. We started noticing an odd smell in our family room the last while and couldn't figure out where it was coming from. We have an dark area rug down there and the dog bed is there too. Then one day I happened to catch my male kitten peeing on the dog's bed. I immediately scolded him and took him to the litterbox (which he uses all the time) and replaced the dog's bed, thinking that was the source of the smell. It didn't go away so we took the area rug outside to clean it and when we turned it over there were several pee stains all over it. So now, we've left the rug out of the room, altogether, and put a new dog bed down and this morning I find cat pee all over the dog bed again. How do I stop this behaviour?? This is quite a relaxed, loveable kitten that doesn't seem stressed. Thanks for any advice. He needs to see a vet to rule out a urinary tract infection. For two kittens you need two boxes. Gail > We recently got two new kittens (previous kitten had run away/got lost) > . They are both 3 months old and are spayed/neutered female and male. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > dog bed again. How do I stop this behaviour?? This is quite a relaxed, > loveable kitten that doesn't seem stressed. Thanks for any advice. > He needs to see a vet to rule out a urinary tract infection. For two kittens > you need two boxes. > Gail I've heard the "2 boxes for 2 cats" idea before but I've seen them both using the same box. I've even seen them using it together at the same time. If he has an infection, wouldn't he be peeing everywhere? I thought the dog bed might be a territory kind of thing. > > We recently got two new kittens (previous kitten had run away/got lost) > > . They are both 3 months old and are spayed/neutered female and male. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > dog bed again. How do I stop this behaviour?? This is quite a relaxed, > > loveable kitten that doesn't seem stressed. Thanks for any advice. They still need two boxes. Also, if he had a urinary tract infection he might not be peeing everywhere.This must be ruled out. Gail >> He needs to see a vet to rule out a urinary tract infection. For two >> kittens [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >> > dog bed again. How do I stop this behaviour?? This is quite a relaxed, >> > loveable kitten that doesn't seem stressed. Thanks for any advice. Though I think it's probably a stress issue (I know if I were a kitten subjected to a 4 month old Lab - I'd be peeing and pooping outside the box!) it would be definitely wise to rule out a medical problem first. And when it comes to boxes - the more the merrier as far as I'm concerned. My single cat has two boxes and a pile of top soil outside. > They still need two boxes. Also, if he had a urinary tract infection he > might not be peeing everywhere.This must be ruled out. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >>> > dog bed again. How do I stop this behaviour?? This is quite a relaxed, >>> > loveable kitten that doesn't seem stressed. Thanks for any advice. Maybe give him a box in an area the dog doesn't have access too. He may be looking for a "safer" place to do his business. It's a vulnerable time :> Try putting his litterbox behind a baby gate so the dog can't get at it. He may feel too spooked to use it or upset by the way the dog makes it smell. > Though I think it's probably a stress issue (I know if I were a kitten > subjected to a 4 month old Lab - I'd be peeing and pooping outside the box!) [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > >>> > dog bed again. How do I stop this behaviour?? This is quite a relaxed, > >>> > loveable kitten that doesn't seem stressed. Thanks for any advice. > Though I think it's probably a stress issue (I know if I were a kitten > subjected to a 4 month old Lab - I'd be peeing and pooping outside the box!) > it would be definitely wise to rule out a medical problem first. No, the lab is 4 years old, not 4 months. And they love each other. The dog lays there while the kitten plays with his tail. :) I did go and get a second litter box and sprayed the floor with a cleaner and I replaced the dog's bed with a washable blanket/pad so hopefully this will work. So far, so good. Thanks for the help. > And when it comes to boxes - the more the merrier as far as I'm concerned. > My single cat has two boxes and a pile of top soil outside. [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > >>> > dog bed again. How do I stop this behaviour?? This is quite a relaxed, > >>> > loveable kitten that doesn't seem stressed. Thanks for any advice. For the cost of a urine analysis you rule out the possibility that this is happening because the cat has urinary tract problems. It's a male cat and they have a risk of blocking if a urinary tract problem isn't addressed promptly. You can lose a cat in 12 hours to a blockage so it's nothing to play around with. When my Isabelle had a urinary tract infection she only peed in certain spots as well as still using the box. I suspect the peeing outside the box is as much to get someone's attention that there is a problem as it is a temporary aversion to the box. If you eliminate that possibility then you start trying to figure out a behavioral problem. You have to make sure you eliminate anything from that spot that might smell of urine. Use a enzyme cleaner on the bed, rug and floor - anything that could have pee on it. You might want to pick up one of those small black lights they sell in pet stores to make sure you find anywhere the cat has peed. Urine will fluoresce. Of course so will a lot of things you might have dripped on the carpets but the urine shows much stronger. If the cat smells urine in a spot it will return to pee there. If you have two cats you need two boxes. Some cats won't pee and poop in the same box, some are just particular about how clean the box is and don't like using it if it gets too full. Actually the rule of thumb is one for each cat and one more but I gather you'll think that is excessive so won't bother recommending that. I know they all use each other's box but if you have one for each, you're more likely to have one clean enough to suit the cat. You could also try cat attract litter and a lot of other things but I wouldn't start jumping through hoops until after the vet checks to make sure it's not something that might be cured with a course of antibiotics and a change in diet. http://www.fabcats.org/spraying.html http://www.geocities.com/heartland/pointe/9352/litterboxhelp.html W >> He needs to see a vet to rule out a urinary tract infection. For two >> kittens [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >> > dog bed again. How do I stop this behaviour?? This is quite a relaxed, >> > loveable kitten that doesn't seem stressed. Thanks for any advice.
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