I'm totally freaking out...my cat just peed on my bed!

[margotb822]

Ok, first, how do I clean cat urine from a mattress?

Second, and the bigger problem, why? And what can I do to stop this? When he was a kitten, he had a problem, but we got a second litter box and he never peed on other things? I don't know what this means or what to do about it. Help!!

[InternalDialogue]

1. First of all, in my experience

cats peeing in odd locations usually reflects a stressor of some kind in the environement -- something has changed or the cat is sick or freaked. My two cats had always been really good about using the box, but the few times they didn't, it was because I was upsetting their routine with home improvements or one of them was sick.

Second, and not to minimize your problem, you reminded me of a friend in college who adopted a stray kitten into her dorm room. These were not big dorm rooms at all, nor did they have bathrooms or kitchens. But she found a stray baby and decided to give it a home. My friend and I snuck into her dorm when she was out, sprinkled water on her bed, and (looking back on it I feel so bad) blamed the kitten when our friend returned to her room.

[Critters2]

2. To get the urine cleaned up, you need either Simple Solution or

Nature's Miracle. Spray a lot of it on the spot, and let it dry. In other words, I hope you have another place you can sleep tonight.

As to why...your kitty needs to visit the vet. When my Leon was doing this, he had a urinary tract infection and the beginnings of lower urinary tract disease. These are both serious matters in cats. Your cat did this to get your attention (Leon once literally peed in my face x( ). So, he needs attention. Call your vet first thing.

And hug your kitty. Sorry this happened to you.

[margotb822]

4. I've heard good things about Nature's Miracle

but I think it's a little late for that tonight.

I do have another place to sleep (couch), and I guess I'll call the vet in the am. I moved into a new place about a month ago, and last week, I got a new comforter, so maybe those have something to do with it. Dang.

[Heidi]

3. I think your kitty needs to see a veterinarian right away.

Ginger has never peed on our bed or furniture, but he is prone the urinary tract crystals, and when he's having a flare-up, he always pees someplace where we can see him doing it: either in his rarely-used indoor litter boxes or very near us when we're outdoors. I think your boy cat is trying to tell you something.

As to the cat urine on your mattress, others here have given you good advice. :hi:

Good luck to you and your boy, margot. :hug:

[murielm99]

5. My kitty did this was when she was mad.

When we were cat-sitting my son's cat, and she peed in his bed. It seemed that she remembered where he had slept when he lived at home.

Another time, she peed in my bed. That was a cry for veterinary attention. She is an older cat, and she is in renal failure. We have known about this condition since last summer. She is on a special diet now, and is healthy. We know that she will die of this eventually, but we are glad that she is happy, healthy and stubborn as hell for the time being.

I understand that some cats pee in odd places if they are forced to move to a new household, or undergo a stressful change. They can be retrained if they are fed on the bed. I don't think I would want my bed to be kitty's dining room table, even temporarily, but a cat will not pee or poop where it eats.

[LiberalEsto]

6. Give your kitty some plain yogurt

My cats pee in inappropriate places when their bladders are in pain. It's a distress signal.

Our vet told me to give them a tablespoon or two of plain yogurt once a day until it cleared up. Then give them a spoonful of yogurt anywhere from once a day to a couple of times a week to keep their poor little bladders healthy. It's worked very well for us.

I would get some Nature's Miracle and spray the mattress repeatedly.