Help! Cat peeing on sofa!

elvis86

We have a house cat, she's almost a year old. We've not had her neutered yet as she doesn't seem to have had a her first season (we were advised its best to let her have one, and that "we would know" when it was happening as she'd start calling etc - and as of yet she hasn't).

We bought her an enclosed litter tray with a door. She struggled a bit when she was tiny, so we took the door off when we weren't in, and put it on when we were, encouraging her and showing her how to use it etc. She eventually got the hang of it, though she would stand there pawing at the door for a few seconds before going inside (I think to see if you'd open it for her - lazy little madam!:D).

Anyway, she has a habit of sometimes peeing on the sofa nearest her litter tray (coincidentally, she never pees on the other one - where I she likes to sleep!:cool:). We thought maybe we weren't changing her litter regularly enough, so started doing that more often. We also started using a spray bottle to spray her when she did it, as we were told this was a good training technique.

She still had a couple of accidents, so we sprayed the sofa with citronella (we were told that should put her off) and took the door off the litter tray, and since then, she's stopped (its been about 6 weeks I'd say).

Anyway, last night I walked in from work, usually I pick her up and give her some fuss, but I was on the phone and putting groceries away. When I turned around, she was there peeing on the sofa!:( Her litter had been changed about 5 days ago, and is scooped and freshened every day? I cleaned up and sprayed both sofas heavily with citronella. This morning, my housemate has discovered that she's now peed on BOTH sofas!!:(:(:(

Anyone got any ideas what her issue might be? Could it be that she needs neutering?

shjo558

My cat has only peed in the corner twice. First time was when he had a bladder infection and associated the tray with severe pain. The second was when his tray was needing emptied:o

Not sure what the problem will be but to stop it happening lay a strip of tin foil over the area when you aren't there to supervise. Moggies hate the stuff!

puddy

not sure why you're waiting so long to get her neutered, i always get mine done when they're 6 months

elvis86

jenner wrote: »

not sure why you're waiting so long to get her neutered, i always get mine done when they're 6 months

We wete told that it was best to let her have her first season (something about the release of hormones preventing osteoporosis?). We understood that we would know when she had this as she would start calling and stuff?

My friend's kitten is a few months younger than ours, she had her season and was neutered last week. Maybe ours is a late starter? Lol.

Is it okay to get her neutered before her first season?

clancy

I would stop her sitting on the sofa if she was doing that in mine until you find out why she's doing it, as the smell of cat urnine is strong. Do you have other animals? cause could be a territory issue, Also a urine problem or maybe change the brand/ type of litter your using as another option..

pimento

Yes. Unless you want kittens.

elvis86

pimento wrote: »

Yes. Unless you want kittens.

Yes, thanks, I'm aware of the purpose of neuturing. It would have to be an immaculate conception if Priscilla got pregnant, she's a house cat.:cool:

Its not like she won't pee in her litter tray, most of the time she does, its just on the odd occasion she decides that she'd prefer to use the sofa. I thought maybe it was seperation anxiety as sometimes we're both at work at the same time (I work 9-5, my housemate works shifts so usually we overlap), but since then she's done it on numerous occasions when we've been in the house.:(

madget_2

Firstly, it's often wise to get your cat checked over by the vet, just in case the spraying is due to a medical problem.

Otherwise there could be a number of reasons for her behaviour. Certainly, the fact that she has not yet been spayed could well be a factor. If she is about to come into season, she'll want to advertise this fact to potential mates - spraying her scent is one way of doing this.

Also, have you since replaced the door on the litter tray? If so, she may be urinating elsewhere because she is either frightened to use it (some cats feel trapped in such an enclosed space, particularly when they are performing an act which can make them feel vulnerable such as this) or because the concentrated smell from the urine/faeces is too overpowering inside the small, enclosed area of a covered tray with a door.

Is the litter tray in a quiet area which she would regard as safe?

Has she been spooked by something to make her feel nervous and stressed?

As far as spaying is concerned, not all vets would recommend allowing them to have their first season. Opinion is divided - early spaying does have benefits, too. If she is spraying because she hasn't been spayed, this might turn into a habit unless you catch it in time by having her spayed.

How old is she?

Edit: I've just seen that she's about a year old. Spaying is definitely well overdue! I'd advise you to get it done asap, otherwise you will probably end up with a habitually spraying cat - which may already be the case by now.

elvis86

madget wrote: »

Firstly, it's often wise to get your cat checked over by the vet, just in case the spraying is due to a medical problem.

Otherwise there could be a number of reasons for her behaviour. Certainly, the fact that she has not yet been spayed could well be a factor. If she is about to come into season, she'll want to advertise this fact to potential mates - spraying her scent is one way of doing this.

Also, have you since replaced the door on the litter tray? If so, she may be urinating elsewhere because she is either frightened to use it (some cats feel trapped in such an enclosed space, particularly when they are performing an act which can make them feel vulnerable such as this) or because the concentrated smell from the urine/faeces is too overpowering inside the small, enclosed area of a covered tray with a door.

Is the litter tray in a quiet area which she would regard as safe?

Has she been spooked by something to make her feel nervous and stressed?

As far as spaying is concerned, not all vets would recommend allowing them to have their first season. Opinion is divided - early spaying does have benefits, too. If she is spraying because she hasn't been spayed, this might turn into a habit unless you catch it in time by having her spayed.

How old is she?

Edit: I've just seen that she's about a year old. Spaying is definitely well overdue! I'd advise you to get it done asap, otherwise you will probably end up with a habitually spraying cat - which may already be the case by now.

Eeeek! I hope not!:(

We've left the door off the litter tray, she never seemed to struggle with it, if anything it was like she stood there half-heartedly pawing at it and making doe eyes at us to open it for her - lazy little madam!:D

The litter tray is in the lounge, next to the sofa in a corner, with the door facing a wall so she's not worrying about anything creeping up behind her. And I can't think of anything which may have spooked her? Although, she did go to a friend's house for the day last week, she was isolated in a room but I think his cats (one male, one female) were probably at the door during the day and she was hiding behind the sofa when my friend got home.:(

I think we should get her booked in for spaying ASAP. Slightly rubbish timing as we're off on holiday in a couple of weeks, but needs sorting!

madget_2

It's good to know that you're going to get her spayed now. Another good reason for having this done is just in case she does get out of the house and you end up with a pregnant pusscat.

With any luck, the spraying may well stop after this. If not, then your vet will probably be able to recommend a pet behaviourist who can help. The longer you leave it, the more difficult it is to stop them doing it.

Have a word with your vet about the anticipated recovery time and aftercare. It may be worth waiting until you return from your holiday if that might be a problem. But definitely have her spayed as soon as it is possible and advisable to do so.

BitterAndTwisted

Once a cat has soiled on a piece of furniture the scent can be very difficult to eradicate and this could be a factor in the cat returning to pee on the sofa. Instead of trying to mask the smell of cat-pee with citronella wash the soiled parts of the sofas with BIOLOGICAL laundry detergent. The enzymes in the detergent should break down the cat-pee smell so kitty won't feel the need to return to the same spot.

Most cat-soiling issues are behavioural rather than medical ones and in the first instance, after a visit to the vet to rule out any medical reason, I would gradually move the litter-tray to a much less public place where kitty can toilet in private and I'd take the door off and leave it off as well. My boy Stanley won't use his tray with the door on and he won't use it where there's human-traffic either. Cats are private animals and need to feel safe and secure when they're at their most vulnerable.