Cats in the house are considered a symbol of home comfort, a source of positive emotions. But they often create problems, especially if they start shitting on the bed. It’s understandable when this is done by a kitten that can be retrained. But sometimes this happens to an adult pet, which is why some people can’t stand it and get rid of it. If you figure out why a cat shits on the bed and what to do about the problem, you won’t have to part with your beloved animal. It is quite possible to wean your pet from its bad behavior and eliminate the consequences.
Possible reasons
Before you scold your pet or take any action, you need to know why cats shit on the bed. It is believed to be related to revenge or bad parenting. But more often animals behave this way to attract the attention of their owners. Most likely, the pet has some kind of psychological problems or illnesses. Cats are clean; if properly maintained and without problems, they will only go to the toilet in their litter box.
It is especially unpleasant to find a puddle or pile in bed. This can happen even to a well-mannered, neat pet. There are several reasons why cats shit on the bed. Most often they are associated with the pet’s toilet:
- The most common reason that a cat begins to shit in inappropriate places is a dirty litter tray. All animals hide their smells, this is instinct. It is very important for them that the tray is clean and the filler is dry. If the place where the cat goes to the toilet smells unpleasant, he will look for another.
- Often cats shit if they don’t like the tray itself, its shape or filling. Some cannot go to the toilet house, others need a lot of space around. If the owner decides to change the litter, the cat may begin to look for a more comfortable place.
- Puddles on the bed may appear if the tray is moved to another place. For some animals, even a few centimeters are important. Often the owners themselves provoke the pet by closing the door to the toilet where the tray is located.
- Perhaps the wrong location for the cat litter box has been chosen. It is necessary that the animal is calm while relieving itself. This is why pets choose a bed: it’s warm, soft and safe.
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Other reasons for bad behavior can be stress and illness of the animal. This is often how cats express their fear, anxiety or loneliness. They may respond to changes in lifestyle, environment, or family composition. Puddles in the wrong places become a manifestation of jealousy when all attention is turned to another pet or a newborn child.
Sometimes a cat goes to the toilet past the litter box due to illness or old age. It doesn't depend on her. An old animal may not have time to reach the tray or relieve itself in its sleep. And with urolithiasis, the tray is associated with painful sensations, and the cat will avoid it.
Usually, unsterilized cats and uncastrated cats shit on the bed. Such animals mark territory.
Dirty tray
The cat does not like the shape of the tray or the filler
The tray is rearranged or in the wrong place
The animal is stressed
Illness or old age
Environmental changes
Cats are creatures of habit. If something in your family was fairly routine and then suddenly changed, it could lead to bad behavior.
Sometimes your cat—like a baby—can't process new information without acting out a little.
If you think back to when the problem first started, you may think of something that changed dramatically—even if it's not that big of a deal to you. This could be something as simple as reorganizing your bedroom. This can completely change your cat, causing her to do questionable things in response.
How to get rid of stains and odor
Many owners don't know what to do when their cat shits on the bed. Superstitious people try to get rid of bedding or a pet. It is believed that such a situation is a bad omen, it promises illness or death. Puddles on the bed are unpleasant and unhygienic, but you can get rid of stains.
First of all, you need to remove the smell of urine. To do this, you must immediately remove soiled bed linen. The stain should be rinsed under running water and laundry soap, then the textile should be soaked in a solution of vinegar and soda. After this, it is recommended to wash with powder.
It is more difficult to remove stains from blankets, sofa upholstery or mattresses. The smell of cat urine is corrosive; it will attract the animal, provoking the pet to shit again in the same place. It can be removed with substances that dissolve uric acid:
- vinegar diluted half and half with water;
- vodka or alcohol;
- baking soda solution;
- citric acid solution;
- a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
You cannot use bleach or ammonia to mask the smell, they will only worsen the situation. It is also not recommended to spray perfume, cologne or eau de toilette on this area.
Dilute vinegar removes odor
Vodka and alcohol dissolve uric acid
Baking soda solution will help get rid of stains
Citric acid removes odor
A weak solution of potassium permanganate also removes odors
Tendency to leave puddles and marks
Some particularly fussy breeds, kittens, unsterilized cats and older people tend to leave puddles and marks. Each of them has its own reasons, so the approach to solving the problem must be selected individually.
Capricious breeds
The most whimsical breeds include Siamese cats and their closest relatives from the Eastern Siamese group. These cats have a very subtle mental organization. They may become easily offended or tense. Because of this, the reason for their bad behavior is often attributed to psycho-emotional factors.
Physiological features
Age plays an important role. A kitten that is not toilet trained will make mistakes for a long time. Raising them will take a long time, so you just have to be patient.
“Accidents” in older cats occur due to urinary incontinence or memory loss. As they age, they forget the location of the litter box, often get lost in the family apartment due to deteriorating vision, and do not always have time to get to the bathroom.
Constant hormonal surges in unsterilized pets are suppressed only by sterilization. Without surgery, they will constantly mark the bed and other objects in an attempt to attract a mate.
How to wean an animal correctly
It is not recommended to hit or punish a pet; such popular measures as poking a puddle with its muzzle do not work. The animal will simply be afraid of the owner and hide its feces. In addition, a cat that has pooped in the bed may be sick or scared.
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But such behavior should not be ignored either. You need to scold your pet, cats are smart animals, they understand when the owner is unhappy. You should definitely consult a veterinarian, this will help rule out intestinal or urinary tract diseases. It is also worth exploring ways to stop a cat from pooping on the bed if it is healthy.
Psychological impact
The owner needs to try to remember when the cat began to dirty the bed. Perhaps a baby or another animal has appeared in the house. The cat feels deprived of attention, this leads to stress. She needs to be picked up, caressed, and played more often. It is necessary to show the animal that he is loved. It is recommended to pay more attention to your pet and pamper it with tasty treats.
If there are several animals in the house, it is recommended that each one have a separate tray. The pet may refuse to go to the toilet if another cat has urinated there. Sometimes the dog does not allow the cat to do its business in peace, so it hides on the bed. You need to provide your pet with a comfortable toilet so that he feels safe.
If a pet is bored in the absence of its owner, you need to think about how to keep it occupied. You can buy more toys or make a special play complex for your cat with your own hands. Then, if the owner is absent for a long time, the pet will have something to do. And the rest of the time you need to communicate more with the animal, caress it.
Pharmacy products
To fight off the smell of urine and wean your pet off the bed, it is recommended to use special products. They can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy or animal department. Many products come in spray form and contain aromatic substances that repel cats. Effective compositions: “Antigadin”, “Odorgon”, “Emiks”, “Zoosan”, “Dezosan”, “True Friend”. Among folk remedies, citrus aromas work well, for example, lemon juice, as well as essential oils of lavender, eucalyptus or fir.
Additionally, it is recommended to use products that attract the cat. They need to be sprayed in the place where he needs to go to the toilet. These are “Miss Kiss”, “Beafar”, “Smart Spray”, “BioVax”, “Mr. Fresh”.
If the cause of your cat’s behavior is stress, it is recommended to use sedatives. This is Feliway, 8 IN 1 No Stress Calming.
Castration or sterilization
One of the radical ways to avoid this behavior of your pet is to sterilize it. Animals under the influence of sex hormones often behave inappropriately. They begin to mark their territory to attract the attention of the opposite sex. Puberty in animals usually occurs at 6–9 months. Males begin to leave marks, and cats in heat urinate on furniture.
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If the owner does not intend to breed animals, it is better to sterilize them. This operation is simple and, if performed correctly, does not cause complications. After castration, cats can continue to mark their territory for several months. But when hormonal changes occur, this behavior stops.
Veterinarians recommend spaying a cat before the first heat, and neutering a cat before its first mating, otherwise it will not help. But even after a properly performed operation, the animal can continue to leave marks.
Households with multiple cats
Cats can be territorial or aggressive with other felines. If they feel they need to make a statement, they may poop outside the litter box. For cats, competition is real. If they feel that the natural order has been disrupted, this may cause the battle to take an alpha position.
Even if it's not your fault, your cat may do this to other cats - and not to you at all.
Image Credit: Paul Hanaoka, Unsplash
Prevention measures
To avoid an unpleasant situation, it is necessary to accustom your pet to the litter box from the first day it arrives in the house. You need to take it there often, especially after sleeping or eating, and try to hold it until the animal does its business. After this, the pet must be praised. If the kitten has soiled itself, it should also be taken to the litter box, but without praise. You need to be patient and persistent, not to scare the baby or yell at him when he is about to go to the toilet.
It is not always possible to constantly be near the kitten to take it to the toilet. Then you can lock your pet in the same room with a tray and bowl while the owners are away until it gets used to it.
To prevent puddles and piles on the bed, you need to follow several rules for caring for an adult cat:
- choose a convenient tray and keep it clean;
- choose a litter that your cat likes. To choose the right one, it is recommended to put 3-4 trays with different types;
- when changing the type of filler, this should be done gradually;
- the pet needs to be given enough attention and protected from stress;
- monitor your health, regularly see a doctor, give medications for parasites;
- provide the cat with a balanced diet;
- In the absence of the owners, block the pet’s access to the bedroom; you can also cover the bed with a rustling film or paste it with double-sided tape.
Cats need care and affection, they are often very demanding. If the owner behaves incorrectly, animals can leave unpleasant “gifts” on the bed. This situation can be avoided if you create comfortable conditions for your pet.
Choose a suitable tray and filler
Pay attention to the cat and protect it from stress
Regularly show the animal to the doctor to monitor its health
Provide balanced nutrition
Stress without treatment
If your kitten has anxiety or increased stress levels that you haven't noticed before, this may be a sign that you should pay attention. Cats can have atypical levels of anxiety and are very sensitive to everyday stimuli. If you have a cat that you would call "shy," nervousness may be to blame.
If your cat has started using your bed to poop, this could be a sign that something around her litter box is causing her stress. Maybe you recently installed a litter box in the laundry room, and now they're afraid of that big, loud dryer—they associate the litter box with scary things.
