Cats & Bedwetting

A sudden change in your cat's behavior, such as bed-wetting, can be the first clue that your cat is unhappy or unhealthy. It is important to examine the possible causes of this behavior so that treatment can be given quickly, making both you and your cat much happier.

  1. Stress

    • Stress is a common cause of cat behavior changes. It can be caused by something as simple as a dirty litter box, or as major as moving into a new house, getting new owners or a new cat being introduced into the household. Resolving feline stress can be tricky until the cause is discovered. Creating a quiet, stable environment with familiar smells and a clean litter tray can help to resolve your cat's stress and help encourage it to urinate in the right place.

    Infection

    • Cats, like humans, can develop painful infections that will affect their bladder function. This can cause pain, discomfort and the inability to make it to the litter box. Common infections that can cause this type of change include urinary tract infection, kidney infections and bladder infections. The pain of urination can sometimes lead to an adverse reaction to using the litter tray, since the cat comes to associate urination with pain.

    Territory

    • Territory marking is another example of a behavior that can lead to bed-wetting in cats. This is called "spraying" and is exhibited by both male and female cats. Territory-marking behaviors can be a response to other cats in the house, anxiety, visitors, a new family member such as a baby or outside cats coming into the cat's territory. There are several possible solutions to spraying and territorial behavior including early spaying or neutering.

    Treating Bedding

    • Blot up as much urine as you can with paper towels. Bedding that cannot be washed, such as mattresses, can be treated with a solution of 50 percent water to 50 percent white vinegar sprayed onto the area. This also works in situations where the urine has dried. Once treated with the vinegar solution, sprinkle baking soda over the area. Leave this to dry, then vacuum the bed thoroughly. This can be repeated if necessary. It is not recommended for fabric that is not color safe; if in doubt, test the solution on an inconspicuous area first.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Preventing cat bed-wetting depends on the reason the behavior occurred. For behavioral problems such as stress, creating a calm, safe environment can alleviate this behavior. Make sure a clean litter box is available at all times and leave your cat where they have some familiar smells and personal space. Cats that are exhibiting territory marking behavior can be deterred by using a commercial product such as Feliway or by being spayed or neutered. If the behavior is coming from an infection, consult your veterinarian--treatment of the infection will often clear up the abnormal bed-wetting behavior.