Why a cat shits on a bed: reasons and how to wean
They say about cats that they walk by themselves, hinting at their special character. A cat is not so easy to win over, unlike a dog. Representatives of the cat are more independent. Because of this, non-existent character traits are often attributed to them. For example, if a pet starts to shit in the wrong place, the owners can write it off as harmful. But animals do not know how to plan revenge, such behavior is associated either with stress or with health problems. Pay special attention to your pet’s health if your cat starts peeing on the bed and sofa unexpectedly and hasn’t done anything like this before. Our experts examined the causes in detail, and also made recommendations on how to wean a cat from peeing on the bed.
Contents
Common causes
If your cat or cat shits on the bed, you first need to understand the reasons for this behavior, and then you will understand what to do about it. Remember that often a cat or a cat in a similar way seek protection from its owner. Or, for example, if you have a new family member, a cat or cat may try to make friends in this way – to mix their smell and the smells of a new person. Consider all the reasons why a cat or a cat shits on the owner’s bed. After listing the main reasons, we will tell you how to wean a cat to write on the bed.
Changing of the living place
Unlike you, your pet learns about the world around him through his sense of smell. In the new place, there are no smells familiar to him, and he begins to mark the territory. The pet evaluates the owner’s bed as a safe place and seeks to make it his own. Such behavior can provoke even moving from a summer house to an apartment.
Uncomfortable or dirty toilet
Some owners do not use litter for trays, and it is unpleasant for animals to go to the toilet on bare plastic. By nature, they prefer something loose and dry. Try to remove the plastic grate from the tray, many pets do not like it. Also, the tray itself may be too small, and it is inconvenient for the animal to dig holes in it. Keep the litter box clean so that your pet enjoys walking in it.
Stress
You got another animal or a child appeared in the family. All this can be a source of stress for your pet and cause him to change behavior. Your furry friend may poop in the wrong places if he doesn’t feel safe.
Loneliness
A pet feels unwanted if it doesn’t get enough attention. He stops considering your home as his. In this case, he tries to mix his smell with the smell of the owner.
Marks caused by sex hormones
The animal marks its territory when it begins puberty. Thus, the pet shows readiness for reproduction.
Pain in the joints
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system can occur both in older animals and in young representatives of some breeds. With such diseases, trays with a high side are inconvenient for the pet, and he is looking for new places for the toilet.
Diseases of the urinary tract and gastrointestinal tract
Due to various diseases of the urinary tract or gastrointestinal tract, going to the toilet can be painful for a pet. In such cases, the animal tries to find something soft and comfortable for the toilet. The master bed is perfect.
Age
With age, the animal may become incontinent. Also, due to memory problems, your pet may forget where his litter box is.
How to wean a cat or a cat to shit on the bed?
First you need to figure out why the cat shits on the bed. Identify your pet’s problem and act on our recommendations. Consider ways to wean a cat and a cat to shit on a bed or sofa.
Check your pet’s health
Check your pet for urolithiasis and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. If the cause is a disease, then after treatment, problems with the toilet will be solved.
Remove the source of stress
Do not yell at your pet or punish him. This will only add to the stress and reinforce the unwanted behavior. Spend more time with your pet, play with him, create an atmosphere of calm and security. So the pet will feel needed, and he will not have the need to mix his scent with yours. If new animals have appeared in the house, delimit the territory and allocate a separate tray for each. Watch how the animals move, whether one of them shows aggression.
Equip a convenient toilet
Set up several large trays with different fillers. The animal will choose the most suitable option for him. Set up the litter box so that your pet feels safe. It is advisable to choose an angle for this, so that the walls protect it from the back. Going to the toilet should be comfortable. If the pet is old, then buy a tray with low sides. We also sell special diapers for older animals.
Castrate your pet
If you do not plan to breed offspring, then castration — necessary step. Otherwise, the pet will mark the territory, since natural instincts will not go anywhere. Also, castrated animals are less likely to develop oncological diseases of the reproductive system.
Use strong odors and replace damaged surfaces
Spray your bed with lavender or citrus essential oil. These strong odors will scare away the pet. Treat all marked surfaces with special odor removers. Ordinary bleach will not help, it only attracts attention. Only your pet’s tray can have a specific smell, all other places will have to be processed. Also, temporarily cover the bed or sofa with a hard blanket or oilcloth so that it does not attract the animal.
Restrict your pet’s movement
If the problem persists, temporarily close the pet in one room and do not let it into other rooms. In this room, put several trays with different fillers. Use a special soothing diffuser that plugs into an outlet. Such a sedative can be bought at pet stores. When the pet chooses a tray and stops shitting in other places, let it into the rest of the rooms.
How to wean a kitten to pee on the bed?
Let’s see why the kitten began to write on the bed and what to do about it. Domestic cats themselves teach their offspring to go to the tray. If you have looked after a kitten for yourself, do not take him away from his mother too early, and then the question of how to wean the kitten to write on the bed will not arise. Consider what to do if you got a very small pet.
At first, the kitten is under stress. He needs to get used to the new environment. In addition, he still does not fully understand that there is a special place for the toilet. He needs to show it. Keep track of your pet. Take him to the tray as soon as he is about to pee on the bed. If he already shat on the bed, still take him to the tray.
Take the kitten with you to bed during sleep, play with him on the bed. The kitten should have an understanding that your bed is not intended for the toilet. After each meal, take the kitten to the tray. Close the door to the room if you leave the kitten at home alone. Remember that cats do not associate punishment and wrongdoing. If you swear, this will only increase the stress of the pet, and he will not stop shitting in the wrong places. We figured out how to wean a kitten to shit on a bed or bed, then we will learn how to teach a pet to a tray.
How to potty train?
If you have determined why a cat or a cat pees on the bed, then it will be much easier to accustom a pet to a tray. Let’s recap our recommendations:
Cover the bed with an oilcloth for a while.
Eliminate the smell of cat urine in the bed.
Spray your bed with lavender or citrus essential oil.
Place several trays with different fillers and provide free access to them. Trays must be in a safe place.
Do not let your pet into other rooms. Create comfortable conditions for him in one enclosed space. Put the cat house there and leave the toys.
Use a sedative diffuser.
Place your pet in the litter box after every meal.
Praise your pet after each successful visit to the toilet.
How to get rid of the smell of urine on the bed or sofa?
Remove urine and odor as soon as you encounter a problem. If the bed or upholstery of the sofa is saturated with urine, then the smell will be very difficult to eliminate. Remove any moisture with paper towels before removing the odor. Below we will look at the odor remedies that you will find at home and can apply immediately.
Absorbent
Sprinkle salt, baking soda, flour, or starch on the stain and leave for 30 minutes. The absorbent absorbs the remaining odor.
A solution of baking soda, water and vinegar
Prepare a solution: for 3 liters of water, take 3 tablespoons of soda and 1 tablespoon of 70% vinegar. Apply the product to the surface, after drying, vacuum.
Lemon juice
Apply lemon juice to the sponge and wipe the damaged surfaces. Repeat the procedure after 20 minutes.
Lemon acid
If there is no lemon in the house, use citric acid. Dissolve 4 teaspoons of acid in a glass of water. Use the solution in the same way as lemon juice.
Alcohol-containing liquids
You can prepare an alcohol solution yourself or use a purchased product. First apply the product to an inconspicuous area and make sure that the color of the surface is not affected.
Hydrogen peroxide
Remove odor with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. This method is not suitable for dark surfaces, the upholstery of the sofa may brighten.
Laundry soap
Grate the soap and dilute it to the consistency of sour cream. Apply the solution to the damaged surface, press the sponge and hold for several minutes. Wash off the composition after 40 minutes.
Weak iodine solution
This method is only suitable for dark surfaces. Add 20 drops of iodine to a liter of water, wipe the stain and wash the area with water after 10 minutes.
Weak manganese solution
This method is also only suitable for dark surfaces. Take potassium permanganate on the tip of a knife and dilute it in a glass of water. Rinse after 10 minutes.
Baking soda
Cover the stain with baking soda and pour a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution over the stain. A chemical reaction will begin. You can leave the solution on the surface until the morning. Do not use this method on dark surfaces.
In this article, we have given complete recommendations on how to wean a cat from shitting on the bed. We hope they will help solve this problem in the behavior of your pet.
15 2021 June
Updated: 15 June 2022