Female dsh just started weeing on couch and bed Options

[Joypod]

Hi everyone,

I have an 18 month old dsh who's an indoor cat. She's always used the litter box but in the past week has wee'd on our bed once and our couch once.

We've just started keeping her out of the bedroom during the day because we were finding she was running amok during the night when we were trying to sleep. We thought keeping her out of the bedroom during the day as well as at night would let her know it wasn't 'her' room any more. The day she wee'd on the bed, we'd been in and out of the bedroom and had left the door open. We assumed her weeing on the bed was her way of saying 'up yours' about us keeping her shut out during the day.

Then, two days later, while we're all in the loungeroom, she wee's on the couch. I was sitting on the couch at the time but was up the opposite end. We just couldn't believe it. We've now put her litter box and food in the laundry and are thinking she can now be an outdoor cat. But neither of us want that. We really want to have her inside but simply can't put up with her weeing on our furniture.

Do you think this is just her being an adolescent, pushing the boundaries, etc???

Any help, advice or suggestions would be really appreciated.

Thanks everyone.
:)

[Furrballz]

I have a few questions...

Is she desexed? If not then she needs to be and this could be hormonal
Are there any other symptoms?
Has anything changed in your home? Furniture move, new pet, new partner, fighting?

I would be getting a vet check up first and foremost in case of a medical reason, and if that is clear, I would be looking at re-training, which is physically restraining her to certain areas that are easily cleaned (like the laundry) while you cannot watch her.

Then I would be looking at changes in your home and see if they are affecting her. Cats react to emotion by acting out.

If she does need to be an outdoor kitty, PLEASE invest in an enclosure!! It is the ONLY safe and responsible thing you can do for a cat.
If she was a dog, you wouldnt allow it to roam the streets, I dont understand why we still allow our loved cats to as well!!

[Joypod]

Hi Furrballz,

Thanks for your response.

Yep, she's desexed.

I'll take her to the vet this weekend to make sure she's physically ok.

It really feels like she's trying to tell us something. The only thing we've changed is that we're keeping her out of the bedroom at all times.

She used to stay in there during the day and then sometimes sleep on the bed at night. Depending on what she was wanting to do. Other times she'd just sleep somewhere else in the house.

We really don't want her to be an outdoor cat. And don't worry, I'd make sure she had an enclosure if it came to that. I'm a big believer in protecting our native wildlife from roaming cats... not to mention protecting the cats from their own curiosity.

If it IS that she's acting out about being banished from the bedroom... is that something she'll just come to accept do you think? Should we bring her back inside the house (she's currently confined to the laundry which i feel terrible about) and just make sure she's got a lot of attention when we're around her?

Ta :)

[Furrballz]

As I dont know your cat, I cant really answer all your questions :)
I would allow her out of the laundry ONLY when you can watch her and lock her out of 'sensitive' rooms like your bedroom.
It could be a staged protest from her! lol
Or it could be a urine infection causeing this, hence the vet visit recommendation :)

I would take her back to basics and allow her out under supervision and see how she goes for now.

Good luck! Let us know about the vet visit

[Joypod]

Thanks so much for the help and advice. :)

[ChocolateDots]

When they do it right in front of you it's usually medical, UTI's are painful please don't wait until the weekend to get her tested.

[itsme]

Is she acting normal otherwise? Does she act like she is sick? Or is there blood in the urine? It could be that she needs medical attention.