Question for the cat experts:

[CanuckAmok]

I have a fixed female cat whi is about 7 years old, and another who is 2 1/2.

Last year, the older one began peeing on my bed, and then stopped abruptly.

She's been temporarity moved to my mom's place while I wait to move into my new home, and she started doing it again, peeing on both guest beds in my mom's spare bedroom.

Her litter box is always kept clean, and her environment is comfortable.

I spoke to a vet on the phone, and they said it's either stress from changes in environment, or a bladder infection. As it seems to occur when there are significant routine changes, I suspect it's stress.

What can I do to prevent this behaviour? I'm about to move her into my new home, and I don't want any accidents!

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. Have her checked for urinary tract infection

but I agree with your vet that it's most likely stress. Please do the check-up though. UTI is painful and can be dealy to your kitty.

[Lautremont]

2. They sure don't like moving house.

Though that doesn't explain the earlier pee spree.

[soothsayer]

3. Give her LOTS and LOTS of attention and reassurance. Explain the

move to her, that it's her new home (I know this sounds silly, but your cat may respond to your tone and vibes) and that she's the queen of the castle or whatnot.

Show her around, make it feel unstressful, and like I said, LOTS and LOTS of lovin.

[Debi]

4. And put plastic on the beds for a while

:hi:

[CanuckAmok]

7. oh, yeah, that's a given.

I just spent $1000 on a new mattress!

[Debi]

9. We have two dogs

and every time something changes in our home they poop in the exact place in our hallway. it's not even worth punishing them anymore. We just know to look for it whenever someone brings a baby over or we have a gathering that scares them.

[aden_nak]

5. There are a few things.

First thing to check is a UTI, absolutely. Either that or a blockage, as that sort of thing can kill a cat (when I found my first cat, he was dying from a blockage). Is it something done intentionally, or just something that happens. I mean, does she leap up onto the bed for the express purpose of taking a piss? If so, it's probably not medical.

The second thing is stress, absolutely. And depending on the cat's demeanor, it could be a way of "acting out" or order to garner attention from you. It could even be a territorial issue (my two cats always piss in tandum, to make sure that their litterboxes never smell stronger than the other's).

[Eumenides]

6. Get her checked out!

I adopted a stray 4-5 years ago and she started 'acting up' like that (i.e. pooping outside of the litter box, in other rooms) about a year ago. She ended up having a heart attack one day and dying. I had necropsy performed and we found out she was full of heartworms. Most likely it is behavioral, but it is still a good idea to have a full workup performed.

[TrogL]

8. i just moved my cats last night

One of them is the one I've been ranting about for a couple of weeks because he's be pissing everywhere.

He didn't.

Go figure.

Of course he did spent most of the night howling because he was afraid of the furnace and because his food dish was a different colour and facing North (near as I can figure out).

[Debi]

11. we have two food dishes and two water bowls for our dogs

and if one drinks out of one water bowl the other won't drink and same with the food...they'll drink out of a mud puddle that a dead bird is in, but not the same bowl that the other dog used...

[skygazer]

10. Sure sounds like stress

As the others have said, I would certainly test for UTI. And when you move, I would consider making bedrooms off limits if possible. Since it will be a new environment anyway, you can change the routine there at the same time. If that's not possible, I would consider getting a waterproof throw of some kind to toss on the bed when you get up - maybe after she gets relaxed there, it will stop. And of course, lots of love and attention.

She may have a weak bladder problem as well, which would be exacerbated by stress.

[CanuckAmok]

12. Thanks all.

the problem is it's a loft, so there's no way to block off the bedroom. My first thought was some sort of child barrier on the stairs, but the cats will get by it somehow.

[Sweet Freedom]

13. Don't switch kitty litter

I had a cat who did the same thing. Turns out she was pissed that we changed to a different brand of cat litter.