In this article we will look at the question of why a cat shits on the bed and how to correct this situation.
Cats are considered willful animals, with a temperament, feelings of revenge and jealousy. You can usually hear this version if a cat shits on its owners’ bed, shoes, clothes, or other inappropriate places. This means that the animal was wronged and he decided to take revenge. We will not deny that they also have feelings, but very often the reason for such incidents lies in something completely different. Therefore, we will tell you in this material how to prevent this and how to deal with this behavior.
Reasons why a cat shits on its owner's bed
- In the first place is a signal about health problems. Cystitis, diarrhea, urolithiasis and even just a bruise. All this causes pain and discomfort. And on the bed you can take a comfortable position, it’s warm and soft there. This is why the cat shits on the bed.
- An equally popular problem is a dirty litter tray. Cats are very clean and even harmful in this matter: they changed the litter at the wrong time - the cat will not go into it, and the bed was nearby. Especially if the animal endured “until the last”;
- I didn’t like the new filler - expect surprises not only on the bed, but also in the corners;
- if you change the tray or move it to another place, it’s your own fault, because cats are big conservatives;
- closed the door to the toilet - kick only at yourself;
- if you have more than one cat, there should be separate trays for them. Sometimes if another pet goes into the wrong litter box, the animal may stop going in it, marking the clothes and bed of the owners.
It’s trivial, but a common cause is an inconvenient tray!
- But often this happens due to stress. The animal has recently been in your home, there has been a change of scenery, a new pet or family member has appeared. The same bad treatment of a pet or even scandals in the family can shake the psycho-emotional state of the animal.
- Sometimes this happens during periods of hormonal surge, when the animal wants to mark the territory with its smell.
- Sometimes this happens in old animals, which can lose their skills with age and acquire chronic diseases.
Important: Most often, small kittens and unsterilized pets go to the wrong place due to their inexperience. The latter are more susceptible to the influence of sex hormones, trying by all means to attract a partner. Older cats may poop due to incontinence.
What other measures to take
In order to understand how to correct the animal's behavior, it is necessary to establish the reason why it began to use the entire house as a toilet. When this motive is established, it is not necessary to punish the cat who has shit; sometimes you can return him to the litter box using gentler methods.
What to do for skeptics
All people, regardless of whether they believe in omens or not, must remember that it is necessary to accustom a kitten to the litter box from the first days of life. However, teaching a four-legged pet to take care of its natural needs in a specific part of the house is only half the battle. Next, you need to make sure that the litter in the cat's litter box is always fresh and the tray is clean, otherwise the cat may start looking for another litter box.
If everything is in order with the tray, and your four-legged friend has long been accustomed to it, but suddenly begins to mark the owner’s bed or other objects in the home, the following will help to prevent him from doing bad things:
- If the animal is sick (diarrhea or disease of the genitourinary system), it should be shown to a veterinarian, who will prescribe treatment for the cat. As a rule, the recovered pet returns to the tray on its own.
- If a person offends a cat and takes revenge on him for something, it would be good if the owner tried to understand why this happened. Perhaps the cat felt that the owner’s love for her had decreased due to the appearance of a new family member (child) or another animal in the house. In this case, the owner of a four-legged pet should pay more attention to it for some time. You shouldn't punish your cat for having shitty shoes or a blanket on the bed. It will be enough to defiantly ignore him after each incident. And, conversely, after any proper trip to the litter box, pet the cat and treat him with his favorite treat.
- If the purr poops all over the house because he is already old and simply does not have time to reach the litter box, and the owner loves him so much that he does not want to put him to sleep, then the solution may be to install another cat litter box in a different place. An older cat can be easily trained to use this type of litter box by placing anything that smells like her urine in the spare tray.
- The worst option is when a young male cat urinates on the furniture and belongings of the owners, marking his territory. In this case, it is sometimes impossible to return it to the tray in the usual way, even if all the marked places and objects in the house are treated with chemicals that repel strong odors. Castration is the only way to wean an animal from bad behavior.
What to do if a cat shits on the bed: tips on how to wean
- You should never shout, punish or be an animal. This will only cause additional stress. But it is also unacceptable not to pay attention to this. You need to make it clear to your pet in a stern voice that his behavior is unacceptable and you are very upset.
We punish correctly!
- In this case, the bed must be changed and washed immediately. The blanket and mattress should be dry cleaned, or at least treated at home to kill the smell (we'll talk about this below).
- Treat the bed with Antigadin, Dezosan, Emix, Zoosan, Faithful Friend, etc. Or place citrus-scented sachets around the perimeter.
Tip: You can treat the mattress and even wash the bed with the addition of vinegar, lemon, orange or lavender essential oil.
- Additionally, the toilet area can be treated with enticing preparations: “BioVax”, “Miss Kiss”, “Smart Spray”, “Mr. Fresh”, etc.
Wash the tray thoroughly
- If a cat shits on the bed due to a hormonal surge, the best option is to stop it - spaying/castration or special tablets. And in general, a sterilized animal is more affectionate and creates fewer problems.
- If the cause is a new pet or family member, try to pay more attention to the cat for a while, pick it up and stroke it more often. Let the animal know that you have not forgotten about him and that he is loved just as much.
- If the pet has not been in your home for long or you have recently moved, wait a while, taking all preventive measures for cleanliness.
- Sometimes it’s worth looking at the atmosphere in your family - frequent quarrels can push your cat to do bad things. This is not revenge or punishment, this is how the animal tries to point out the problem to its owners.
Important: If a cat began to shit on the bed systematically and spontaneously, no changes or stress could help this, be sure to show the animal to the veterinarian. Your pet may have health problems. Therefore, for timely treatment, you need to get tested and undergo an examination.
Be careful!
In what cases should a cat be taken to the veterinarian?
If your pet starts peeing everywhere except the toilet, then you need to pay attention to its health. You should contact a veterinarian if, in addition to marking, the animal becomes lethargic or loses its appetite. Also, to prevent cleaning the sofa from becoming a habitual task, the animal must be neutered at a veterinary clinic.
In order for the animal to stop going to the toilet on upholstered furniture, you need to follow simple recommendations. If such a problem occurs, then you need to thoroughly clean the sofa or chairs, and then use one of the means to discourage your pet from leaving puddles in places intended for the owners to rest.
How to remove the smell of urine and traces if a cat shits on the bed?
Algorithm of the site, if the cat shits on the bed or sofa:
- Immediately blot the area well with a dry cloth so that the urine does not soak into the upholstery of the sofa or deep into the mattress;
- Fill with absorbent powder - talc, starch, soda;
- Let sit for 5-10 minutes and carefully remove all particles using a vacuum cleaner or brush. Then apply cleanser.
Store-bought drugs:
- DuftaPet
- Zoosan
- Nature's Miracle
- BioVax
- Odor Kill & Stain Remover
- Pet Stain&Odor
- OdorGone, etc.
Important: Do not treat the bed with cologne or perfume - this is a useless remedy! And bleach can ruin the upholstery or mattress.
The best drugs that remove urine odor well
To remove the odor, use:
- Soda and vinegar. These are affordable and effective means to combat odors - sprinkle with baking soda, spray with vinegar from a spray bottle and wipe with a damp cloth after 20-30 minutes. You can use them separately. To do this, mix soda with water until it becomes mushy, and dilute vinegar in equal proportions with water. Wet the area generously and wipe with a damp cloth after 10-30 minutes (depending on the freshness of the stain).
- Second recipe: Make a paste from 2 tbsp. l. soap shavings and soda, 3 tbsp. l. peroxide. Apply until completely dry.
Algorithm
- Alcohol eliminates any odor well. Wet a cloth generously with it and leave it on the area for 1 hour, then wipe with a damp towel.
- Glycerin and glycerin soap. Apply the product liberally to the cleaned stain until completely dry. Glycerin soap is rubbed in with a sponge and wiped well with a damp cloth.
- Iodine or potassium permanganate - suitable only for dark surfaces. Dilute the product in a glass of water (3 drops of iodine or 2 g of potassium permanganate is enough), wipe the fresh stain with a damp sponge, rinse after 3-5 minutes.
- Lemon juice not only cleanses, but also scares away further dirty tricks. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon directly onto the stain, wait a few minutes and wipe well with a damp cloth. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Important: Citric acid lightens the fabric!
Folk remedies
Territory marker
The most common reason for the appearance of “fragrant surprises” outside the tray is a territory mark. Most often, males “sin” with this, doing this all year round. But females, at certain moments in life, can begin to “mark” corners, furniture and other places that are important, from their point of view. This behavior is mainly observed in cats during estrus.
Sterilization. It is impossible to wean your pet from this behavior, but the problem can be solved by sterilization. True, you shouldn’t expect lightning-fast results:
- Even after a successful procedure, the animal requires several days to recover. And before that, the pet may not have time to get to the tray.
- Neutered cats often continue to leave marks in their homes. This is due to the fact that changes in hormonal levels require a certain time, most often several weeks. But when everything stabilizes, the pet will forget about the “bad habit.”
- It is very important to seek qualified help. After all, if the operation is performed by an inexperienced specialist, then the risks of developing postoperative complications, for example, urinary incontinence, are high.
It is recommended to spay and neuter your pets before they reach sexual maturity. Cats - until the first emptying, cats - before the start of sexual hunting.
Preventative measures to stop your cat shitting on the bed
If a cat shits on the bed, you need to find out the reason to take the necessary measures. And regular prevention will help with this. By the way, it will also protect you from further incidents.
- Always keep the door to the toilet or room where the tray is located open.
- Keep the tray clean at all times.
- Do not suddenly change one type of filler to another. And try to experiment less in this matter.
- The tray itself should also not be changed to a radically different model - ideally, even take the same color.
- Sometimes the tray can be small in size (if the kitten has grown) or, on the contrary, too large (for example, high sides make it difficult to relieve oneself). Choose a tray by size.
- Regularly treat your pet for parasites (they often cause health problems) and take your pet to the veterinarian.
- Maintain a balanced diet and ensure that the animal is properly entertained while its owners are away.
- If you have had a move or other stress on your animal, you should take a course of sedatives. But only after consulting a doctor!
In any case, pay attention to your pet. His behavior will tell you what he is missing. And this will help avoid such troubles.
Create clean and suitable conditions
Problems with the tray
Domestic cats and cats relieve themselves in a special tray with filler. Kittens are accustomed to it at an early age. Even if the training process goes quickly and smoothly, there is no guarantee that the animal will go to the litter box regularly throughout its life. Refusal from the usual “toilet” provokes:
- unsanitary condition of the tray, which is caused by improper and irregular care;
- the presence of foreign odors - even if a cat catches a barely perceptible smell of its own feces, it will go to relieve itself in another place, this is inherent in it at the genetic level;
- change of filler or its absence - unusual sensations can turn the animal away from the usual tray and force it to look for another place to discharge its natural needs;
- a new tray or a change in the location of the old “toilet” causes confusion in the cat - the animal does not know how to behave in the current situation.
If you are wondering why the cat peed on the bed , check whether her access to the litter tray was blocked; perhaps the door to the bathroom, where the cat litter is usually located, was accidentally tightly closed by someone in the household.
Why does a cat shit on the bed: signs
There is no unambiguous interpretation of why a cat shits on the bed. Much depends on the details.
- If a cat soils a pillow, this portends financial gain or career advancement, with a subsequent improvement in your financial situation.
- A cat pooping on a blanket is a signal of a possible serious illness in the “victim of the cat’s attention.”
- If a cat poops on a patient’s bed , this is a sign of an inevitable complication of the situation.
- If the sheet is dirty, then this foreshadows a quarrel between sleeping people or close relatives.
- Excrement on the bed or sofa can also signal an upcoming turn of fate, both positive and negative. Or about unexpected guests whom you are not very happy to see.
- If a cat shits in the area near the feet, then this indicates hard work and wasted labor. You need to rest.
Different countries have their own superstitions:
- In Bulgaria , it was previously believed that a cat pooping on a bed warns of possible damage to a sleeping person. Nowadays, the sign has transformed into a big financial waste.
- In Spain , this is a hint that you need to look after your significant other. Perhaps your partner is cheating on you or someone is leading you by the nose in an important matter.
- In European countries they still believe that the cat protects its owners from evil spirits in this way.
- But in England , you should expect bad news.
- The Chinese see this as a joyful event in the near future.
Important: But we can definitely say that the cat feels an accumulation of strong energy in this place. And rather, negative. Therefore, it is worth moving the bed to another place. Sometimes this indicates a bad atmosphere in the house or the negative energy of the person whom the pet has “marked”.
Cats sense any energy well
Cleanliness and force of habit
Just like people, cats have their own preferences, which also apply to the toilet. When organizing a “latrine”, the owner should pay close attention to various details:
- Regardless of the shape, size and type of filler, the tray must be clean . Many owners note that their pets do not go to the toilet if there is even a “hint” of previous bowel movements in it. Some cats furiously “bury” the puddle until the owner cleans it up. Such “cleanliness” is, rather, caution. Indeed, in nature, feces and urine “give away” animals and can bring “uninvited”, dangerous guests into the lair. However, for most animals, it is enough for the tray to be cleaned regularly and the litter to be partially replaced. In this case, once a week it is necessary to completely replace the material and thoroughly clean the container itself.
- Tray size . Often, owners, having once bought a litter box for a kitten, forget to replace it with a larger container. It becomes very problematic for a significantly older cat to “relieve” itself on the “children’s potty”, and he goes in search of a more convenient place. The tray should be long enough and moderately deep so that the cat can turn around in it and rake in the way it is comfortable for her. There are also rough estimates on this score - the length of a suitable container is 50% greater than the length of the animal’s body. Of course, the tail is not taken into account in this case.
- Tray location . Most cats value comfort and privacy, which means it is recommended to place the litter tray away from drafts and prying eyes. Particularly shy individuals require closed containers equipped with walls and a lid. As a rule, a suitable tank is selected empirically, based on the individual preferences of the pet.
- Number of trays . If the animal is extremely clean, then experienced owners advise placing 2 containers at once. The latter is especially important when the owner is often away from home for a long time and cannot clean the litter box every time the pet goes into it. Two cats will need 2-3 trays, and three cats will need 3-4...
- Cleaning with disinfectants. Chlorine-containing products and a vinegar solution work well against odors, urinary stone deposits and various pathogens. However, these same products have a pungent odor and are often used to stop a cat from peeing anywhere. What to do in this case? First of all, you should wash the tray regularly using regular laundry soap, rinse it thoroughly and wipe it dry. If you do this in a timely manner, the container will remain clean without any signs of stone or “bad amber.”
What should superstitious people do if a cat shits on the bed?
- Let us repeat that sometimes a cat shits on the bed to indicate negative energy in that place. Therefore, if possible, rearrange.
- If this is not possible or does not help, place amethyst or quartz stones - they absorb negative energy.
- Walk through the house with a lit church candle, carefully crossing all corners and reading a prayer.
- Place Tibetan bowls and bells on doorways in your home - they will help energy flows circulate better.
But in any case, common sense should prevail. If your pet poops on the bed and in the corners of the room, and no methods help, you should still take your pet to the veterinarian. In most cases, this indicates a malfunction in the body.
Diseases and hormonal storms
Practice shows that puddles on the owner's bed are often left by uncastrated cats and unsterilized cats during hormonal storms, which provoke unwanted behavior. Veterinary pharmacies offer a selection of hormonal medications that will calm the animal. If you do not plan to breed purebred offspring, consider castration or sterilization of your pet.
In the wrong places, cats and kittens can begin with the development of serious diseases of the internal organs:
- urolithiasis;
- intestinal pathologies.
The appearance of puddles on the owner's beds causes inevitable aging of the animal. Older cats suffer from Alzheimer's disease, which is characterized by a loss of toilet skills. The owners can only understand and forgive the aging animal.
What can you spray on the sofa?
If you decide to clean your sofa of cat urine in order to get rid of the nasty smell forever, then after drying it, you need to spray it with one of the following products:
- vinegar or potassium permanganate (weak solution);
- hydrogen peroxide;
- weak iodine solution;
- alcohol;
- water with lemon.
After cleaning the sofa on which the pet is peeing, citrus peels, pieces of onion or garlic placed in the corners are also used. Representatives of the cat family do not like the smell of essential oils (mint, rosemary, lavender), perfumes, construction chemicals, and detergents that have a strong odor.
Read also: “I don’t want to work for my uncle!”
Attention!
If you managed to clean the sofa well at home, then to prevent your pet from using it as a toilet, you can use special veterinary products.