How to tell if it's retaliation

[karate0kat]

My kitten is normally just fine with the litter box. However, twice now she's peed on my bed.

One the one hand, both times were when the litter box was in less than ideal condition. I usually scoop the litter box every other night, and the first time it happened I had missed a night on accident and it was getting rather poopy. This time, I knew the litter box was reaching the point where it was beyond scooping and I just needed to change it, but I hadn't had time (was going to do it tomorrow, have now done it tonight).

On the other hand, both times also followed a situation that made kitty very upset. The first time my landlord had had to put her in her carrier while work was done in my apartment (studio apartment, no rooms to shut her in). I got home from work to find that landlord had left her in there (5 hours with no food/water or toys, I was not happy and made sure landlord knew it). She peed on my bed sometime between when she was let out and when I went to bed.

Tonight she fell in the toilet so I gave her her first bath. She really really really really did not care for the experience. She licked herself for about half an hour and then started wondering around. I didn't pay attention to her, so I'm not sure exactly when she went and peed on my bed, but boy did I get a surprise when I crawled into bed (yeah, she crawled under the covers to do it, so I didn't see until my feet landed in it.

She's a very sweet kitty, very affectionate, and retaliation would seem out of character for her, so I want to believe it's a total coincidence that both times happened when she wasn't happy with me. Is there any way to tell, or any way to discourage this behavior?

[Chieftain]

I wouldn't know about retaliation, I think they just choose the next best spot and go for it. When I changed Marley's litter from feline pine to recycled paper pellets (like yesterday's news) he held it in from the night I put that litter in until the next night, and ended up peeing on my recliner. I got him some feline pine to put on top of that and no more problems. I switched him to Dr Elsey's now since it tracks less and no problem there, so it was obvious he hated the pellet texture.

So cats can be very picky, cleaning the litter more often might take care of it, as cats also don't like dirty litter boxes. For my one cat I clean his litter box every night right after feeding him and I haven't had a problem.

Hope you figure it out and stop climbing into a wet bed.

PS: I had cats when I was young living in my grandma's that only liked peeing in the shower. The cat would stand at the bathroom door and stare at you waiting for you to open the door. If you did, he would just jump in the shower/tub and do his thing, if not he would jump on your bed and pee on it while giving you an evil glare. R.I.P Max, little evil *******.

[Heidi n Q]

I wrote this some time ago as a response for someone else but the information remains relevant and lately I seem to be getting a LOT of use out of it. First get a UTI exam/sample for diagnosis and proceed from there with pursuing any behavioral or environment issues, but the UTI *must* be ruled out FIRST. If your cat(s) is/are male, just replace she/her with he/him.
I apologize if this sounds blunt, it isn’t meant to be, it is simply the most expedient way for me to share all of the information you need to be informed.
=^..^=

ps ... I kind of feel that both instances were presaged with a stressor and it isn't retaliation that is occuring ... it is having to hold it for hours and later having an unwanted bath.

Inapropriate Urination / UTI
The NUMBER ONE REASON CATS PEE INAPPROPRIATELY = Urinary Tract Inflamation. (UTI)
Diagnosis is with a vet checking a urine sample. There is no other way to diagnose this medical problem. Depending on diagnosis (infection, inflamation, crystals) treatment can include antibiotics, anti-inflamatories and/or a diet change to help get more moisture into their elimination systems.

Cats are naturally neat and tidy animals.
They *know* what a litterbox is for.
If a cat is not using their litterbox, they are trying to tell you something and you need to listen.

AFTER a veterinary visit and UTI has been eliminated as a problem, then you can move on to examining other areas:
Is the cat spayed/neutered? ...unaltered cats can develop UTIs due to hormonal changes from instinctual mating behavior...
Has the home been stressful for the cat? ...cats can develop UTIs due to stress...
Does the cat like the litterbox? ...open-tray, hooded, deep enough litter, large enough box...
Does the cat like the location of the litterbox? ...is it in a quiet area, low traffic and no sudden noises...
Does the cat like the litter used? ...some cats prefer different litters...
Does the cat approve of how clean the litterbox is kept for it? ...many cats will refuse to use 'dirty', and especially *smelly* litterboxes...
Are the litterboxes arranged in such a manner as they cannot become a trap? ... some multi cat households can have a problem with another cat either guarding the LBs or waiting to ambush a cat exiting a LB in an effort to play

Cats WANT to use a litterbox to hide their waste. If they are not, it is because there is some sort of problem and avoiding the litterbox is The Only Way for the cat to tell you It Is Having A Problem. If you and your family are annoyed at this behavior, imagine how *frustrating* and *painful* this is for your cat, who is trying to tell you in every way she has available to her: She Is Having A Problem...UTI's are painful and the kitty tries to find places to pee where maybe it *won't* be painful, like soft piles of clothes, bedding and rugs. When the pain *still* isn't going away by peeing on soft things, they start to pee on 'smooth' things like floors, tables, sinks, tubs, stoves and countertops. IMO, when a cat reaches the point of peeing on your countertops AND/OR peeing *right in front of you while looking you in the eyes* ... please don't get upset, the kitty is simply trying to tell you she has something wrong with her.

After medical treatment, diet can play a large role in helping to keep UTI's at bay; more moisture, as in a wet food or RAW diet. Even a better quality dry food and not feeding "McKittyCrack" (which is what I call grocery-store available catfoods) can help the kitty stay healthy. There are plenty of topics in the Health/Nutrition Forums to help you find a good catfood and/or diet for your kitty during and after treatment.

Good luck, we really *want* you to be able to help your kitty. Please let us know how things go...the information you share could help other people in similar situations, too.
heidi =^..^=

[Spanglo]

Accidents do happen, but more often than not there is a reason for the behavior. Sounds like you have an emotional kitty.

One of my 2 cats is very emotional, and when he is upset he will pee on things and even poo to get his point across. He is also sweet & affectionate like your cat, but emotional, and obviously very capable of retaliation.

Once I learned what upset my cat, then I was able to avoid upsetting him and the "accidents" ceased.

Your cat doesn't like baths, so the next time you bath her definitely keep her off the bed, and pay extra attention to your kitty knowing full well that she may be looking to pee on something. If you can stay a step ahead of her you should be fine.

Also, some cats demand a very clean litter box. Cleaning the box every other day may not be enough for your kitty. My cats complain very loudly if their box is even the slightest bit dirty, which is why I scoop it out 3 times a day.

Hope this helps.

[~Siameseifuplz~]

Stress can cause a cat to go to the bathroom in the wrong places, it's not retaliation, that would require very complex thinking and understanding of human emotions, it's just stress. The animal isn't feeling good, isn't thinking straight, so he messes up.

[Auntie Crazy]

Originally Posted by ~Siameseifuplz~

Stress can cause a cat to go to the bathroom in the wrong places, it's not retaliation, that would require very complex thinking and understanding of human emotions, it's just stress. The animal isn't feeling good, isn't thinking straight, so he messes up.

Exactly. Retaliation / revenge would require cats to to think, "I don't like being locked up in a carrier all day" (or taking a bath or going to the vet), then to know and acknowledge, "My human is responsible for me being locked up" (or the bath or the trip to the vet). "My human wouldn't like pee or poop on the bed" (this involves even more complex thought). "Peeing/pooping on my human's bed will make my human know I don't want to be locked in the carrier (or have a bath or go to the vet). Therefore, I will pee/poop on the bed."

A cat could certainly eliminate inappropriately because it's stressed or feel it needs to mark its territory, but it won't - it can't - do it for revenge or anger.

I actually think your kitty is one of those who strongly desires a clean litter box in which to do her business, and being stressed on top of it just makes the situation worse.

[Ducman69]

Originally Posted by ~Siameseifuplz~

Stress can cause a cat to go to the bathroom in the wrong places, it's not retaliation, that would require very complex thinking and understanding of human emotions, it's just stress. The animal isn't feeling good, isn't thinking straight, so he messes up.

Makes sense.

I'd guess its something like:
1) Want to go to preferred litterbox, but have sensitive smell and its REPULSIVE!

2) Now I'm even more stressed, go chillax on calming soft bed that smells like my human.

3) Can't hold it in forever, so this is as good a place as any I suppose.

*shrugs*

[Dave_ph]

Cat urinate to mark their territory. She's just saying she's taken ownership of you.

Don't reject her by washing the objects she's marked.

[karate0kat]

Thanks for all the responses, and for bringing up some very valid points. That being said...

She did it again!

After last time I washed the sheets and comforter right away but didn't get them put back on the bed until Sunday night (my spares are old and kind of gross looking even when clean, that's why I didn't just leave them on). I go to get into bed last night and find that there's a nice big wet spot again. On the sheet, the comforter, my spare pillow, and the shorts I sleep in that I'd left lying on the bed yesterday morning (which I didn't discover until I'd already put them on...yeah, ew).

There was nothing that happened yesterday that should have upset her, and I had just cleaned the litter box. She hasn't peed on anything else that I can find, including the other sheet set, and she's still using the litter box this morning. I have no idea why she keeps peeing on that specific sheet set! Although I guess I should be grateful at least she's peeing on something I can stick in the washing machine. I'd just prefer it if I could use them more than once before I have to wash them again.

[catloverami]

You might try keeping a plastic sheet over your whole bed or keep the door closed to the bedroom. You don't want her to make this a habit.