7wk Old Kitten Pees in Bed During the Night

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  • #834023
    Megan Boudreaux
    Participant

    Good morning! Super new . . .
    I’ve read around the forums here and saw some helpful tips but I figured I’d post my issue anyway in case there’s anything I might be missing.

    We adopted a 7 week old kitten out of the blue from a friend of a friend who found her in his garage one morning. We already have a 2 year old cat we’ve had since he was 8 weeks. We got her Saturday morning and it is now Thursday. She’s basically been acclimated into the household. Momo will chase and pounce and play around with her, but she doesn’t seem overly bothered or frightened of the encounters, and several times I will see them just relaxing next to each other. So, I’m not really sure if this is an issue between her and my older cat . . .

    We got her own litter box and put it in her sanctuary room (spare bedroom next to ours). She’s been using it pretty steadfastly since Sunday afternoon. She’s even started using Momo’s box outside of our bedroom. The problem is, during the night, she’ll climb up into our bed, sleep next to my husband for a while, and then pee. It’s only happened twice so far — Monday night and Tuesday night were dry nights.

    I can’t tell if she is doing this deliberately because she doesn’t want to jump off the bed and find her litter box (she is pretty small).

    This morning I sprayed/drenched the sheets with an enzyme cleaner and threw them in the washing machine (no soap) to be rinsed, per the instructions. (The first time it happened we just threw the sheets in the wash without a proper cleaning ritual. Even though last night she did not pee in the same place as she did the first night.)

    I’ve purchased a Feliway diffuser which should be here tomorrow. I plan to plug that in the hallway socket which is between her room and ours. I’m hoping that will make her feel that the entire upstairs is safe.

    We stupidly have had miniature stairs leading up to our bed so I’ve taken those away. My plan is to keep her off the bed at night as much as possible. I really don’t want to lock her up or bar access to our room. She’s only accidented in the bed and loves going under it. Also, that is our Mo’s favorite room. I’m not sure if she’s really able to get up on the bed without the stairs at this point — but I know that is going to change within a couple of weeks!

    Anything I’m missing that I should try? I also plan to remove the comforter completely from our bed, since she’s only peed on the bed when we’ve had the comforter on it.

    Hoping to actually help out myself around here. Thanks in advance for any helpful advice I might receive!

    #834030
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    Welcome Megan! Well, I have the belief that cats and kittens don’t pee anywhere on purpose, unless they are spraying, which is not what your kitten is doing. It could very well be that she did not want to get up and pee, or she went in her sleep as you say she is very young yet. I think that she probably had an accident, and that more than likely it still smells like pee, or it went down into your mattress cover or mattress too which she can still smell. I can’t think it’s an issue with the other cat as it just happens when she is sleeping. If she doesn’t stop, you could also have her vet checked to make sure she doesn’t have a UTI, but since she is using the box everywhere else that is probably not the problem. Patience is the key here, unfortunately it may take some time to figure it out. I have never known a spiteful cat (and I’ve known many) that would just pee to prove a point! 🙂
    I would probably make sure she slept on her blankets in your bed, as these things can be removed and washed easily. I am a pushover though, as I would still let her sleep with me…. 😉

    #834034
    Megan Boudreaux
    Participant

    Thanks, Kittyzee!

    I will definitely try that, too! She has a little bed I bought her (Momo has one exactly like it that he loves) and I will just keep it on the bed with us including her sleep blankets (maybe a few rag towels too ^_^; ^_^;). We’ll leave her off the bed at bed-time but this will be good if she happens to crawl up. I’m with you in that I also want them around me!

    It also relieves me that you don’t think it’s the other cat. I couldn’t imagine why it would be, but I’m still new to this multi-cat thing so what do I know! If she’s still doing this by her 11 week checkup it’s definitely being brought up at the vet visit!

    I appreciate the insight, hon!

    #834039
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Welcome Megan,

    As KZ said you should have her checked out by the vet. to rule out medical causes.

    There are many behavioral reasons why cats begin to urinate inappropriately: Frustration, stress, or anxiety can sometimes cause a cat to change their urinating habits. It’s possible that all is not well after you go to bed. Another thing is Momo could be stressed. Since your little one started using all the litter trays, she could be staking out her territory. Anything that smells like Momo is fair game.

    The Feliway may help both of the kits. It’s possible you went to fast on the introductions and may have to start over. 😮

    Simple Tips for Introducing Two Cats

    FYI – When I brought Miss Moppet home, my resident cat, Miss Gaea did not like her and was hissing and chasing her. So if Miss Gaea was around, Miss Moppet wouldn’t get off the bed. She peed on the bed a few times. I finally set up a litter tray that is all hers.

    PG

    #834045
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    Megan, PG made me wonder in her post above that if your kitten wanted to get off the bed in the night to pee and Momo is in the room or maybe waiting for her to get off the bed, maybe she would feel threatened or insecure and decide to just stay put–then she pees. I say this only for you to have some insight in keeping an eye on the both of them. Cats are funny creatures, there is a pecking order and the new kitten will learn it and also gain confidence as she finds her place in your home. Nothing to worry about, but just to make you aware. The Feliway should help too I would think, for both of them.

    #834055
    Megan Boudreaux
    Participant

    Wow, thanks guys!

    I do think it makes sense that she would be a little nervous getting off the bed to go potty. Momo does ambush her on a regular basis, but not always when she jumps off the bed. Their encounters range from sleeping feet from each other to pouncing and his mouth on her in a controlling, dominant sort of way. Not bites, exactly.

    But the strange thing is there haven’t been any accidents while we’re gone for the day – just when we’re sleeping. And I know she sleeps on the bed occasionally because we’ve walked in on her sleeping there.

    So during the day she is comfortable jumping off the bed and going about her business, but at night this changes.

    Man, I am so hoping I don’t have to re-introduce them! I’ve been able to have treat, food, and play sessions with them together. Also, I was wracked with anxiety with the thought of keeping the kitten separated from contact for such a long period of time (my husband and I are gone 10 hours a day, 5 days a week). I thought that would do more damage than good, so I introduced them over the span of a weekend. I know that is sooner than most cases of introduction . . . I didn’t really know what else to do, I guess.

    Well, now that that’s out of the way LOL – I will definitely continue to monitor their interactions. I do already; I get sort of “hover-y”. I try not to be, as I know this could make them both more nervous. But I will keep all this in mind.

    As for the vet, I’ll call them tomorrow and ask if he thinks I should bring her in. She has a follow up at the end of July, but I realize if she has an infection of any kind this is too long to wait. I will say though that she was at the vet last Saturday. I brought her there before I even brought her home. The guy who found her brought her to a PetSmart vet the day before for her shots, but she was so frail and little that I wanted my vet to see her. So, she’s got a clean bill of health so far! Albiet, no urine testing has been done this far.

    I appreciate all the advice guys. This is some great insight. I will def be posting pictures at some point and updates!

    Also, please excuse any typos. I’m typing all this from my phone.

    #834057
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    You seem to know what you are doing Megan, so go with your gut on this. Another thing to do is to make over Momo and make sure he gets a lot of extra attention. I know this seems so simple, but it really works. If one thinks they are getting slighted, especially the resident cat, well, then their noses get out of joint. And do it in front of the kitten too. Scent swapping helps–by putting something of Momo’s in her bed, or rubbing something of hers and rubbing it on Momo. After a while, their scents become mingled and it’s no big deal. All of this takes time and you want it to be over but cats sense of smell is greater than ours and later on it will seem to Momo that she’s always been there. I think male cats adapt much faster than female resident cats~that’s been my experience anyway.
    For some reason my female resident cat Thumbalina was doing the constant licking of her tummy–had all the hair licked off. Just constantly grooming. I started loving her, scratching her chin, giving her more attention and diverting her away from licking all the time. She eventually stopped and fur is on her tummy now and she’s fine. Go figure!

    #834073
    Megan Boudreaux
    Participant

    Success!

    Last night she was sleeping next to my husband and actually jumped off the bed herself and used her litter box. Huzzah!

    Yeah, I’ve been smothering him! He was never a super cuddly cat to begin with so there’s only so much he’ll let me get away with. 😆 But I’ve been making sure to seek him out in his favorite perches and love on him for a bit. I think he really liked that.

    That’s impressive you were able to get your girl to relax! I think I would have lost my mind if Mo started doing some kind of behavior like that in response to Nika. ^_^’ I’m such a nervous nelly.

    Thanks for the encouragement, guys! I feel better about the situation having heard what everyone had to say. I’m going to keep an eye out on the two of them. Today has been a really good day – I got them to eat in the same room at the same time and they even shared a toy during a play session (a first). Then later I saw them sleeping like a foot apart. Small victories!

    #834081
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    Really Megan, they are making great progress really fast! If most people were more in tune with their cats (like you are) it would be much easier. Cats are fun to watch and if you do you can figure out their behavior rather easily. They are very territorial, but done the right way, they are very loving and accepting. Watching “My Cat from Hell” you wouldn’t think so, but most of the problems on that show to me are the people, not the cats!

    #834084
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Concats! I’m thrilled she went potty in her litter pan. You’re doing an awesome job! Kisses and belly rubs for both.

    #834121
    Megan Boudreaux
    Participant

    Man, you guys are the best!

    Although, this morning we woke up and discovered that she had peed on my husbands shorts that were on the floor next to the bed. O_o

    Um, I guess no more clothes on the floor? LOL I’ve been seeing her use the litter box every time I’m awake though. Haven’t discovered any more accident sites.

    ::shrug:: I would really hate to put a litter box in our bedroom but I guess it might help?

    I wonder why she only pees outside of the litter box at night! ???? That’s just so weird!

    #834126
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    Megan, how far does she have to go to use the litter box at night? Do you sleep upstairs? I would definitely put a litter box in your bedroom. This will probably only be a temporary solution until she gets much older. She is small and the task of finding the litter box at night, with her older brother somewhere waiting to ambush her is not something she wants to do, LOL! Set it up in the daytime, and make sure she knows where it is, even put her in it. You should always have one more litter box than you have cats they say, even though I don’t, but you should definitely have two of them. Make sure you have them where she can’t be ambushed when she comes out of it. Cats are notorious for doing this to each other, and I’ve even caught mine trying it a few times. I nip it in the bud right away when I see it. No one needs to be peeing where they shouldn’t.

    #834178
    Megan Boudreaux
    Participant

    KZ,

    Sorry for the delayed response! Ugh, Sundays. We’ve always had a litter box right outside our bedroom door in the hallway, so maybe about like 8–10 feet (if she jumps off the bed). And yes, we do sleep upstairs. We have 3 litter boxes total throughout the townhouse: 1 downstairs since we spend less time there, and 2 upstairs since that is where my husband and I usually hang out. I moved the litter box we bought for Nika from her “safe room” and put it in our bedroom by the cat tree. And, last night she actually jumped off the bed and used it! ::happy dance:: Although, earlier that day, she was just sitting on the bed with my husband and went to pee. Fortunately, we grabbed her in time and put her in the litter box which was only a few feet away.

    I’m not sure exactly why she continues to want to use the bed, but I have a feeling I need a better cleaner. I went ahead and placed an order for something called “Fizzion” on Amazon. It got good reviews so here goes nothing!

    Oh, and about the location of the litter boxes: All of them are pretty out in the open. Our bedroom isn’t that big (especially with the queen bed in it), but fortunately if he ever does ambush her in it, the bed is like right there so she could just dart there if she needed to. Though, Mo doesn’t from what I’ve seen. If he does see her in it, he will wait until she is done and then will sometimes rush up to her only to sniff her, pin her down, and groom her, or walk up to her and sniff her. “Attacks” don’t usually happen right around the litter box. I also took off her belled collar so now he has a much harder time hearing her walk about.

    Hopefully once I get this cleaner she’ll understand that’s no place to pee. I am also going to start keeping her food on that spot on the bed, since I know cats don’t like to eliminate where they eat. OH and I’ve also started cleaning the litter box twice daily, instead of once daily. She doesn’t seem to particularly like soiled litter, while Mo never seemed to have a problem with it. I could actually go for a couple of days without scooping his (I know, yuck!). It’s amazing how different each cat can be!

    I may make another Topic about their relationship goals LOL. My issue is I’m not sure how interconnected the bed-wetting and their interactions are, so I started with this.

    Thanks!

    #834206
    Megan Boudreaux
    Participant

    I forgot to add that last night, we piled the area she usually pees on with blankets and pillows. Not purposefully, there was just nowhere else to put them. I think maybe having that area blocked off made it easier for her to jump off and use the box that was 3 feet away. Just a thought.

    #877604
    DreeMod9e
    Participant

    I’m sorry for bumping this old thread, but I really feel like I have some advice to offer you – and you seemed to really need it at the time…..

    One of my 2 cats (both neutered males) had taken to painting all of my walls, furniture, and anything else he could reach. I was horrified when I got a UV light. He never did that in all of the 9 years I’ve had him and didn’t when I got him a buddy (they love each other and did so right away) but when a strange black cat started showing up outside both of my cats went nuts and the older one (9) started his wall painting, as well as the curtains out in the kitty room. I couldn’t keep up with it.

    My cats are indoor cats so it’s not like the stray is actually going to get in here but they both hate him (and he is weird…my neighbor’s cats hate him too). I’ve tried cleaning with a pet urine enzyme and then spraying some “No More Spraying” but that hasn’t worked. He’s a sneaky little bugger too; he waits until he thinks I’m not looking and then does it. He’s learned that the minute I see him backing his butt up to something he gets yelled at.

    It wasn’t until I found “Cat Spraying No More” that I was able to finally get rid of this tiresome behavior.

    Now my house doesn’t smell like a litter box anymore 🙂

    Here’s a link the their site if you’re interested in checking it out: nomorecatpee.com

    I hope you guys don’t mind me sharing this. Cheers!

    #880074
    Lisa May
    Participant

    It is better to visit the vet. I think the vet can tell you why it is happening.

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