Like most dedicated pet parents, you probably make sure that your furry baby is comfortable and well-fed. You only give her the best cat food, provide her with cozy beddings, shower her with treats. Most importantly, you always see to it that her litter box is clean and well-stocked with fresh, clean litter. But what if your cat pees on your clothes despite of your best efforts?
My cat peed on my clothes right in front of me: What should I do?
The moment you discover that your cat peed on your clothes, your initial reaction may range from angry to aggressive and some pet parents may punish their cats, which cat experts discourage. If a cat urinates in the wrong places, like your clothes, bed or furniture, she should not be punished as there’s usually a reason why she peed there.
If this behavior has been going on even after your pet has been trained to use her litter box, this may be a sign or some issue with your cat. You should consider bringing her to the veterinarian for a thorough check-up. You should also be extra observant of her behavior as it may give you significant clues.
Reasons why your cat peed on your clothes
There are several reasons why your cat is unexpectedly urinating on your clothes even in your presence. Here are some of the common ones:
1. Your cat has a medical condition like a urinary tract infection.
One possible reason why your cat has suddenly embarked on an unusual liking for your clothes by peeing on them is that she has a medical issue like a urinary tract infection or worse, a kidney failure. While you may initially regard this behavior as naughtiness or even as a way of taunting you, it may mean that your pet has an underlying medical problem. Cats tend to look for a comfortable spot to pee on especially if they’re experiencing pain and discomfort.
2. Your pet is marking territory.
Another reason why your cat suddenly goes on a peeing rampage is that your pet may be marking territory. This usually happens if your household has multiple cats. Female cats also spray urine as a means of attracting mates. An effective way to prevent urine spraying from happening all too often is to neuter or spay your pets. Also, the use of Feliway Spray does wonders in preventing your cat from spraying urine.
3. She’s experiencing stress and anxiety.
Cats also experience stress and anxiety like us humans. Maybe there were recent changes in your household that caused your cat to be scared like moving to a new home or having a new family member or additional pets. Or you may have some ongoing home renovations and the place is abuzz with activity. These and more may result in anxiety among pets and they manifest this by acting in an unusual way such as peeing on clothes or even furniture, shoes or on the counter.
4. Her litter box is dirty.
A dirty litter box is a major bane for cats so if they smell something “off” with it they’ll skitter off and find somewhere soft and nice-smelling to pee on, which, unfortunately, are your clothes! Don’t blame your pets for that, rather, blame yourself for forgetting to clean and fill her litter box with fresh litter!
Cats cherish their litter box so be sure to keep it clean and scoop the box at least once a day. Always provide an ample amount of clean litter. It’s also advisable to clean the entire box at least once a week with a mild detergent.
5. Your pet cat may have a rough past.
This may happen rarely but sometimes, you need to make a double check on your pet’s past owners and history, if you happen to have an adopted cat and you got her from a local pet shelter. Most often than not, this unusual behavior upon adopted pets is caused by a rough past and they may have been mistreated and subjected to physical abuse by their former owners.
Your furry pet should eventually get over the horrors of her past and you can help her by seeking the help of a professional cat trainer along with constant visits to your vet.
How to correct your cat’s unusual behavior of peeing on your clothes
Frustrated of your cat’s unusual behavior lately? Don’t despair because you can correct this in due time coupled with just the right amount of patience and effort. Here are the steps that you can take to correct your cat’s behavior.
Schedule regular playtime with your pet cat.
Think of this, your cat may just be yearning for some attention from you which is why she’s peeing on your clothes. What you can do is to have regular playtime with your furry baby for at least 10 to 15 minutes daily. Sometimes, having that much-needed playtime is all your cat needs to spend pent-up energy.
Make sure your cat can’t spot outdoor cats.
The sight of outdoor cats that are unfamiliar to your pet could be a major trigger for her unusual behavior as a result of the instinct to mark territory because your pet feels threatened. You can place curtains or other visual blockage so your cat can’t spot unfamiliar cats.
Keep clothes and other high-risk peeing targets out of your cat’s sight.
To play it safe, better keep your clothes in a secured closet where your cat can’t have access. You may also consider storing your dainty shoes and slippers, designer bags and other likely targets in sturdy storage boxes and in areas that are out of your pet’s reach.
Practice a one litter box per cat policy.
This is a smart move especially if you have multiple kitties in your household. Cats do not like to share their litter box so always designate one box for each cat, or much better, place spare ones, too.
Consider giving your cat some specialized medication.
If you suspect that your pet has anxiety and upon recommendation of the vet specialized medication may help. Another way to help ease anxiety is to use Feliway Calming Spray.
Final thoughts
Coping with your pet’s unusual behavior such as peeing on your clothes even in your presence can be unnerving. However, this shouldn’t let you go on overdrive and you should not punish your pet. This behavior can be corrected with time but it may take a generous amount of patience on your part. It’s also vital to have a thorough consultation with your vet to make sure that your pet will have a clean bill of health.