The Best Way To Clean Cat Pee Out Of Your Bed
If your cat peed on the bed while it was covered in cushions and blankets, youll need to strip the entire bed and put everything in the wash. But remember, not just any detergent will do! You must use an enzyme cleaner and odor destroyer for it to fully remove the bacteria that causes the smell that attracts your cat.
There are almost endless products on the market to do this and believe me, Ive tried almost every single one! Thats actually the reason I developed my own enzymatic cleaner: Kinderbean No Stress Mess Eraser.
Kinderbean doesnt contain stains or dyes, so it wont discolor your homes surfaces. If you choose to use a different enzymatic cleaner, make sure to color test first.
Spray or pour the enzyme cleaner directly on the spot your cat peed. Then put the linens in the wash in hot water. If you have a steam washer, set the cycle to steam. You can use your regular detergent as well.
When the cycle finishes, be sure to give the linens a good sniff test. If you smell any residual odors, run another cycle using OxiClean or Borax . After the second cycle, dry normally.
Now for your mattress! Hopefully, you have a mattress pad that prevents leaks, but in case you dont, youll want to thoroughly clean your mattress as well. Using an enzymatic cleaner like Kinderbean, treat the affected area and agitate it well with a clean cloth.
Get The Cat Pee Smell Out
Cat pee smells because it has bacteria in it that will only come out with the proper cleanser, meaning the cleanser must contain natural enzymes that destroy the bacteria.
If there is cat pee present in your home from previous cats, either yours or previous tenants/owners, your cat can easily sniff it out, even if its not obvious to you!
Additionally, if she pees in your bed and the bed or bed linens are not washed properly, you can almost be certain shell return to the scene of the crime to commit the dirty deed over and over again.
Well talk about how to deep clean in just a bit, but for now, lets start with identifying pee spots. You can do that with a black light, such as this one. Use it to identify urine spots around your house so you can clean them properly.
Why Did My Cat Pee On Me
Cats are the cleanest pets they groom themselves all day long and, usually, only use the litter box. It is very unpleasant to wake up one day and notice that your beloved fluff urinated outside the litter box or, even worse, on you! But what can you do if your cat suddenly pees in bed instead of using its litter tray? Why do cats soil in other places and, how can you get rid of this unpleasant behavior? Find out what causes this messy little problem and how you can help your cat in this situation.
Urinating outside the litter box, including peeing on their owners, is one of the most common behavioral problems that cat parents face. Many cats that urinate in places other than their toilet often have a problem with it and refuse to use the litter tray. Some, however, have a communication issue and, in fact, mark their territory, while others can suffer from various medical conditions, which prevent them from using their usual toilet.
We will analyze them one by one in the following lines.
Also Check: What Age Is Considered A Kitten
The Best Ways To Deal With The Situation
Via Pixabay/FREE PHOTO
And finally we get to the most important partwhat to do to make this situation with your feline better.
First, youre going to need a little bit of patience. Then, follow these useful tips suggested by our friends at PetMD:
- Spruce up the litter box: Like we mentioned before, if you make them a nice area to pee, theyre more likely to use it. This means scooping regularly, using high-quality litter, and making sure you have plenty of boxes available around the house.
- Make sure youve thoroughly cleaned up the mess on your bed: Cats will continue to come back to areas theyve marked which isnot great.
- Turn the area into a fun zone: Play with their favorite toys on the bed, give them treats theremake it a special place that they wont want to mess up.
- Be positive: Getting angry and punishing your cat will only stress them out more, which will probably make the problem much worse. Be patient and give them lots of cuddlesthis is hard on both of you.
- Ask for help: Have you been trying to retrain your cat for a month and nothing seems to be working? Dont be afraid to ask a professional for help. A certified cat Behavior specialist may be able to help you figure out your next steps.
We know you love your ball of fluff regardless of the urination situation. But we also know youd like your fresh, clean sheets back. We just want to emphasize that this kitty bed peeing situation CAN be fixed.
Why Is My Male Cat Peeing In His Sleep
Male cats can struggle with peeing in their sleep as well.
There are two common reasons why your male cat is peeing in the bed, but neither reason is exclusive to male cats.
First, your male cat may simply be getting older. He cannot hold his urine as well as he once did, so he may not be able to stop himself from peeing during the night.
Second, lets think of a younger cat. Incontinence can still be an issue, but that might not be the case with your kitten or your young cat.
Some cats, especially male cats, like to pee on unmade beds because of how the blankets feel. While he may like the feeling while he is awake, he might also like to pee in his sleep.
Also Check: What Age Do Kittens Teeth
Will A Cat Hold Its Pee
A cat can hold his pee.
All cats will not have problems with peeing during the night, so you do not have to avoid getting a cat because of this.
Most cats will be able to hold their pee during the night without a problem. Again, as they get older and older, it may become more of a problem.
For most of your cats life, your cat will be able to hold his pee. If he finds that he needs to relieve himself, he will know to get up and use the litter box.
Even though cats are usually good at holding their pee, you should always refrain from locking your cat in a room or space where they cannot access their litter box.
How To Deal With Incontinence In Elderly Cats While Sleeping
All cats sleep a lot, but older felines take this to the next level. A senior cat may spend up to 20 hours per day asleep. Deep sleep is important, as it allows aging, aching limbs and muscles to rest and repair. Unfortunately, feline bladder control also weakens with age.
Encourage your cat to eliminate whenever it is awake, providing easy access to multiple litter boxes. Bathe your cat regularly, as it will struggle to feel clean. Diagnose the cause of incontinence as older cats struggle to manage their bladders and bowels. Common explanations include muscle weakness, arthritis, kidney failure, and UTIs.
Incontinence is the scourge of many senior cats. It will typically plague a cat at all hours, whether awake or asleep. As older cats sleep deeply, it becomes increasingly likely that incontinence will strike while slumbering.
You May Like: My Cat Is Spraying But He Is Fixed
He Doesnt Like The Litter Boxs Location
Like people, cats prefer peace and quiet when using the litter box. If his litter box is in a noisy or highly trafficked area, he might get fed up after a while. Youll also want to avoid putting his litter box by a loud washing machine or appliances that turn on at random times like a furnace.
Keep in mind that hell also want an area that has enough light for him to see what hes doing, as well as enough space to escape if he gets interrupted by another pet.
Ways To Reduce The Chance Of Peeing Outside The Litter Box
If your cat is all clear in regards to health then thats great!
So lets look at how you can help your cat stop peeing on you when youre sleeping and use the litter box instead
Put The Litter Box In a Good Location.
If you are doing your business, you lock the doors to have your privacy-the same goes for your feline friend.
Place the litter box away from space where people come and locate it far from appliances that turn on at random times like a dishwasher or laundry
The sound of appliances can scare your cat which can leave a negative association to the litter box
Also, you need to pay attention to your other pets at home.
Do you have a dog who usually plays near on that litter box?
If yes, you need to put it somewhere else where your cat can see it immediately while getting the privacy he needs.
I wouldnt recommend having a litter box in your bedroom
I talk about the reasons why in my article – Dangers of Litter Box in the bedroom
Change Bedding Or Throw Them Away!
Your cat will always go back to places where he associated his bathroom.
If your bed smells of cat urine, then he will surely return and pee there again.
Another option could be putting a non-absorbent material on your bed to make it an unpleasant place for your cat to urinate.
Make sure to wash the bed sheets thoroughly and that no cat urine smell is there
I recommend a really good cat urine remover which removes the smell of cat urine
You can check it out in my article – Best cat urine remover
Also Check: Why Is My Cat Laying In His Litter Box
Poorly Located Litter Box
Where is the litter box in your house?
If it is impossible to access the cat then that might be the problem!
Getting to the cat litter shouldnt be an impossible task. It should be straightforward because the cat may not want to deal with unnecessary hurdles when it needs to relieve itself.
You should also make sure the litter box is in a safe place.
Remember, your cat will want to relieve itself in a place that is deemed to be safe. It will want to make sure the area is comfortable just like it would in the wild.
If you arent able to do this then the likelihood of a wet bed will rise.
When you start showing The cat peed on my bed while I was sleeping! it is often a sign of a misplaced cat litter setup.
Be smart about where it is located and make sure it is fully accessible. Also, dont place it in an area that is too hot or too cold. They may steer clear of the cat litter for this reason alone.
Most Common Diseases That May Make Cats Urinate Outside The Litter Box
In kittens, urinating outside the litter box is normal if they are still in the process of learning how to use the toilet. Otherwise, in young adults and older cats, urination outside the litter tray may appear in the following medical conditions:
Arthritis or other diseases that affect cats mobility can also cause them to pee outside the litter box due to pain, which can occur when your cat is entering or leaving the toilet. These happen most often in senior cats, being diseases of old age. Arthritis is a common disease, and it is not life-threatening, but it decreases the quality of life of your cat.
In all cases, the diagnosis will be established only by the veterinarian, who will also institute the appropriate treatment.
Don’t Miss: Science Diet Cat Food Sensitive Stomach
Cats Sometimes Pee On Humans If Theyre Incredibly Afraid In The Moment
Youve no doubt heard the figure of speech I almost peed my pants to describe a heightened sense of fear and anxiety from another human before.
If youre incredibly afraid, as a human, it is possible to lose control of your bladder, and the same is true for cats.
If your cat happened to be in an incredibly stressful situation such as seeing a carrier come out right before being taken to a vet its likely your cat peeing on you had more to do with fear than anything else.
You can absolutely help cats who are stressed by the most common triggers: fear of carriers/getting into carriers, and fear of cars/being in vehicles.
Ive written up a guide on how to reduce and maybe even eliminate carrier fear here, and how to get your cat used to being in cars/vehicles here.
Check those out in case youd like to help your cat be less anxious with both these.
I promise you its incredibly easy and it will make your life so much less stressful whenever you need to get Fluffy to the vet for check ups and possible emergencies.
Determining The Cause Of Inappropriate Urination
Figuring out the underlying cause of inappropriate urination starts with a thorough history and complete physical exam, including a urinalysis that is run right away to look for crystal formation, blood tests to look for diabetes, kidney disease, and hyperthyroidism.
Often, we will also recommend bladder imaging, such as X-rays or an ultrasound, to look for bladder stones and possibly at kidney health.
If all tests check out, well explore possible behavioral causes. Here is where a house call visit from a veterinarian experienced in cat behavior can be very helpful in assessing life from the cats point of view.
Fortunately, there is hope for most cats that are urinating outside the litter box if the problem is addressed quickly, before it becomes a more serious medical issue or a habit, if its a behavioral issue.
Read Also: How To Train A Dog To Like Cats
Should I Allow My Cat To Sleep With Me
Please consider the following pros and cons. Sleeping with a cat is totally your decision.
Cons:
- Baring your cat from your bedroom could cause the problem to get worse and increase your cats insecurity.
- Cats are naturally nocturnal, and most are busy when you sleep. Cats tend to keep their parents awake, and you need your sleep.
Is your cat peeing on your bed and waking you up, or do you sleep through the problem?
- Possible litter particles get on your bed.
- Allergies, COPD, and respiratory diseases can dictate if your cat sleeps with you or not.
- You can catch things from your cat, such as parasites, fungal, or bacterial infections.
I have never had a problem with my Mia. She has been sleeping with me for over six years. Before Mia, Shadow and Sammie slept with me until they crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge.
Pros
- When your cat sleeps with you, it offers you and your kitty security. Sammie, God Bless him, saved us one night by alerting us to a possible fire in our home.
- Is your kitty ill and needs your special attention?
- Cats tend to calm us when they fall asleep next to us.
- Cats are lovely antidepressants, helping to eliminate loneliness, anxiety, and stress.
- Cat researchers stand on the proven fact that sleeping with pets helps to lower our blood pressure.
- Sleeping with your cat promotes bonding, especially if the cat is insecure because you are away for long hours. This may be the only time you get to be close to your fur baby.
Managing Incontinence In Senior Cats
Living with an incontinent cat can be deeply frustrating. While it is unpleasant to clean up urine or feces, it is worse for your cat. Once you have identified and diagnosed the root cause of the incontinence, it should clear up. You can still do more to aid your cat, though.
Affixing your cat with a feline diaper is one option. This is not dignified, though. Many cats will reject this option and become distressed. This will cause further problems with incontinence. Never force a cat to wear a diaper against its will.
Minimize the impact of sleep incontinence by purchasing puppy training pads from a pet store. They will perform the same task for an incontinent cat. Place the pad in a cats bed, or on a preferred sleeping cushion. This reduces the risk of ammonia scent and staining on fabric if the cat urinates.
In addition, consider some lifestyle adjustments. Litter boxes are the most important adaptation. Place multiple litter boxes in the home, so your cat does not need to travel far.
You will also need to help your cat stay clean. Senior cats often struggle to groom in the best circumstances. Incontinence will apply an additional layer of urgency. Check your cat, using wet wipes to clean up any staining.
A cat experiencing incontinence while sleeping is always a concern. The cat can still live a full and happy life, though. Even if the problem is caused by old age, adjustments can be made. Just remain calm in the face of an accident and focus on caring for your pet.
Recommended Reading: Best Canned Cat Food For Kittens
How To Stop My Cat From Peeing In My Bed While I Sleep
The first thing I would do is rule out any underlying medical problems like a UTI.
Is your cats litter box cleaned before you go to bed?
I have four litter boxes for six cats. The vet says I need at least 12, but that will not happen. Two of the boxes are extra-large, and two are regular size. One extra-large litter box is the size of two regular-sized pans, so I suppose I have six boxes total throughout each floor of my house.
I use the top-quality scoopable litter, never clay, and top the litter off as needed. I scoop these boxes out every morning and before I go to bed and as needed during the day.
Cats have exceptional night vision. However, I keep a motion-sensitive night light by each pan.
- What box does your cat prefer, covered or uncovered?
- Is your box too small for the size of your cat?
- Is your cat older and possibly has arthritis, making it difficult to get into the litter box?
I once had a sweet female with bad arthritis, and I put a step in front of the litter pan, making it easier for her to get into the pan. It got so that she could not use the step and started peeing outside the litter pan. I bought extra-large pee pads or bed pads. I laid them under the litter pan, and she did her business on the pads. She did her best, and I worked hard to accommodate her needs. Never get angry or yell at your kitty. They have a reason for doing this, and it is up to you to figure it out. Try to find the trigger and remove it.