Does your household consist of pet felines and canines?
If yes, then allow us to congratulate you – on your passion for pets and your powers of endurance.
As lovable as dogs and cats are as companions, sometimes throwing them together can result in mixed reactions.
A common concern among parents of a blended pet family is the old ‘cat peeing on dog bed‘ mystery.
Contrary to popular belief, your cat isn’t trying to get even with your canine companion in a personal way.
Cats are rather careful when it comes to hygiene, and when they do pee outside the litter box, you can be sure there’s a good reason behind it.
If you’re here looking for solid solutions (excuse the pun!) for your cat’s pee predicament, then boy, have you hit the jackpot.
Not only will we cover the reasons behind your feline’s funny business, but we’ll also tell you how to make it stop.
In fact, you can consider this article a one-stop-shop for all your kitty’s wee-wee woes.
Sound good?
Let’s get started!
Why Does My Cat Pee On The Dog Bed?
You can divide the possible reasons behind your cat peeing on the dog bed into two main categories:
external and health-related.
Let’s get started by covering the superficial reasons behind the sudden shift in your kitty’s urinary habits.
External Reasons
When it comes to external causes, there are three primary motivations why your cat may be conducting its nature calls elsewhere.
The likeliest reason can be linked to your feline’s urge to mark its territory.
For instance, if your canine furball is a recent addition to the family, this can bring your cat’s territorial instinct’s to the fore.
Felines have a remarkable sense of smell, and if the scent of your home changes suddenly due to the presence of another animal, your cat may perceive this as a threat to its survival.
Additionally, both male and female cats are capable of such behavior if they haven’t been neutered or spayed.
Technically, the removal of a feline’s reproductive organs does help in containing its marking behavior, but it’s not 100% foolproof.
Though, if your pet dog isn’t a recent addition and your cat isn’t intact either, then it’s likely a change in the routine that’s causing your cat to pee on the dog bed.
These changes can vary from household to household, so you might want to think back on any variations you’ve recently introduced.
It could be anything from changing homes to introducing a new brand of kitty litter.
Heck, it may even be your behavior that’s causing your cat to act out.
If you’re wondering how that’s possible – it’s simple.
If your routine has altered somehow, then be sure that your cat has picked up on it and isn’t happy.
For example, pulling late-nighters can cause your cat to become stressed, which can lead to high levels of the stress hormone in your furbaby’s system.
This, in consequence, can cause an inflammation of its urine bladder, and Voila! you have a pee-soaked dog bed waiting for you when you get home.
Oh, and another reason why your cat is suddenly inclined to pee on the dog bed can also be a dirty litter.
As mentioned earlier, cats take their hygiene seriously, and dirty litter is a sure-shot way of making certain that your cat looks for other avenues of relief, so to say.
Health-Related Reasons
Nothing is scarier for a pet parent than their babies developing a health condition.
Nonetheless, chances are that if your feline’s peeing habits aren’t caused by external factors, then there may be something else at work.
Some common health reasons behind your cat peeing on the dog bed can be feline interstitial cystitis, urinary tract infections (UTIs), feline urinary tract disease (FLUTD), diabetes, kidney disease, or even arthritis.
But, before you start imagining all sorts of horrors, book a visit to the vet.
Remember, most health conditions in animals are easily treatable, and early detection can play a huge role in your feline making a fast recovery.
Also, you needn’t worry about what you may have to face at the vet’s office.
Your vet likely will conduct a physical exam, and run a few tests to determine the underlying health problem causing the urination crisis.
This will include collecting blood and urine samples.
For instance, urine samples are pretty decisive in making the distinction between tract infections and diabetes.
The blood work can help resolve any lingering doubts your vet may have of a more serious health concern.
How Do I Get My Cat To Stop Peeing On My Dog’s Bed?
If you come back from the vet’s office and your beloved feline receives a clean bill of health (YAY!), then you might want to start looking for techniques that can stop your cat from peeing on the dog’s bed.
But, before we launch into discussing possible remedies, you must single out the external factor behind your kitty’s behavioral shift.
Only then will you be able to pick the best method to suit your needs.
Now that we’ve made that clear – get ready for some action.
As stated earlier, a major cause for urination concerns is a feline’s urge to mark its territory.
If your kitty cat hasn’t been spayed or neutered, then you should contact your vet to have the procedure performed.
However, if for whatever reason that’s not something you want to do (or if your cat has already had the procedure) then you still have the option of investing in cat pheromones.
We know what you’re thinking. If the reason behind your cat’s peeing problem is related to scent, then why would pheromones work.
Well, you’ll be happy to learn that Jacqui Neilson, an animal behavioral expert states that calming pheromones can help relieve anxiety and stress in felines.
And, the best part is, these types of pheromone products are available in various forms, such as sprays or wipes.
As far as tackling territorial stress-induced peeing is concerned, calming pheromones are your best bet.
It also doesn’t hurt that it’s a non-intrusive, painless way of getting your kitty cat to behave.
All you need to do is spritz some of this stuff on the dog bed and watch the magic happen!
Ah, the plot thickens.
In regards to weeing being caused by changes in routine, the solution will depend on the change itself.
But, don’t be disheartened, because as far as levels of difficulty are concerned, most of the tips mentioned here are easy peezy.
If you think that your cat’s peeing on the dog bed is related to a change in kitty litter, then switch back to your cat’s preferred brand pronto.
However, if you have a valid reason for the change, then there’s always the option of trying out some other non-scented brand on the market.
Sometimes, it’s not the scent but the texture of the litter that’s causing the problem.
If you’ve switched to wood pellet litter recently, it may be that your cat’s not a fan.
Yes, wood pellets are more eco-friendly but keep in mind that some cats don’t like the smell of wood, and it’s something that you may have to train your cat to like gradually.
Apart from the litter, changing homes or the placement of the litter can also prompt your furball to misbehave.
If it’s the former, then try and get your feline accustomed to the new surroundings by spending some time with it in each room.
Alternatively, keep your feline restricted to one room, and treat it with extra TLC until you feel it’s calm enough.
If you’ve changed the placement of the litter box, then you can choose to either place it back or place an additional litter box in the areas your feline likes to hang out.
Finally, the only logical solution to a dirty litter box is to clean it posthaste!
Make sure to chuck away to entire contents if the smell is too strong even after a proper scooping operation.
If cleaning the litter box is something you don’t have time for then I would recommend investing in a self cleaning litter box
You’ll save so much time and you’ll get a piece of mind knowing there’s fresh litter for your cat every time!
I would recommend Litter Robot 3 (If you have the budget, although they do offer a payment plan)
You can check out my in-depth review if you want to know more about it
Extra Safety Measures
Apart from the guidance already mentioned, here are a few pro-tips you can use to make your cat’s peeing on the dog bed days are behind the both of you.
Pro-tip number 1:
Make use of a pet-odor neutralizing spray to mask the smell of your cat’s pee to discourage repeat performances.
An odor neutralizer will also make your dog’s life more bearable by making its sleeping space stink-free.
Although, remember to use an ammonia-free spray because cat pee and ammonia smell a lot alike.
Using an ammonia-based spray might attract your furball to the dog bed even more.
Pro-tip number 2:
You can try placing the dog bed in an area where you can block off your cat’s access.
Try placing a litter box there instead for some time to ensure the message gets home to your feline.
Pro-tip number 3:
It may be that your cat isn’t satisfied with the current litter box.
This generally happens when cats outgrow the litter box and find it uncomfortable to take care of business in a cramped space (who wouldn’t?).
A litter box measuring 22×17 inches will work for most adult felines.
But, if your kitty is a Maine Coon or another large-sized breed then you might want to buy something even bigger.
Is Cat Urine Harmful To Dogs?
Surprisingly enough, there’s not much research on whether cat urine is harmful to dogs.
However, experts do state that when cat urine solidifies, the concentration of ammonia in cat urine can become higher.
Breathing in ammonia can prompt health concerns in humans in the long run, especially for folks with respiratory issues.
Furthermore, ammonia can also cause problems like rashes, itchy skin, or red eyes in people.
Here’s a article I wrote about cat litter ammonia > Cat litter ammonia poisoning
In such situations, it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
This is why, if you find that your cat has whizzed one too many times on the dog bed – it’s best to replace it.
You can try washing the dog bed, but if this isn’t an option, then go ahead and get your canine a new bed.
Your dog will certainly be grateful for it, and you may stave off developing ammonia-related health problems.
How To Get Cat Pee Out Of Dog Bed?
Any cat parent will tell you that apart from the pee stains, the worst thing about cat urine is the smell.
And, while there’s nothing we can do to make your cat’s pee less offensive in the smell department, we can offer you two effective ways to get cat pee out of your doggie’s bed.
Not to mention, one of those methods makes use of non-toxic ingredients that you can easily find at home.
So here goes.
Before I carry on – If you’re lazy like me! Then I would recommend getting a cat urine remover that does the job too
Which one to buy? I got you covered – Check out my top 3 best cat urine remover
Like to make your own?
No problem!
Check out these two methods
Method one:
The first method of washing out cat pee from your dog’s bed involves a solution of warm water and vinegar. Pretty simple, right? Additionally, vinegar is great at getting rid of bacteria.
Start by mixing 1 cup of warm water with 1 cup of vinegar, and proceed to pour this solution over the cat pee stain on your doggo’s bed.
Wait for the mixture to dry out completely.
You can speed up this step by placing the bed in direct sunlight.
Once the bed is mostly dry, sprinkle the bed’s surface with a medium-to-thick layer of baking soda.
Then, plug in your trusty hoover and vacuum the excess baking powder.
If the pee stain hasn’t disappeared, repeat the entire process one more time.
Method two:
Method two requires you to get your hands on a pet stain remover and treat the affected area of the dog bed with it (as per instructions).
The good thing about pet stain removers is that they generally employ enzyme-based ingredients to get rid of cat urine stains and smell.
However, be sure to buy a product that’s transparent about its list of ingredients, and can be wiped clean easily.
Wrapping It Up
There you have it, folks. We’ve delivered on our promise of a comprehensive cat pee-related article that will hopefully go a long way in making your life easier.
Just remember, your cat’s unusual peeing habits are not something that you should reprimand your pet for.
This will just make things worse and not just make your cat pee on the dog bed but everywhere in the house! And trust me, you don’t want to face that problem!
More often than not, there’s a solid reason behind your feline’s unruly behavior.
And you can tackle the situation pretty smoothly – if you just pay attention.
Related article – Do cats pee out of spite
