We used to have a bit of an issue with our older cat. Whilst she would happily sleep with our dog and they got along great, she started peeing in his bed. It’s became such an issue that we weren’t able to leave our dog’s bed on the floor in case the cat peed on it.
When a cat pees on your dog’s bed, it’s easy to assume that it’s about marking their territory or some kind of rivalry between pets. There’s an old adage of cats and dogs not getting along after all.
The truth is, cats are very specific about their hygiene. So, if your cat is peeing outside their litter box and instead on your dog’s bed, there’s a good reason for it.
But how do you stop your cat from urinating on your dog’s bed? Well, I am happy to say that I managed to come up with a solution which I will share with you today.
How to stop a cat peeing in the dog’s bed
Before you can decide on the right way to go about stopping your cat urinating on the dog’s bedding, you need to know why he’s doing it in the first place. If you scroll a little lower down the page, I address the reasons for urinating.
Once you’ve identified the reason why your cat is peeing on your dog’s bed, there are several ways to stop this behavior – let’s get straight into them.
1. Thoroughly clean pee from the bed
A cat will always return to a place she has already peed on. Their marking instinct is very strong, and they will refresh that mark with urine as often as possible.
It is crucial to act quickly. The smell of cat pee only gets worse as time goes on, and unfortunately, a simple wash with soap and water won’t be enough to do the job.
Mix 1 cup of warm water with 1 cup of vinegar and pour it on the pee stain on the dog bed. Wait for the mixture to dry and then sprinkle the surface with a thick layer of baking soda. Clean the powder off via vacuum cleaner. Repeat once or twice if the stain persists.
You can also use enzyme-based cleaners for a more thorough job. Enzymes break down the acid in the urine and effectively get rid of the stain and the smell.
We used this spray cleaner from Amazon. It works well and doesn’t break the bank.
2. Use an odor neutralizer
Cats are repeat offenders when it comes to urine, so removing their scent from the dog bed will make it a neutral or even undesirable location. It’s also beneficial for your dog – he’ll be able to sleep peacefully on a nice smelling bed.
Odor eliminators can be used on most surfaces in your home and are safe to use around children and pets. This is a great choice on Amazon.
Make sure to check the ingredients in your chosen neutralizer. Ammonia-based products will actually attract your cats, so those should be avoided.
3. Spray cat pheromones
Animals release pheromones into the environment to communicate with each other. This is the basis of a cat’s marking instinct, and you can use this to your advantage.
You can keep your cat away from inappropriate pee surfaces by spraying pheromones into the room. It said to calm your cat down and reduce anxiety which could be leading to them peeing on the dog’ bed.
We used something called a Feliway device to do this which you can buy on Amazon.
Pheromones are most effective when used in tandem with cleaners and odor neutralizers. Your dog’s bed will be completely undesirable once you’ve gotten rid of your cat’s smell and sprayed cat pheromone on it.
If your cat is exhibiting behavior changes due to stress, you may opt for calming sprays too (also on Amazon). It’s an easy, non-intrusive way to keep your cat calm and help reduce his anxiety.
4. Block physical access
Physical separation is one of the easiest solutions to keeping your cat from peeing on your dog’s bed.
While /baby gates likely won’t be effective to block a cat, you can put the litter box and dog bed at opposite ends of your home. If the dog bed looks similar to the litter box in any way (rectangular and gray), it might be best to replace it.
You can also opt to add another litter box – the optimal count is one more than the number of cats you have. Place litter boxes near where your cats hang out most often to encourage use.
5. Training and correcting the behavior
It’s understandable if your cat’s peeing habits are causing you stress, but it’s important to keep from punishing your cat in any way. This will just lead to more anxiety. You don’t want your cat to be afraid of you.
If your cat is just peeing all over your house and the dog bed happens to be one of many locations, then you may have to retrain your cat to use the litter box.
If you think your cat’s disruptive behavior is due to stress, a cat tree or cat condo like this one on Amazoncould be a good investment. This will give him a secure place where he can escape the household goings-on and just keep watch from a safe perch.
Why do cats pee in the dog bed?
And now onto the reasons why cats like to pee and urinate in dog beds. Please read this section as it can help you decide which prevention strategy from above to take – combine them all though to be honest!
Health problems
If you’re wondering why your cat is peeing out of the litter box: it might be because of a medical condition. Urinary tract infection, kidney stones, diabetes, and bladder inflammation are common reasons why your cat suddenly can’t or won’t use his litter box.
There may be a dietary imbalance and you may need to alter your cat’s diet. A trip to the vet will enlighten you.
You don’t need to be too worried – these conditions are easily treatable, and this major change in behavior will lead to early detection of a potential illness, as well as a quick recovery.
Stress and / or anxiety
If your dog is a recent addition to your household, your cat likely sees that as a major upheaval in all of your day-to-day activities. He will mark his territory when he thinks there’s an interloper.
Cats love their routines. Any behavioral aberrations could be linked to significant changes in your household even if those changes seem insignificant to you. If you’ve started working more and you suddenly don’t have much time to interact with your cat, he may act out by peeing somewhere he shouldn’t.
Stress in cats can also lead to bladder inflammation, so he may not be able to control his reaction.
Litter box logistics
You may need to reevaluate the litter box situation. Cats prefer to have the utmost privacy as well as maximum convenience when doing their business. Make sure you haven’t fallen down on cleaning out his litter box regularly – cats are fastidious little creatures.
Location is crucial, too. Maybe the litter box used to be in a very convenient spot, but your house layout or your cat’s habits have changed and it’s not as easily accessible. Maybe your cat passes by the dog’s bed on the way to the litter box and finds it easier to just take a detour.
If you have an older cat, he may not be able to jump across the high sides of his litter box anymore. A newly declawed cat may find rougher brands of litter uncomfortable. It’s best to have one litter box for every level of your home so your cat won’t have to walk very far for access.
Conclusion
How do I stop my cat from peeing in my dog’s bed? If your cat doesn’t have a medical problem such as UTIs or arthritis, make sure he’s comfortable with his litter box. You can also use an odor neutralizer or cat pheromone spray to keep him away from surfaces he shouldn’t be peeing on.
I used those tips and all the ones above, and now our cat and dog sleep together without the nasty stink of cat urine.