Cat Peeing on Couch

Question
My cat recently started peeing on my leather couch. Specifically, he tries to pee in the crevices, where the cushions meet. This is fairly new behavior and I'm not sure what to do. Why does he keep going in the same spot and what can I do to keep him from doing it in the future?

Answer
Hi Camille,

Inappropriate urination is one of the most difficult things to control in a cat.  Once it starts, it can be difficult to stop.  How old is your cat?  Has been doing anything else out of the ordinary?

Sometimes when a cat starts urinating somewhere other than the litterbox, there is an underlying medical cause.  A visit to your vet would be a good idea to make sure there is no infection or bladder stones which may be causing discomfort.  If a cat associates pain or irritation with the litterbox, they may start to go somewhere else.

The other main reason cats start to urinate where they aren't supposed to is behaviour.  Have there been any changes in your household lately?  Any new pets, new people, anything at all different?  Is the couch new?  Cats can be very sensitive and any changes can cause him to "act out".

The reason he keeps going in the same place is that he can smell the urine there.  A good quality pet stain/odour remover would help get rid of this.  With the couch being leather, it will be more difficult.  You will want to try the product on a small area to ensure it won't damamge the couch.  Pet stores as well as your vet sell pet stain/odour products so I would suggest getting one of these.  

Also, make sure the litterbox is getting scooped and cleaned regularly. A cat is a very clean animal and they will refuse to go in a dirty litterbox.

There is an excellent product you can buy called feliway.  It is a feline facial pheromone that comes in a spray or diffuser.  It has a calming effect on cats and is often successful in helping stop inappropriate urination in a cat.  This is available through your vet or at most pet stores.

Sorry to bombard you with info.  I just want to give you all the possible causes and solutions I can think of.  I really hope you are able to get this under control both for your sake and your kitty's.

-Katherine