Cats are picky creatures. They’re particularly picky about hygiene, so they won’t pee outside of their litter box unless they have a glaring issue with the box.
Perhaps they only want to use a clean area to pee, maybe they dislike the size and shape of the box, perhaps it’s a health issue.
But whatever the issue is, you should solve it fast and learn how to stop a cat from peeing in the dog’s bed.
1. Clean the Bed Well
Although you threw the dog’s bed in the washer and cleaned it well, the cat can still smell its own scent.
To stop a cat from peeing in the dog’s bed, and anywhere else outside of the litter box, you need to be extra careful with cleaning.
Any sign of the cat’s scent and the cat takes that as “sure, you can pee here!”
They may even pick the bed as a new place to mark their territory.
Grab a cup of vinegar and a cup of warm water and pour it on the pee stain.
Once that dries, generously apply some baking soda and vacuum that off after leaving it to sit for a few minutes.
Repeat the process until the stain disappears and you can no longer smell anything unpleasant.
Sometimes this will be enough to repel the cat, but it won’t always work on its own.
2. Use Odor Neutralizer
Don’t take any chances here.
The cat may still be tempted to pee in the bed even after you washed it out with the baking soda and vinegar trick.
Consult your nearest or most reliable store and find an odor neutralizer, which will fully erase any lingering aroma.
This not only keeps the cat away, but it stops your dog from sniffing out the cat’s scent and feeling uncomfortable sleeping on the bed.
You can also use the neutralizer anywhere else you’d rather your animals stop spreading their scent, and best of all, neutralizers are pet and child safe.
Just be careful when buying one and always check the ingredients.
Some contain ammonia, which repels dogs but attracts cats, and that’s the opposite of what you want.
3. Use Another Cat’s Pheromones
If a cat smells another cat’s scent somewhere, they assume the other cat has marked their territory there.
It’s part of how cats talk to each other and let each other know what’s going on, and who owns what.
Now, this doesn’t mean grabbing another cat and having them mark their territory in your dog’s bed.
Thankfully, you can buy spray-bottle pheromones in pet stores or online.
Simply spray it on the surface of choice, or in the room in general, and your cat should stop.
It works in two possible ways:
- Makes your cat think the bed is another cat’s territory
- Makes your cat feel safer as there are other cats around – no more peeing from anxiety
Pheromone Tips
Most people find pheromones most effective when used alongside both odor neutralizers and cleaners.
So spray it on after performing the first two steps and you should eradicate the issue.
Your dog’s bed will be undesirable, possibly even repulsive to the cat, after this treatment.
You can use the pheromones on their own too, but using them alone is best to do in areas where your cat hasn’t been peeing.
4. Keep Kitty Away
If you’d rather not spend time and money on lots of chemicals, then you can focus on keeping your cat away from the box instead. Place a barrier between the cat and the dog bed, place the bed in a room your cat doesn’t go into anyway. If kitty can’t see it, kitty can’t pee in it!
5. Get a Different Bed
If your dog has a square bed, or it’s plastic, maybe your cat thinks it’s another litter box.
Consider changing the bed and selecting something round or plush.
Your dog will get a nice treat and your cat will lose that confusion and hopefully go back to using the real litter box exclusively.
6. Training
You can train bad behavior out of your cat if you want to eradicate the behavior for good.
The training can also help stop your cat from doing other undesirable activities.
As soon as your cat goes near the dog bed, stop them and ask them to go to a different spot.
Consider putting a litter box in the same room as the dog bed.
When the cat goes for the bed, direct them to the little box and give them a treat.
As the cat starts using the box instead of the bed you can slowly move the box, a few feet per day, back to its old location.
Why Is Your Kitty Peeing In the Dog’s Bed?
1. UTIs and Health Problems
Sometimes your cat refusing to use the litter box is a sign of a health issue.
Sometimes it’s as simple as a UTI, but it may also be a bladder infection, kidney stones, diabetes, or worse.
Sometimes it’s tamer, like a nutrition issue.
Take your cat to the vet first and foremost, just to ensure nothing is wrong.
Once you rule out a more serious problem you can address the next potential cause.
2. Anxiety
If it’s not physical health, it may be a mental health issue.
Consider your circumstance. Is your dog or cat new to the home?
If so, one may not be used to the other yet.
Try some bonding activities and ensure kitty knows they’re loved just as much as your dog to hopefully solve the issue.
There are lots of ways you can stop your cat from peeing in your dog’s bed.
Some ways use chemicals, other ways use patience, persistence, and training.
Whichever route you choose, you’re sure to find success if you keep up the hard work and discover the underlying cause of your cat’s unusual behavior.