How do I stop my cat from revenge piddling?

Question

I have a 5 month old kitten. When I don't let her out of the house when she wants to go, she pees or poops somewhere. Today, she peed on my sofa. Usually, she pees or poops near the door I didn't let her out of.  

I can't cope with a cat that pees on my furniture. I'm sick of cleaning cat pee or poop off my rugs. I live in a city in a cold climate. My doors are thick, my cat has a wimpy voice. I can let her out, but I can't hear her meow to come in. To date, I haven't let her out at night - the reason she peed on my sofa today. What do I do?

When I find a mess, I take her over to it and spray her face with water, while yelling 'bad kitty'. I bought some cat-off spray, but I found it offensive and am I supposed to spray the noxious stuff all over my house?

Michele the Louis Wain cat · Accepted Answer

Why don't you just provide your cat with a litter tray.  They are clean animals by nature but a kitten that young cannot be expected to hold their bladder/bowels forever.  There is no revenge or malice in your kitten's actions, she just simply needs to go to the toilet and cannot hang on any longer.

You should never punish a cat for indoor toileting.  They won't understand they are being punished for going in the wrong place, they will simply think you are mean to them for the act of going to the toilet.

EDIT:  Thanks for the extra info.  Cats don't share our disgust for our own faeces or urine, so they don't do it as revenge.  If it's not a medical problem then there will be a behavioural reason.  The web articles below explain all the various reasons that cats stop using their litter tray and how to resolve it.

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/Pawprint/AllAboutPets/Spraying_and_soiling_indoors.asp
http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20problems/cats/frameset.html

Make sure any areas she has soiled are thoroughly cleaned, because as long as she can detect her own scent, she will continue to use those areas as her toilet.

http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20problems/cats/frameset.html

Leslie L · Answer

I agree that you have to get a litter box. 

Spraying your cat with water only treats the symptoms of the problem, not the cause.  You may end up having a pretty hateful animal due to this, and if you're so unhappy with your pet, it might be best to find kitty a new home.

Anonymous · Answer

Dont you have a litter box for her to use. No cat can stay shut in, and hold their business till they get let out. The poor little thing has to go when it has to go.

* mandie * · Answer

give ur cat a taste of toothe paste, u will only ever get one chance to do this as the cat will never forget!, put some in her mouth, then where ever u don't her to be or go, rub a little in that area, she won't go near it ever again.

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How do I stop my cat from revenge piddling?

4 Answers