Dog and cat have started marking the same room?

Question

My dog peed on my bed a few nights ago.  I washed all the sheets in hot water, and sprayed the mattress with Fabreeze before putting the sheets back on.  Despite my best efforts, my cat smelled it and he peed and pooped on my comforter.  My cat has never gone to the bathroom outside of his literbox before, but this morning I caught him trying to pee on the bare mattress.  I'm at a loss at what I can do.  I keep the cats literbox and food in this room, so I can't really keep the door closed, and if I lock the cat in the room and keep the dog out I'm afraid the cat will just pee on the bed again.  My cat is indoor only, so I can't have him go outside.  I'm also worried that their little "territory war" will continue into other rooms of the house.  Has anyone had a situation like this that they've resolved?  Does anyone have any advice?

♪ Seattle ♫ · Accepted Answer

Hi there...consider using a product called Nature's Miracle Just for Cats http://www.petsmart.com/product/include/print/standard.jsp;jsessionid=HLTGFGKZWGBrptGy1vWQQCy538YZfzhL5wkLxnD8Pyt4vyhZYYKM!-1970695443?productId=2750968  (not the plain Nature's Miracle) found at any pet store which works by eliminating the urine and faeces odours.  It's an enzymatic neutralizer which works by breaking down urine and faeces proteins by thoroughly soaking the areas affected and allowing to AIR DRY. Repeated applications are very necessary for heavily soiled areas such as mattresses which urine sinks into deeply. Consider purchasing the gallon size of the product because you'll use a lot for urine stains sunk into mattresses.

Cats will generally will resoil areas repeatedly to "freshen" up the territorial scents and only enzyme neutralizing products will work to destroy those odours.  

Also you could consider a product called Feliway that mimics cat pheromones which is calming to stressed cats. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=1061

If your cat continues to soil inappropriately after you've treated your mattress multiple times I would also consider having your cat evaluated for a lower urinary tract disorder just to rule out any medical issues.

More about feline lower urinary tract disorders: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_feline_lower_urinary_tract_dis.html

An article about why cats inappropriately soil by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (also includes more enzyme cleaning products at the bottom of the page): http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html

naomi · Answer

First, clean the mattress and bedding with an enzyme cleaner, such as Nature's Miracle to remove all traces of urine (Fabreeze may cover the scent to you, but not to your animals sensitive noses.)
Then spray the bed with Feliway - this is a spray that mimics a cat's scent from the scent glands in its cheeks, and encourages the cat to mark the area that way instead of with urine.
You could also try covering the bed with plastic.

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Dog and cat have started marking the same room?

2 Answers