How to Clean Up the Mess

By Cat Behaviorist Rita Reimers

If your cat has started peeing on your bed, don’t panic.

This is one of the most common issues cat parents contact me about, and while it can be frustrating, there are ways to figure out what’s causing it and stop it from happening again.

Many people assume a cat is angry, acting out, or seeking revenge. In reality, cats do not urinate on beds out of spite. When a cat suddenly starts avoiding the litter box, they are usually trying to communicate that something is wrong.

The first priority is cleaning the area thoroughly and protecting your mattress. Then it’s time to investigate the underlying cause. So, what to do if your cat pees on the bed? Here is my six-step recommend for what to do when your cat pees on the bed, from clean up to identifying the reasons why.

1. Strip the Bed Immediately

Remove all bedding, including sheets, blankets, comforters, and pillows that may have been affected. We want to neutralize the pee spot as soon as possible with an enzymatic cleaner. If your cat can still smell urine in that location, they may return to the same spot again and again.

As you’re doing that wash bedding and add the enzymatic cleaner directly to the load along with your regular detergent. If thire is a large amount of pee, you can presoak the bedding first to help the enzymes start neutralizing the stain.

PRO TIP: My favorite cleaner is Anti-Icky Poo. It is safe to use around people, kids, and pets, yet it still does the job. Be sure to use the UNSCENTED version.

2. Treat the Mattress Properly

If you didn’t have a mattress protector and the bed got soaked, pour an enzymatic cleaner directly onto the spot. Simply spraying the surface is not enough. Cat urine often soaks deeply into mattresses, and lingering odor can encourage repeat accidents. Let it sit uncovered while the enzymes do their work. It. might take a few repetitions, but the smell WILL go away with the right cleaner.

Allow the mattress to air dry completely before remaking the bed.

PRO TIP: Cats have approximately 200 million scent receptors in their nasal passages, while humans have only 5 to 6 million. PLUS cats have that mysterious Jacobsen Organ Flehmen’s Response. Cats can smell things we can’t even image, so if you can still smell the pee, it’s even stronger for your cat.

3. Protect the Mattress

If you don’t already have one, now is the time to invest in a waterproof mattress protector. Even if you don’t have a peeing cat, how many time has your cat decided to throw up on your bed?

While you’re working to identify the cause of the peeing behavior, a mattress protector can prevent additional accidents from permanently damaging the mattress. It also makes cleanup SO much easier, should another accident occur.

It’s a good idea to have two: if one of them is in the wash, your bed can be re-made and stay protected if you have another.

Many cat parents hesitate because they don’t want to spend more money. Trust me, a quality mattress protector is far less expensive than replacing a mattress. I splurged on an expensive mattress when I bought my house, so I want to protect my investment. Mattress protectors are worth buying, and even for a king size bed they are inexpensive.

PRO TIP: Protecting the mattress won’t solve the problem, but it can significantly reduce the stress of dealing with it while you work toward a solution.

4. Schedule a Veterinary Checkup

An important thing to do if your cat pees on the bed: Always rule out medical causes first.

Urinary tract infections (FLUTD), bladder inflammation, pain, kidney disease, diabetes, arthritis, and other health conditions can contribute to inappropriate urination. Even stress-related urination can become worse if a medical issue is also present.

Even if the tests come back clear and there is not an infection or blockage, your cat may have inflammation of the urinary track, called Feline Interstitial Cystitis (FIC), also known as Pandora Syndrome. As I wrote in my article, FLUTD in Cats, confirming FIC requires a cystoscopy (inspection of the bladder) that can cost $1,000–$2,000.

PRO TIP: Since FIC is cannot be detected by a urinalys, your veterinarian my suggest treating your cat as if he has it, since the treatment is benign. One of the best treatments for FIC is the natural fatty acid compound, Palmitoylethanolamide, also known as PEA.

5. Identify the Underlying Cause

Cleaning up the mess is only half the battle.

If you don’t identify the reason your cat is peeing on the bed, there’s a good chance the behavior will continue no matter how much enzymatic cleaner you use. The good news is that cats don’t urinate on beds randomly. There is almost always a reason behind the behavior and your job is to become Columbo and look for clues.

Once medical issues have been ruled out, look for possible stressors or environmental triggers, such as:

• conflict between cats
• changes in the household
• outdoor cats near windows
• litter box problems
• anxiety
• territorial insecurity
• schedule changes
• or disruptions to your cat’s routine.

Cats do not pee on beds out of spite. Let me say that again: Cats do not pee on beds out of spite. They are trying to communicate that something is wrong. Recently, one of my own cats, Lulu, suddenly began urinating on a bed.

Rather than focusing only on cleanup or getting mad at her, I followed the same process I recommend to my clients. I ruled out medical concerns, looked for recent changes, and worked to identify the source of her stress.

Once I addressed the underlying issue, the behavior stopped and it took less than a week.

That’s why I always tell cat parents that cleaning the mess is only half the solution. The real key is figuring out what your cat is trying to communicate.

PRO TIP: When you identify and address the cause, you can often resolve the behavior much faster than you might expect.

Why the Bed?

Many cat parents wonder why their cat chooses the bed instead of the floor, a rug, or some other location.

The answer is often surprisingly simple. Your bed smells more strongly like you than almost anywhere else in your home. To an anxious, stressed, or insecure cat, your scent can be comforting and familiar.

Cats may also choose beds because they are soft, absorbent, and located in areas where they feel safe. Cats under stress may seek comfort in mixing their scent with yours, and peeing on your bed accomplishes that goal.

This doesn’t mean your cat is trying to send you a personal message or punish you.

PRO TIP: More often, they are seeking comfort, expressing stress, or communicating that something in their world has changed.

What to Avoid (and Why)

Punishing, yelling at, or spraying your cat with water for urinating on the bed can backfire. Punishment does not teach a cat where to urinate. Instead, it often increases anxiety and can make the problem worse.

Focus on identifying the cause of the behavior and addressing it directly. Cats use inappropriate urination as a form of communication, and understanding that message is the key to solving the problem.

Need Help?

You do not have to figure out what to do when your cat pees on the bed all by yourself.

I help cat parents worldwide through virtual cat behavior consultations designed to uncover the cause of the behavior and create a realistic plan to stop it.