cat peeing!

[magzs1112]

when ever i have clothes laying on my basement floor, my 5 year old DLH thinks it a nice great version of a litter box and he keeps peeing on them.  the litter box is always clean for we have a automatic one:)  i try hard to keep the clothes off the floor, but when i forget to he just pees on them.  how do i correct this behavior?   he doesnt pee anywhere else in the house and its very gross to have that smell after i wash them with bleach. any ideas would be great! thanks

[Canuckchick]

is your cat neutered? I find that intact males tend to spray or pee where they shouldn't more often than females or neutered males. Also, the urine wont smell as strong if he's fixed.

If it's just a bad habit then keep a spray bottle with water handy and if you see him at it give him a squirt. Cats hate that and it might deter him from doing it again. The only other solution would be to make sure you don't leave clothes on the floor in the future.

Another thought, the only time my cats have ever peed where they shouldn't is when they were sick. Sweetie had a bad UTI and was peeing on my bed and on the couch! They associate the litter box with the pain they feel when trying to pee so they'll pee elsewhere in hopes that it wont hurt. Strange logic but cats really aren't that bright.

[AAlexander]

My cat, Jacquimo does this too. It drives me insane. He sprays the laundry baskets too. I just can't get around it.

[April2]

Can you get a large, covered laundry basket? Or get two if needed. :) That might help a lot. You'd get the laundry off the floor and kitty wouldn't be able to get into the laundry basket if it was covered. Just a thought.

[lindasp62]

I think that it might be because the clothes are "scrunchy" and "moveable"....things needed to cover up when kitty is done peeing or pooping...just like the sand in the kitty litter box is moveable to cover up. I think it is just nature for your cat to find such a thing to cover up.  

I think the thing you can do is just leave the laundry off the floor.  

[Savas]

I've found that cats can react(to us) strangely to such odors as human sweat. I know dogs and cats will lick obsessively a human arm or hand. It can be a sign of affection, or simply the like the taste of salt/sweat on your skin (sleep with one eye open, should they decide to go for the main course!!! : )  ).

Peeing on laundry... I've wondered if kitty thinks that by leaving clothing or towels about that have a strong scent that they think your marking territory. Naturally, kitty will jump in on the situation and share their personal little contribution to showing he or she is part of the family, and kitty has just as much of a right to the territory as you do.

After all, it's their house too. :)  

[BTownMeezer]

I guess my solution would be to not leave my clothes laying on the floor.  If you have a laundry shute, make sure you have some sort of basket to catch them in.  Hopefully, that will discourage your cat from using your clothes as a litter box (maybe not).

I'm wondering about the automatic litter box too.  I already know my cats would be scared of it - they were scared of the cat drinking fountain I bought for them.  Has your cat always used this box, or is it something new.  

[April2]

How long have you had the automatic self-cleaning litter box? I'm just wondering if he's scared of it. It freaks some cats out.

[kathyjo]

My 4 y.o. female Clinton has a habit of doing this too, but usually because the litterbox needs tending to : ) When I keep up with the litterbox, it doesn't happen.
I would also like to correct this behavior so I'm hoping for some good advice : )
Kathy Jo