I’m looking for some advice because I’ve been having a few issues with my cat recently.
My little furry housemate has always been perfectly litter-trained, but lately, whenever I leave a damp bath towel on the floor, I find him peeing on it.
I thought it was only a problem with wet laundry, but I’ve also caught him urinating on a pair of dry boxers that had fallen on the floor. He only pees on clothes on the floor; he’s still very clean otherwise.
He doesn’t seem to have any health problems—the vet’s given him the all-clear—and his litter tray is kept clean and changed regularly. He’s 14 months old and has been neutered.
I was just wondering if this is quite common in cats, and if not, I’d like to understand why he’s doing it if possible.
Thanks in advance for your help! :-)
Translated from French
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It’s simply for people like me who come here today looking for solutions to their problems, and I’m really pleased to have found some answers and maybe even some solutions thanks to you all ;)
Actually, the number one cause of cats having accidents is the litter tray itself. You could try putting an extra tray in the spot where she’s been going. How often do you change the litter? And what kind of litter are you using? It might be worth trying a different type. You should also experiment with different trays: some cats prefer a hooded one, while others like an open-top tray—every cat has their own preference. Is her tray easy for her to get to? Have there been any big changes at home recently? Stress can often be the reason why a cat starts peeing on laundry. Are there any other pets in the house?
Thanks for the tip :). When I mention a towel, I mean more of a rag for mopping up the floor or wiping up spills; it isn't actually a bath towel. He’s also peed on my bath mat which was damp as well—I thought it might be the smell attracting him when the towel was wet, but he’s also had a wee on a clean pair of boxers that fell off the clothes horse, as well as on a plastic bag.
Thankfully it doesn’t happen every day; he only does it if something is left on the floor :/
There’s clearly an issue with the litter tray situation.
Try setting up a second one for them—keep it really simple, no hood or flap or anything like that, just a plain tray. Place it well away from the first one, their food, and where they sleep.
In the tray, use a really basic, simple litter—something like Catsan, unscented, non-clumping, and not plant-based.
Just out of curiosity, could you let us know if they’re going on clean laundry or clothes that have been worn? No one’s going to judge you here, even if you do leave your clean washing on the floor! :-) I’m guessing the damp towels had been used; I suspect some cats mistake the smell of sweat for urine and relieve themselves where our scent is strongest, like on clothes, the sofa, or the bed. If that’s the case, they aren’t really being "dirty" as such.
Best wishes
