newly homed stray urinates on fabric

Hello

Three months ago we took in a stray cat and she has settled in really well. This week she has urinated twice where she shouldn't. The first time was on her own blanket, she roughed it up and I found her 'digging' after she had urinated. The second incident was on a pile of bedding waiting to go in the washing machine.

She doesn't have a litter box as she won't use it. When we had her neutered she was inside for 36 hours and wouldn't use it and she has lived outside for 2 years before she lived here.

I will take her to the vet to check for UTI although my suspicion is that isn't the cause. She is the only cat I have had that doesn't 'ask' to go out,we encourage her outside and she is happy outside.

Any ideas welcome!

No changes anywhere, nothing new who may get ger stressed?

- if yes, consider to having an Feliway adapter on...

I agree a vet visit for checking up is appropriate.

And also, do make a inside litter. It may be what she wants at this moment.  No scented litter, classic baked clay, or something which resemble her of what she does outside.

You can sprinkle som Kitten Attract Litter.

Good luck!

Welcome to our Forums!

ps.  I think I saw somebody having a similiar question on our Behaviour subforum. Not you as you has at this moment just one post.

But peeing in the wrong place is fairly common there.

What was offered as the filler in the box?  Some natural litters take the cat awhile to get(pine and pellets in general and some cats with silica)  Fabric is always popular for urinary issues in my house.  They will seek something soft out as opposed to outright peeing on the floor/carpet
 

Hi,

One of the strays I took in used to pee on her bed all the time too.

Try taking some earth from the spot in the garden where she usually pees and putting that in the litter box. My cat co-operated as soon as she recognised her own scent and then I gradually switched to a non-scented clay litter once she had got the idea.

She still has the occasional bed-wetting relapse, but only if something happens to upset her. (Being chased by a tom cat or barked at by a strange dog, for example.)

Thanks everyone.  Nothing has changed and she seems to be the queen around here, she is very defensive of her territory.

It has happened twice since, both times her bed was in the same spot and earlier she was sleeping on it.  I will try the litter, it was the standard non scent litter but I will try adding some soil too.

Also, all fine at the vet. Full UTI check and no trace.

Don't you just wish they could talk and tell you what's up!

I took 3 cats from one owner.  3 for 3 pee on stuff  and Gracie loved to pee on her own bedding/cat tree.  It got to be alot.  I ended up moving her to her own room when she was more pee happy as she was destroying to much.  The other 2 are good most of the time but every so often will surprise you.  Does make me curious why all 3 of them from same house different litters picked it up. The house I got them from was not dirty/cat pee smelling.  Just a little cluttered.

This maybe the reason you ended up with her if previous owner got sick of it  Good news the vet visit went so well.

May want to add an extra box in case she is one who prefers 1 for pee 1 for poop or will not reuse litter when used 1 time.

I would add litter boxes to different rooms in your house. Use a litter specifically designed to attract cats. If there is not a physical cause then there are other reasons that need to be considered.
Are there other animals in your house? She may not want to go to the door if she is concerned over being ambushed or attacked. How is her self confidence.
Another factor is territory. She may be marking her territory to claim the space as her own. There might be a dominant male or female cat that intimidates her. Have you noticed other cats around your yard?
I would provide litter boxes in areas of your home where she feels safe, use cat attracting litter (which is expensive but once she uses it you can start mixing a clay litter in with it. Put a small amount of her urine and feces in one of the boxes. You want to use a very small amount. Keep the litter boxes very clean once she uses them.

Thoroughly clean the clothing, blankets, bed sheets or anywhere else that she used.

Look for other places that she might have use. Don't leave clothes or blankets or bedding on the floor.
What do the places where she has urinated have in common? Is it urine only or both?

Do not allow her to venture outside. It is safer for her. You save money on flea treatments. She will probably not be happy about being indoors only but I think this will force her to learn to use litter boxes.

Look for signs of other cats. If they are spraying, or pooping around your house make the area less attractive to the visitors. Replace soft soil with uncomfortable gravel or rocks wherever you find evidence that visitors are leaving deposits or marking territories. if they are spraying your door place an uncomfortable surface underneath the spray pattern.

I have 13 cats indoor cats. Eleven of them were ferals. I rarely have problems with any of them not using boxes. There are boxes in safe places that allow for privacy and easy escape. I keep all 14 boxes clean for them. I know that if I slack one of my cats will reward my laziness with urinating somewhere inappropriate but who does want to use a dirty bathroom?

I hope you find this helpful. Much of these tips are used by Jackson Galaxy who is a cat behavior list on My Cat from Hell. Usually his tips are correct. I know this because I have used the same methods for years with success!