Cats peeing on rugs?

[Malisa]

I hope this is ok here considering I am having to run the wash machine a couple extra times per week just to wash bathroom rugs.

One of my cats likes to use the bathroom rugs to pee on. Her litter box is clean, I took her to the vet she doesn't have a UTI, and my husband cannont always remember to close the bathroom door if he forgets and leaves it open then the cat gets in there and does her business. I already got rid of the other rugs around the house so it is just the bathroom that has rugs right now.

Does anyone know any tricks for getting a cat to stop doing this?

Thanks for the help!

 

[hulagirl87]

I have a cat that had the same issues. She went on one of the carpets in the house. sigh.... she did have a bladder issue and had to have surgery but was fine for a while after that. Then it started up again. Medically she was fine, but the vet said to lock her in a room with the litterbox all day and then she would have to be forced to go there. It worked. Knock on wood!!!

 

[rapmarks]

It seems that once the cat has peed on a rug, no matter how many times you wash it, they will pee on it again.
I ended up keeping the throw rug over the tub rail and they didn't pee on it.
I don't know wht led to it, but one of our cats peed many times on a loveseat, and that smell won't come out.

 

[disneyfan2]

ours did too, but he has kidney disease so it is nothing related to stress or anything. The one good thing for us, is his pee is very watery, so it doens't smell but it is still annoying. He loves fluffy rugs, and because our floors are so cold, i just can't do away with them.

however, we have 2 cats and 3 litter boxes because he doesn't like the other cat using it. But unfortunatley the other cat will use his no matter where we move it.

I would love other suggestions. someone mentioned putting pepper or hot pepper on the rugs he uses and then they won't use it, but i don;t want to be stepping in pepper so i haven't tried it

 

[Malisa]

I read somewhere else that if you wash the rugs in perfume water then they wont use them any more. I'm going to try this I will let you know if it works...

 

[TaraPA]

Once a cat marks their "spot" they will keep returning to it. I read to spray it with vinegar - but not sure if that was to help with the odor or to deter the cat from going back to that same spot!

 

[Mysteria]

Get rid of the rug. Get a new rug and when you are done with it hang over the edge of the tub. Better yet don't use a rug. Get a few towels to use for stepping out of the shower. Same thing applies though. Don't leave them on the floor.

I know you mentioned keeping the bathroom door shut. It's hard to get everyone on board but keep trying with that too. Especially when everyone is out of the house.

Good luck.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

The pet store sells product to remove the smell so the cat can't smell it (or you of course). I would buy a black light and find any urine spots to use the product on. The products have worked for use.

 

[Malisa]

Hmm I will have to try the vinegar. The cat already peed on the "perfume" rug... sigh.

I really dont want to buy new rugs because what if they just pee on them too? Ugh

 

[Mysteria]

Hmm I will have to try the vinegar. The cat already peed on the "perfume" rug... sigh.

I really dont want to buy new rugs because what if they just pee on them too? Ugh

Thing is it may not even be the scent. It's where he/she is used to going. When I clean my cat's box he wants to mark asap even if I don't have the litter in yet. I'd say you could try everything under the sun at this point. That is now your cat's rug.

 

[*BTMRR*]

We had the same problem. I bought new bathroom rugs but she immediately went on those too. I just don't use bathroom rugs anymore.
The rug problem happened several years ago. Recently, I thought "it's been years...maybe I can try a rug again" but the cat immediately decided to use the new rug. So no bathroom rugs for us. I don't really mind. It's the cat's only vice.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

There is a product called "Feliway" or something like that that we've had success with when our cat was peeing in strange places. She actually did have a (very painful and expensive) bladder stone but even after she had it removed, she was still having "accidents"...i guess because she had already marked her spots. But Feliway helped!

 

[disneyfan2]

There is a product called "Feliway" or something like that that we've had success with when our cat was peeing in strange places. She actually did have a (very painful and expensive) bladder stone but even after she had it removed, she was still having "accidents"...i guess because she had already marked her spots. But Feliway helped!

I have the Feliway but never know how to use it? I got it when we introduced another cat way back when. But do you spray it on the spot in hopes they don't use it?

 

[Denine]

I had the same problem. No bathroom rugs for us. With Hera, it is stress. She doesn't like anything new in the house. If something is on the floor where it shouldn't be or if it is new, she will pee on it.

 

[m&m's mom]

Our problem is the cat is urinating on our expensive wool rugs. I can't just throw those in the washer. I am so frustrated!
We had a female pound kitty (picture below) and she never urinated anywhere except her litter box.
A couple of years ago we brought in a stray cat that showed up in our neighborhood and was never claimed. It was a male . He has started to urinate on all kinds of things on the ground. He has been marking rugs and clothes left on the floor. This weekend he wet on my DD's custom soccer bag.
I am just at my wits end. I told DH if he does it again I was going to lock him in the dog crate our Lab no longer uses but he thought it would make him more mad.
My DH and I work from home so he has plenty of attention- I mean any animal that makes it in our house has it made. My DH treats all animals just as important as the kids- we even tease him he treats them better.
I am going to Ptesmart today to see what products they have.

 

[Malisa]

Sounds like nothing will work Sucks I guess I will just have to remember to hang the rugs up and shut the door when I shower.

 

[Feralpeg]

I recently started having trouble with my 17 year old cat. The problem started when I adopted a new dog. He chases the cats. They are afraid to go out to their litter box. My old cat has started using the rug in my bathroom. It was a six foot round shag rug. She ruined it. I bought a new rug, but do not want it ruined. I ended up moving the litter box just outside my bedroom door. So far so good. Now, I don't want to leave it there forever, but I don't dare move it until the dog calms down and leaves the cats alone. In the meantime, I now have a problem keeping the dog out of the litter box. The joy of pet ownership!

 

[Malisa]

Oh I glad you found something that works! My cats have a special blocked off area that the dogs cant get to. The little box is actually right outside of the bathroom so two steps and they could use their box and not the rug! Oh well

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I have the Feliway but never know how to use it? I got it when we introduced another cat way back when. But do you spray it on the spot in hopes they don't use it?

Yeah, you just spray it on the spots that you don't want them to go on.

 

[Jynohn]

We have the same problem, and it's one of the reasons why once this cat is gone, we will never own another one again. We can't use bathmats anymore, and instead, have to put a towel on the ground when showering and immediately pick it up afterward. My daughter often forgets though, and the cat pees on the towel. She also pees on any laundry left on the floor in the laundry room or blankets that happen to fall off of the bed.

She has also been to the vet to rule out a UTI, and her litter box is kept clean all the time. I have three Great Danes, and I swear all three of them combined are easier than taking care of this cat....