Cats may pee on a bed for several common reasons, all generally indicating an underlying issue that the cat is trying to communicate. The primary causes include:
- Health problems: Medical conditions like urinary tract infections, bladder inflammation, diabetes, kidney disease, or feline urinary diseases can cause cats to urinate outside the litter box, including on beds.
- Stress and anxiety: Cats often pee on beds when they feel stressed, anxious, or insecure—for example, due to changes in the household, separation anxiety, new pets or people, or loud noises.
- Litter box issues: Cats are very particular about their litter boxes. They may avoid the box if it is dirty, in a busy or noisy location, if the type of litter is unpleasant, or if there aren't enough boxes for multiple cats.
- Territorial marking or jealousy: Cats may urinate on the bed to mark territory or as a reaction to jealousy from the presence of other cats or household members.
- Environmental or routine changes: Cats dislike change and may express distress by peeing on soft, familiar places like beds.
When a cat pees on the bed, a veterinarian checkup is strongly recommended first to rule out medical causes. After health reasons are ruled out, addressing stressors, optimizing litter box cleanliness and location, and providing a secure environment can help correct the behavior.
