Animal Doctor

The Bed Is Not a Litter Box, but Try Telling the Cat That

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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Dear Dr. Fox:

I have a 1 1/2 -year-old neutered male cat. For a long time, I had no problem with him, but all of a sudden he started urinating on my bed. I clean the litter box every day, and I haven't changed the type of litter. I can't understand why he is doing this. The vet says he is healthy with no problems. What can I do to stop this behavior?

D.M.

Greenwich, Conn.

There are many reasons cats behave this way, and it's not easy to find a solution. First, the vet must check your cat for cystitis and related urinary-tract problems. Often, the only remedy is to put a thick sheet of plastic over the bed and wipe it down with white vinegar or an enzyme cleaner as needed.

Check out possible causes and cures, including eliminating corn from your cat's diet; try Feliway pheromone spray where he likes to lie, and even a little valerian or Valium (under veterinary supervision) if he's upset when you leave and is suffering from separation anxiety. Don't rule out trying a second litter box and different types of litter.

Dear Dr. Fox:

We have an 8-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback-pit bull-terrier mix. We adopted him from a shelter when he was 8 months old. We're his third family. He suffered from severe separation anxiety when we got him, but with training by my husband, he was fine after several months.

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