We have two cats, both male and female. Both are fixed, and several years old. When I was pregnant, the female started peeing on my things. Once we caught her in the act, we were able to take care of the problem. Now six months after the baby has been born, she's peed three times, on the rocking chair where I feed the baby, and on the couch. Thankfully she hasn't peed on any of the baby's things. She's let the baby touch her, and doesn't seem to have a problem with her. Why would she start peeing on things now?
Most likely jealousy. The baby probably gets all the attention the cat used to get (even if, being a cat, it didn't seem to you like she got that much attention). Cats definitely change their bathroom habits to punish and to mark their territory, but they will also do it to show you something is wrong, so as another mom said, it could be a bladder infection or UTI.
Sorry this is happening to you. I fully empathize. I have 2 dogs and an old cat. The younger dog has taken to eating MY shoes. My cat, the senile witch, has decided anywhere up high shall be pissed (and sometimes pooped) upon...including my purse!
oh man cats are really bad about peeing where they shouldn't. It could be that your cat is jealous of the baby but I bet that's not it. Cats are often good about using a litter box for a while and then start peeing in other places. I had a cat growing up and I had a friend who's mom bread show cats so I've heard all the stories. Sometimes a cat will just decide that they don't like the litter box anymore or some get really uptight and will not pee in their box if there is any poop in it. My cat was good for about 3 or 4 years and then started peeing on the carpet in one corner of our house. My mom tried everything and even used the cleaners that are supposed to get the smell out and keep the cat from wanting to pee there again but nothing work. We finally just had to keep her in the basement and only let her up when we were watching her and we had to replace our carpet. There might also just be so many new smells in the house with a baby that she is just trying to make it smell more like her. I don't know....we never got my cat to stop so I don't know if you can.
It could be jealousy. However, our cat started to do this as well - I don't breastfeed. We thought it might be that she wasn't getting enough attention or that she was jealous. We took her to the vet b/c she is an extremely clean cat and found out that she had a UTI. Since she's been treated we haven't had a problem. So, while it may be jealousy, you may want to take her to the vet just to get checked out and make sure there aren't any other issues with her. :) Good luck!
My cat always craps on the rug that is in front of her litterbox whenever my husband and I leave her home alone overnight. It's guaranteed, so I know she does it on purpose. I have no idea what to do about that, so I have nothing to offer about the cat peeing except that she is doing it on purpose for some "cat" reason... seriously.
PLEASE take her to the vet and have her checked for a UTI before assuming this is behavioral. This is a very typical symptom for a cat with a UTI - she has no other way to tell you she is sick except to urinate somewhere odd that you will notice.
The cat could be jealous. How much attention are you giving her? I had some of the same issues with our female cat after our son was born. Just a few minutes ago she meowed at me and I picked her up and gave her a hug and held her for a few minutes. Yes,she really gives you a hug. Have some alone time with her and pet her or brush her. She can't talk to you to tell you she is upset so she is being territorial and spraying (peeing) on things.
Hi. My cat did the same thing and still does at times if there are stressors. I agree w/ others that you should take the cat to the vet to rule out any problems.
Currently, our male cat is on anti-anxiety medicine to calm him down. It doesn't zonk him out. It's called Amitriptyline and cost about $14 for a months supply.
I had 2 female cats that did that after I had a new baby years ago. But the ONLY places they peed were on the spots on the couch where I sat to pump breast milk. We had gone through many other changes, including major moves, etc. with the cats, and they had never done anything like this before, and they were never cuddly cats that wanted my attention anyway, so I always figured there was some kind of hormonal component to the situation. And if I moved to another spot to pump breast milk, they started peeing there, even if they hadn't seen me pumping there. Something in the smell of the milk was triggering something primal in them, I had figured. Unfortunately, we eventually had to give the cats away, because it never got any better!
With your baby, have you recently either stopped nursing, changed formulas, or started solid foods? It's possible that the change in the smell of the baby's food/milk has changed and triggered that female cat instinct, whatever it is! Or is your cat in heat or been in heat recently or soon to start her cycle? That also could have triggered a hormonal response in the cat. Just think how we women change with our hormonal cycles...female cats are also affected. I hope your situation has a better outcome than mine did!
Best wishes,
C.
My cat started doing this when my 23 month old started sleeping with me.. he'd pee on my daughter's blankets. If I closed her door he wouldn't pee on anything else. He was stressed about the change. Maybe your cat is stressed or jealous. It could've been building up or a change in attention to your cat. Try feliway diffuser... I'm going to try it... I've heard alot of good things about it. It's supposed to calm them down when they are in the area they get all mad and pee in. My cat lets my daughter pet him too. My other cat doesn't do anything but the cat (the pee offender) I've had a yr longer so maybe that's why. The diffusers are pricey (in my opinion), $30 but I'm going to try it since the comforter he's peeing on was more than that LOL. Plus I'd like to be able to keep her door open and her bed made and pretty.
It is still a source of change and possible stress for her (any other changes besides the baby?)...or she could have a medical reason, like a bladder or urinary tract infection. Cats are funny creatures, and very sensitive - they may appear "fine" with everything but still be stressed out about it (they do NOT do it because they are "mad" or "jealous" or are trying to "get even" - just wanted to dispel that myth right away). Either way, I would get her seen at your veterinarian for a check up and urinalysis to start - she may need medication (of one type or another).
