Every cat parent knows how strong the smell of cat urine can be, and when it’s on your clothes, you’re dealing with a frustrating issue. Believe it or not, it’s not unusual for your cat to pee on your clothes. In this article, we’ll look into the potential causes as to why your cat is peeing on your clothes. We’ll break it down into behavioral and medical reasons so that you have a better understanding of this strange phenomenon and how to stop it.
The 9 Reasons Why Your Cat Pees on Your Clothes
Behavioral Reasons
1. Cat Marking Their Territory
An unfortunate choice, some cats pee on clothes to mark their territory. This is somewhat common in houses with multiple cats, but this behavior can happen with or without other cats in the household. Your clothes smell like you, so if you have a territorial kitty, it may pee on your clothes to let the other cats in the house know that you are theirs.
If you have a male kitty, he may be doing it because he has reached sexual maturity. Cats reach sexual maturity around 5 to 6 months, so if your male cat is not neutered, this could be the reason for this inconvenience. If your female is peeing on your clothes, anxiety could be the cause.
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2. Litter Box Issues
Many reasons surround litter box issues that may cause your cat to pee on your clothes instead of using the litter box. They are as follows:
Unclean Litter Box: If you haven’t scooped or cleaned the litter box in a while, odds are your cat won’t use it. Make sure to clean the litter box daily.
Too Much Litter: There’s no need to overload the litter box. Cats generally like the litter to be shallow, so you really only need a couple of inches.
Bad Location: Maybe change where you keep the litter box. For example, if you have the box in the laundry room, your cat may not be too fond of the washing machine or dryer. Try relocating to a private and quiet spot.
Litter Box Sides Are High: If the sides are high, your cat may feel like it’s too much trouble to use, especially if you have a senior cat. Try a litter box with low sides so your kitty can step into it easier.
Not Enough Boxes: Generally, it’s a good idea to have more than one litter box in the house, even if you have just one cat because you need an extra box per cat. If you have two cats, you’ll need three litter boxes.
Avoid Hoods And Liners: Having hoods and liners may make your cat uncomfortable when it’s time to go potty. If that’s the case, your clothes may seem like a more suitable and comfortable option.
3. Seeking Attention
Some cat parents think their cats want nothing to do with them, but that’s not the case. If you leave your cat alone for long periods or don’t play or interact with your cat, your cat may just pee on your clothes to get your attention. Make sure to have plenty of cat toys around and engage in play with your kitty.
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4. Fear/Stress
If you have multiple cats, the cat that’s peeing on your clothes may be being bullied. Maybe the litter box is in a place where your cat doesn’t feel safe with the other cats, and that will make the pile of clothes gathered on the floor or in the laundry basket more enticing. Try setting a box for the fearful kitty in a safe and secure spot where it feels comfortable.
This condition affects the bladder and the urethra. It can cause an increase in urination frequency, as well as painful urination. With the increased frequency, your cat may pee on your clothes instead of the litter box.
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6. Hyperthyroidism
This medical condition also causes an increase in thirst and urinary frequency. Hyperthyroidism is a common disease in cats and can be managed successfully by your veterinarian.
Type I diabetes is when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, meaning that your kitty’s body cannot balance blood sugar or glucose levels. Type II diabetes is the most common in cats. In this condition, a cat’s pancreas produces insulin, but the tissues are unable to use it for glucose metabolism. This is called insulin resistance. In both cases, the result is increased thirst, increased appetite, increased urination, and weight loss.
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8. Bladder Stones
These stones are collections of crystals and minerals that form in the bladder. Along with frequent urination, other signs of bladder stones are pain when trying to pee, blood in the urine, or genital licking.
9. Kidney Disease
Kidney disease causes frequent, diluted urination. Other signs of kidney disease are loss of appetite, bad breath, lethargy, and pale gums.
First and foremost, if your cat is urinating on your clothes, have your veterinarian do an examination to rule out any medical conditions that may be causing the issue. If it is a medical condition, your vet can determine the best course of action to treat your kitty.
If a behavioral problem is the culprit, try engaging in play with your cats individually, especially if you have more than one cat in the home. And make sure you clean the litter box daily. Also, avoid hoods and liners in the litter box because they may make your cat uncomfortable when using it.
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Conclusion
When your cat is peeing on your clothes, try not to get too discouraged because there are remedies if the problem is behavioral. Remember first to rule out any medical conditions that may be causing the issue. You may also want to consider spaying/neutering your cat to help stop your cat from peeing on your clothes as a marking behavior.
Rachel Giordano is a musician and writer living in Pensacola, Florida, with her partner and their two dogs, Sophie, a Boston Terrier, and Aero, a Border Collie/Sheltie mix. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and loves writing about animals of all types. When she’s not writing about animals, she loves to write suspense/thriller novels. A musician by night and writer by day, she enjoys educating the public about the needs and requirements of animals, big and small. ...Read more
