Kitten Peeing On The Couch

Ten days ago I found a tiny kitten among the garbage in an area not far from where I work.
I managed to trap her and I took her home.
She's quiet and docile, I was even able to bathe her in the bathroom sink without any fight, and she didn't complain about the hairdrier either.
She was used to dishes and litterbox, and nothing in the house frightens her.
Because of this behavior, I believe she has been dumped. She had a home and a mother, then she was thrown away and she lived on garbage till I found it.
The vet who saw her on the next day said she was 6 weeks old when I took her home.

Two days later, she pooped on the couch. We took it as a mistake, we thought she was confused and we forgave her.
On the next day she peed on the same spot, we couldn't believe that.

Her litterbox is readily available, she perfectly knows where it is, because she uses it regularly, several times a day.
But there are times when she prefers the couch.
Yesterday I had to uncover the whole piece of furniture and have the covers washed at the laundry. I had also used an enzymatic cleaner several times.
After the thorough cleaning at the laundry, I laid puppy pads on the couch, just in case.

I have noticed that she intentionally choses to use the couch. I have seen that she's somewhere in the house, she's playing, walking, looking out the window, or whatever other activity she is into, then she goes to the couch, jumps on it and picks the same spot for peeing, then she jumps down and resumes her activities. Now that the puppy pads are on the couch, she pees on them, on the exact spot, always.

We would have liked to keep her, because she's otherwise perfect, she is lovely, she sleeps at night and does not howl, but this behavior is very unwelcome, and even rehoming her would be a problem, because the new owner would bring her back to me after a couple of days.

Why on Earth has she to do this?
The vet visited her twice and found nothing. She has been dewormed, received a flea treatment and eats premium wet food for kittens. She has fresh water, a nice place to rest and sleep, she has toys. We spend much time with her to play and cuddle.

Any advice is welcome. Thanks!


This is her, this morning.

Hi there! Didn't you post about this little beauty before - wasn't it pretty much the same issue? Am I missing something??

Did you take all the necessary precautions and cleaning advice from before? Catch me up on what has changed. Thanks!!

If she used to have a home and was dumped, she could have started doing this out of territorial anxiety and a need to claim your home as hers. My guess is that the cushions in your couch soaked up some of the pee smell and you haven't gotten it out completely - if she keeps peeing in the same spot she's likely re-marking because she smells a bit of her pee in the cushions.

What a cutie pie! Perhaps you could sprinkle cinnamon or put down citrus peels on the forbidden spot. I think that smossmosmo might be correct about this being a territorial issue. I know that when owners die, it's common for dogs and cats to pee on where their owner's scent remains. I salute you for rescuing her - only the Good Lord knows the terror that she endured, alone, afraid, vulnerable, hungry, lonely, cold, her baby mews unanswered until you came along. Prayers and vibes that you find a solution!
I will try tagging a few more members: @Furballsmom, @DiandBob, @Mamanyt1953, Sarthur2 , @Kflowers, Jcatbird

Well hi Antonio65 Very nice to see you again! Oh my gosh! That is the most beautiful kitten! I love her! I hope you don’t give up on her. There is absolutely a reason she is doing this. Cats do these things for specific reasons. It’s just a matter of figuring out the reason and correcting it. If she doesn’t have a UTI or other health issue, sometimes these things take time to show up, then I am
guessing she does it out of desperately trying to find her place in this world that has treated her so badly. She may also have confusion about where to go. Six weeks when you found her? She never had a chance to learn proper potty training. She left her Mom too early too! Mom teaching got cut short and human training couldn’t have lasted six weeks! Please, please work with her. I know you really love her and I know that couch peeing is unacceptable but there are ways to correct all this. If the vet can not pinpoint anything and this continues, can take her to another vet for a second opinion? Try some Feliway or one of the calming cat scents available and start working on litter box reinforcement training. A few times a day, especially if you catch her going to the couch, take her gently and with soothing words to the box. Take her front paws and show her to use her paws to scratch in the box to dig. Gently hold her paws and move them in a scratching motion. If she went potty in a garbage area, she may have gotten used to going on various textures. Try adding soil to the top of her litter. You can also try some leaves from your yard or even shredded paper towels. If needed, add some torn up old pieces of regular towels or old fabric of any kind. That poor baby may just need to understand! Your guess that it was a mistake could be right on the money. How can she possibly know what to do after being dumped so young? It’s amazing that she even survived. She must be a really smart kitten. As her human parent, teach her. Do you remember anything specific that she might have used at the area she was dumped? If so, try to imitate that as you teach her about litter.
If she is just desperate to be accepted there and trying to mark her home then reassurance may help too. If she feels threatened that she will lose love or home again, she’ll just try harder to claim it. A smart kitten will sense your frustration towards her. Sweet and calm works better than having sad or frustrated times. This kitty just needs your love and help. With the help of everyone here there is no reason you should have to give up your precious baby rescue. WE’ll all help you to be able to keep her.
Try also putting something noisy on the couch. Something that when she steps on it she will find it unpleasant like aluminum foil. A stiff plastic that you can buy in rolls are a bit rattling sounding she would not like and would also protect your couch. Think of ways to make the couch a place she won’t like walking around.
I am going to put your thread in my watch so that you can try some of this and get back to us. catsknowme had good suggestions about using citrus or other scents to keep her away from the couch. I also agree that she probably still picks up on her previous scents. Is she spayed? That will also be liable to helpnthings. Hormones can mess everyone up! This is a start. Let us know how she reacts to all this and we can go from there to understand her message to you. Give it a little time. So sorry about the couch but very glad you respect her life over other things!! Hang in there and please update us!

FeebysOwner said:

Hi there! Didn't you post about this little beauty before - wasn't it pretty much the same issue? Am I missing something??

Did you take all the necessary precautions and cleaning advice from before? Catch me up on what has changed. Thanks!!

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Hi FeebysOwner ,
Yes, it's the same issue I had explained before, but I moved the discussion on the behavior side because I think it's more a behavioral issue than a health issue.

On Friday I had uncovered the whole couch , soaked the cushions with enzymatic cleaner and washed all the covers at the coin laundry, where I spent part of the afternoon. Once back home I left everything in the sun for the rest of the day and after sunset I covered the couch again.
I also placed a puppy pad on the spot where she pees.

Well, I changed the pad four times yesterday, two times this morning (it's 11:30 am here, two pads in two hours).

I saw her going onto the couch both times this morning. But as soon as she gest there, she starts peeing.
If I lift her up in that very moment, She pees all over, dripping on the floor and on me... it happened, so I know I shouldn't do that.

So it seems it isn't a smell thing, she shouldn't smell any scent with all washed and with a plastic layer between her and the couch.

I am compelled to keep her confined in the corridor, where she is mostly alone, and with no windows

smosmosmo said:

My guess is that the cushions in your couch soaked up some of the pee smell and you haven't gotten it out completely - if she keeps peeing in the same spot she's likely re-marking because she smells a bit of her pee in the cushions.

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But why doing it in the first place?
And now, that I have washed everything, and laid a puppy pad on the spot that she likes the most, why is she keeping peeing on the very spot?

This morning I saw her playing and then running onto the couch and peeing on the pad.
Twice!

catsknowme said:

What a cutie pie! Perhaps you could sprinkle cinnamon or put down citrus peels on the forbidden spot.

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That sounds like a wonderful tip!
Could I squeeze a lemon and then spray the spot with that juice? Or do you think that lemon peel might be more effective?

I salute you for rescuing her - only the Good Lord knows the terror that she endured, alone, afraid, vulnerable, hungry, lonely, cold, her baby mews unanswered until you came along.

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Yes, I think she was really scared, alone, there, with no shelter, food and water.
I had spotted her a few days earlier but couldn't get her. She would keep hiding and running away, and I also lost sight of her for 4 days. It was 95°F and no rain, I feared she was dead!
But she wasn't meowing at all, probably she knew that she shouldn't draw too much attention.

The cutest kitty with the saddest eyes.

Seems like much wonderful advices above have been shared already. It really is frustrating what you are going through with this kitty. But I do hope you don't give up on her, though.

Jcatbird said:

Well hi Antonio65 Very nice to see you again!

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Hi Jcatbird , nice to read you too!
As a matter of fact I've always been here, writing mainly in the Bridge and Health Fora.

I hope you don’t give up on her. There is absolutely a reason she is doing this. Cats do these things for specific reasons. It’s just a matter of figuring out the reason and correcting it.

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I am starting believing that this might be the reason why someone else has dumped her.
A neighbor of mine has seen her and said they want her, as soon as they come back from a short holiday. I would be happy if she they keep her, but if she pees on their couch the trouble would be immense!

I know that couch peeing is unacceptable but there are ways to correct all this. If the vet can not pinpoint anything and this continues, can take her to another vet for a second opinion?

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I could, but at this point I would like to see a behavioralist.

Try some Feliway or one of the calming cat scents available and start working on litter box reinforcement training. A few times a day, especially if you catch her going to the couch, take her gently and with soothing words to the box.

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The Feliway sounds a great idea. Do you think it would be wise to put this product (the electric thing) next to her litterbox?
I already caught her when she jumps onto the couch, but when I reach her is already too late.
The one time that I got her and took back to the litterbox, she kept peeing along the way... dripping on the floor and on me

Take her front paws and show her to use her paws to scratch in the box to dig. Gently hold her paws and move them in a scratching motion. If she went potty in a garbage area, she may have gotten used to going on various textures. Try adding soil to the top of her litter. You can also try some leaves from your yard or even shredded paper towels. If needed, add some torn up old pieces of regular towels or old fabric of any kind. That poor baby may just need to understand!

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Already done that, I showed her how to scratch and dig and she got it right away. She uses her box when she has no choice.
Adding other materials, though, might increase her confusion, I think.
She already peed on other things left around on the floor, and tonight she pulled out a sheet of kitchen paper I had laid in her tray (she has a tray for her dishes, I had laid a tissue under the dishes), dragged it away and peed on it.

Do you remember anything specific that she might have used at the area she was dumped? If so, try to imitate that as you teach her about litter.
If she is just desperate to be accepted there and trying to mark her home then reassurance may help too. If she feels threatened that she will lose love or home again, she’ll just try harder to claim it.

Click to expand...

She would use just dirt, pine needles, dead leaves, or dust, who knows. The area where she was is rather dirty!

Try also putting something noisy on the couch. Something that when she steps on it she will find it unpleasant like aluminum foil. A stiff plastic that you can buy in rolls are a bit rattling sounding she would not like and would also protect your couch. Think of ways to make the couch a place she won’t like walking around.

Click to expand...

She doesn't seem to be fearful of much things. But I could try with tin foil or double-sided sticking tape,

Is she spayed? That will also be liable to helpnthings. Hormones can mess everyone up! This is a start.

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Of course not, she's just 7 weeks now, and weighs less than 2 pounds.
Over here I won't find any vet who would spay her before she's at least 6 months old.

Maria Bayote said:

The cutest kitty with the saddest eyes.

Seems like much wonderful advices above have been shared already. It really is frustrating what you are going through with this kitty. But I do hope you don't give up on her, though.

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I will try my best.
But my wife said she doesn't want her here, the suspect that she might do that again, some time in the future, is too strong!

I had a cat many years ago that had a similar issue, she peed on a chair. I put her litter box on the chair for a few days and slowly moved it to where I wanted it, while putting a plastic chair mat with the nubs up on top of the chair. I won't lie, it took a while to get the box back to where I wanted it. But it was better than having my chair peed on or trying to rehome her

She's very very young yet. Have you considered trying to retrain her, starting from scratch? You need to limit her options so she learns the litter box is the only acceptable place, I'd start with a large cage/kennel, move to a small room, then a bigger room, then the whole house only adding space once she is 100% using the box only. Block off your couch entirely at first with a exercise pen or something, the more the pattern is repeated the harder it is to break.

I suggest putting her litter box right next to the couch and make sure she knows it’s there. Continue with the pee pad just in case. Plugging in a diffuser may also help.

The other alternative is to put her in the bathroom or other confined space for a couple of days with her litter box right there. Sometimes this has to be done with an entire litter of kittens during potty training time. She is young yet.

This does sound like a behavioral issue and it’s out of her insecurity and need for comfort. She is adorable. I hope she will outgrow this, but if you give her to the neighbor, make sure they know about this and allow them to return her to you if things do not work out.

Neko-chan's mama said:

I had a cat many years ago that had a similar issue, she peed on a chair. I put her litter box on the chair for a few days and slowly moved it to where I wanted it, while putting a plastic chair mat with the nubs up on top of the chair. I won't lie, it took a while to get the box back to where I wanted it. But it was better than having my chair peed on or trying to rehome her

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Someone else adviced me the same, but the room where the couch is, isn't the same where she is currently living most of the time.
So I fear that having two places to pee, or moving the box from and to the place where she should pee, might confuse her.

I placed a few strips of tin foil on the couch and on the pad on the couch. She jumped onto the couch and was scared and kind of held off by those strips.
She used the litterbox four times in the last 3 hours, and never used the couch... yet...

goingpostal said:

I'd start with a large cage/kennel, move to a small room, then a bigger room, then the whole house only adding space once she is 100% using the box only.

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Due to the current home layout, a kennel isn't a suitable solution.
She spends most of the time in the corridor which is a linear and easy to clean and monitor room, it's 4 meters long and 1 meter wide, with nothing but a small phone table.
She has all she needs in this small space, and she spends about 20 hours a day there.
The rest of the time is with us in the kitchen (the room with the couch) where she can look out the window.
The rest of the house is currently off limits for her.

Sarthur2 said:

I suggest putting her litter box right next to the couch and make sure she knows it’s there. Continue with the pee pad just in case. Plugging in a diffuser may also help.

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As I said in a previous post of mine, giving her two litter boxes might give her confusion, and she could not train to a single box. She has her own box in the corridor where she spends most of her time. She likes that space, quiet, fresh. And the box is only 4 meters away from the couch.

The other alternative is to put her in the bathroom or other confined space for a couple of days with her litter box right there. Sometimes this has to be done with an entire litter of kittens during potty training time. She is young yet.

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This is what we're doing. She has this corridor where she has all her stuff, and where she spends about 20 hours a day, apart for the few hours when she is allowed to get some fresh air in the window (there's a mosquito screen) and stay with us to socialize.
These are the moments when she thinks that the couch is a handy spot to pee.

I have placed some tin foil strips all over the couch, she tried to get onto it, but she found out the strips, she looked quite scared, and backed off.
I'm going to buy a double-sided tape and lay some strips of it around the couch. Also a diffuser.
About this, is it better the electric plug or the spray? Would you plug it near where she has her litter box?

if you give her to the neighbor, make sure they know about this and allow them to return her to you if things do not work out.

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Very good advice, thanks!

Plug the diffuser where she spends most of her time.

wow....she pees a LOT!! I am surprised that a vet would consider that normal. Perhaps it is time to consider holistic options such as marshmallow root.

If it is behavioral, it might be that she is stressed from too much isolation. That would explain her trying to recapture her territory when she is allowed to go to the social area. Kittens are born into litters and it is very difficult emotionally to be alone.

First of all, going to the litter box so many times in under 3 hours is concerning.

Second, she is too young to have the run of the house, especially since she is not litter box trained yet. She knows what it's for, obviously, but she needs her own small space until she uses it consistently.

She's a baby. 7 weeks is too young to be away from mom, and no rescue would give away any kitten before 8 weeks (although the recommendation is 12-16 weeks) because they often are not perfectly litter box trained yet (among several other reasons). Please be patient. It's like having a toddler.