Cat Pooped And Peed On Guest Bed While I Was Away

[littlecatt]

My cat Finn is now a year and nine months, I've had him since he was seven months. He's always had exceptional litter box manners. The first time I had to leave him was when I went home from grad school for Christmas, and I boarded him at my vet's. He was noticeably upset with the whole experience when I brought him home so I decided the next time I went out of town I'd get a sitter. The first time I left him (3 days) went great, the second time (a week and a half) went great, though this time (a week) when I was at a conference he pooped and peed on the guest futon. He's never gone outside the litter box before in his life and growing up with a cat with a litter box problem I'm terrified. I'm going to get an enzyme cleaner tomorrow and scrub the futon, but does anyone know what might have caused this? Stress, UTI? Should I get a feliway diffuser next time I go out of town? For reference the sitter visits once a day and plays and cuddles with him.

Thanks!

 

[susanm9006]

If he only did it the once, I expect it was stress, his way of expressing displeasure with your absence or even a dislike of your pet sitter. Was it the same sitter each time? Next trip, I would definitely get a Felliway and make sure all major pieces of furniture are covered or go back to boarding him.

 

[margd]

Although Finn may be developing litter box avoidance, I think it's far more likely to be one of three things: stress caused by your absence, a UTI or a problem with the sitter. It sounds like you have a pretty good handle on things and are already taking the steps to prevent a recurrence so the only thing I would add is that if you have any reason at all to suspect your petsitter is part of the problem, get a nanny cam to keep watch next time you go away.

Good luck! It's not at all unusual for cats to break training when their human goes away for more than a few days so the odds are very good that this is what happened.