Why Does My Cat Pee On My Clothes? 

One of the most difficult things that one may face is waking up in the morning to go to work and finding that most of his clothes are wet with cat urine. This makes him angrily wonder: why does my cat pee on my clothes?

In this case, the cat should not be reprimanded, because cats are clean animals and strive to keep their surroundings healthy and clean. And when the cat pee on the clothes, it means that there is something wrong or that he was not trained to use his litter box.

There are several reasons why a cat prefers to pee over washing instead of using his litter box. Some of them are healthy and others are behavioral. In this article, you will learn about these reasons and how to stop this destructive behavior from your cat.

1)-Why Does My Cat Pee On My Clothes?

As we mentioned in the introduction to this article, cats are very clean and healthy animals, but this does not negate the presence of some errors in their behavior. If your cat peed on your clothes, this does not necessarily mean that she is quarrelsome or angry with you. This may be caused by a lack of care and attention on your part, or she suffers from a health problem, or the litter box is placed in a crowded place, which makes her ignore its use.

To solve the problem of cats urinating on clothes, we must first know the possible causes, which can be divided into health and behavioral reasons, which are as follows :

1.1)-Medical Reasons

1.1.1)-Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) :

Among the common health problems in cats is urinary tract infection, which is among the main reasons for cats urinating in unwanted places in the home.

Urinary tract infection is a painful condition in which the cat feels severe pain while trying to pee , which makes him associate that pain with his litter box, and thus the cat urinates on clothes or anything else.

These disorders can occur at any age and for both sexes of cats, and it is recommended in this case to take the cat to the veterinarian to diagnose its condition and give you the necessary solutions.

1.1.2)-Diabetes :

Diabetes is one of the common health problems in cats, and it is one of the reasons why cats pee everywhere, especially on clothes.

According to statistics, from 1% to 2% of all cats suffer from chronic diabetes. Thus, these cats will suffer from a significant increase in urination - abnormal urination - and in this case, it is recommended to go to the vet, who will often suggest insulin treatment.

1.1.3)-Kidney Disease :

Many cats suffer from kidney disease, which is basically the failure of the kidneys to work or the presence of disorders in their work. The kidneys play an important role in the production of urine in the cat and the increase in its concentration. Therefore, cats with kidney disease pee frequently and feel very thirsty.

There are other symptoms that you may notice in your cat, which are loss of appetite, lethargy, and pale gums.

1.1.4)-Bladder Stones :

The crystals and minerals that make up these stones accumulate in the bladder. Blood in the urine or vaginal licking are other symptoms of bladder stones in addition to frequent urination.

1.1.5)-Arthritis :

Arthritis is a common health problem in older cats. Where the cat becomes very difficult to move. Often cats hide signs of pain, but sometimes the problem can be predicted by observing the cat's behavior, which may be urinating outside the litter box. Cats with arthritis may struggle to reach their tray or take a position to pee.

In this case, it is advisable to take the cat to the vet in order to conduct the necessary tests and find the appropriate solution.

1.1.6)-Hyperthyroidism :

Hyperthyroidism is a common disease among cats, and this disease causes an increase in the frequency of urination in your cat and, consequently, an increase in the incidence of your cat urinating outside the litter box.

1.1.7)-Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease :

This pathology is represented by the presence of disorders of the bladder and urethra in the cat. Among the most prominent signs of this pathology is an increase in the frequency of urination, as well as painful urination. with increasing repetition. It is represented in unsatisfactory results in the cat's behavior such as urinating outside the litter box.

1.2)-Behavioral Reasons

1.2.1)-Cat Marking Their Territory :

Cats pee mostly everywhere in the house, especially on clothes, and this is to mark their area, and this is fairly common in homes with several cats. Therefore, your cat's urination on your clothes is evidence that he is sending a message to other cats that you are his.

Male cats determine their areas when they reach sexual maturity, which is mostly from the fifth to sixth month. It is recommended during this period to neuter the cats to avoid any disturbances.

There are some other explanations for the cat marking its territory :

The cat feels insecure, so it marks its territory.

The cat marks its territory to show that it is dominant over you and also brings a companion.

He feels anxious and wants to define his area to get rid of anxiety.

1.2.2)-Poor litter box hygiene :

It is necessary to clean the litter box regularly because cats are creatures that love hygiene very much. If cats notice their litter box is dirty, they will flee from it and will try to pee on the clothes instead of the dirty litter box.

1.2.3)-Need for Attention :

Cats need enough care and attention from time to time. When cats feel neglected by their owners, they start creating problems, and this is not for the purpose of disturbing, but rather to draw attention to them only. Among these problems is urinating on the clothes of their owners, because cats know that clothes are important things for their owners, so they pee on them in an attempt to attract attention.

1.2.4)-More Comfortable :

Cats love to pee in places where they feel very comfortable, so they often resort to urinating on clothes because it is among the things that comfort them.

In this case, you should make more effort to train your cat to use his litter box, as well as try to limit access to your clothes.

1.2.5)-The cat hates the litter box :

Your cat may hate his litter box and become pee in your clothes, and this is because he is no longer comfortable with the litter box. Here are some reasons :

The litter box is full of trash

You changed your cat litter to an unfamiliar brand

The litter box is uncomfortable or small in size

The location of the litter box is not suitable for a cat, for example, the litter box is placed in a crowded place or next to food

There's another cat taking over the litter box

1.2.6)-Introducing a new individual into the home :

Among the reasons why a cat urinates outside the litter box, specifically on clothes, is the introduction of a new individual into the house. Cats feel uncomfortable if a new animal is brought into the house and classify this as a change in their surroundings. It is difficult for cats to adapt to other cats, so their owners must try to train them to adapt by providing litter boxes for each cat, as is the case with individual games.

1.2.7)-Stress :

When cats suffer from stress, their behavior will change. They may pee on your clothes instead of using their litter box. The cause of excessive stress in cats may be due to changes in their environment, such as the presence of a new animal in the house or new guests. In this case, cats must protect themselves by performing strange behaviors such as urinating outside the litter box.

2)-How To Stop Your Cat from Peeing on Your Clothes?

If your cat suffers from any of the above-mentioned diseases. It is recommended to take the cat to the veterinarian for the necessary tests. The doctor may need to take a blood sample or perform other clinical tests in order to accurately diagnose the disease and give you the appropriate medications.

On the other hand, cats need the necessary attention and care, and that is why cat owners must provide these emotional needs for their cats, and this is to avoid their unwanted behavior such as urinating on clothes.

In general, these are the most important steps you should take to stop your cat from urinating on your pile of clothes :

• Keep the litter box clean by doing regular cleaning and putting the litter box in a safe place.

• Do not try to punish your cat, as this will only exacerbate the problem.

• Try to create a calm and comfortable atmosphere for your cat because stress may cause your cat to pee in unwanted places.

• Neutering cats can prevent random urination in the home. Therefore, try to neuter your cat in time.

• Try to restrict access to your clothes or hide them completely from the cat as a step to prevent your cat from urinating on them.

• Try treating your cat with a reward system. This is when the cat performs a desired behavior. This includes giving them rewards, affection, or even using positive language.

• Try to prepare a special room for your cat that has all the necessities, such as wet and dry food, fresh water, and toys. Add to that a clean litter box suitable for the size of your cat.

• Try to disinfect the places of urine with products free of ammonia and bleaches. It is recommended to use enzymatic cleaners.