Cats are, essentially, furry humans with a tail and an independence complex. Life happens on their terms. But they’re so cute, you can’t help but bend over backward to keep them happy. What happens, though, if they’re doing so uncharacteristically unthinkable? Something like peeing on your clothes, towels or sheets?

Is this a cry for help? Is it cat-teen angst? Or is it something that can be fixed with some litter box feng shui?

Their inappropriate urination can be caused by illness, stress, and/or physical problems. Discovering what’s causing this behavior will make your life so much better. And less smelly.

Don’t worry, your cat isn’t the only one in the world doing this. You are not alone. You can breathe a sigh of relief. Well, maybe wait for that sigh of relief to come once you’ve gotten to the bottom of your cat’s little litter problem.

In this article, we’re going to cover why this happens and help you prevent it in the future. Before we dive in, it's important to note you should check with your veterinarian on how your cat can lead a healthy lifestyle. While we have done as much research into this topic as anyone possibly could, we don’t have a PhD in pets.

Why Cats Pee on Clothes, Towels and Sheets

The first thing to do is to bring your cat in for a veterinary checkup to see if there is an underlying medical condition causing this behavior. Your cat may have a bladder infection or kidney stones, which makes them urinate in some very unusual places.

When your cat urinates besides their litter boxes, veterinarians look for health problems, such as diabetes, bladder inflammation, hyperthyroidism or even stress. And laundry on the floor, or even the bed, offers a soft, welcoming place to relieve the pain. This pain can lead to a learned aversion that the “offending” litter box is the source of pain by the cat.

However, if your vet doesn’t find a physical cause, then you should start seeing the problem from a behavioral perspective.

The Location of the Litter Box

There are many things that can contribute to your cat’s unsavory new quirk. The best way to get to the bottom of this is by starting with the litter box. Look where the litter box is located. It could be in a busy area, or it’s next to a noisy appliance like a clothes dryer, or one that turns on at random times like a furnace. Move it, and the problem could be solved as easy as that.

The Type of Litter Box

Cats are so sensitive that a few changes to their daily routine can really affect them. They have very particular requirements for their indoor toilet arrangements that if these are not met, an inappropriate behavior could develop. The litter box might be too small, covered with a hood, too dirty, or even too clean. Felines can be feisty and temperamental and if something isn’t right, they’re sure to let you know. Cats also can be very territorial and sometimes we unknowingly force them into unnatural situations where they feel anxious or crowded. Strangers at home, noise, a scary event while they are using the litter box, or even squabbling with the dogs, can cause their stress and affect their urination problems.

A Dislike of the Litter

If those factors aren’t the root of the issue, it could be the litter, not the box. No matter how clean or pretty it looks. Perfumed litters may make your house smell good, but cats don’t like them, and that could be the cause of their accidents. Cats with litter box aversion frequently require retraining to the box. As a first step, the litter box situation must be made optimal as best as possible. Another type of litter can be provided to see if the cat prefers a different brand or type. Signs that the cat does not like the litter include: sitting on the plastic lip of the litter box to eliminate, failing to dig a hole in the litter, and/or shaking the litter off the paws after exiting the box.

This Litter Box Isn’t Big Enough for the Both of Us

These accidents can also be caused if there’s more than one cat sharing a litter box. You need one box per cat, plus one, and one on every floor of the house. The box should be 1.5 times the length of the cat (not including the tail) or the cat will feel cramped. If possible, the boxes should not all be in the same location in the house so that the cat feels a sense of privacy and is not confronted by other cats who "need the bathroom."

Battle of the Sexes

Bringing a new cat into the household is sure to upset your pet, at least until it acclimates to the change. Cats will sometimes lash out at their owners, peeing in new places to show the disdain for the change. Cats are constantly vying for individual territory. Most often, male cats engage in spraying, but females have been known to do it as well. The problem is more often encountered in a multi-cat household, where animals are trying to mark their territory. Try having your cat spayed or neutered to mitigate this issue.

Cats Need their Cuddles

When was the last time you played with your pet? Yes, cats are independent creatures, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need love too. You should be playing with your pet a couple times a day, at least, because a bored cat is an unhappy cat. The result of a bored cat is almost always a behavioral problem. That can include inappropriate urination. Some cats who are feeling insecure will urinate on the bed for the feeling of comfort surrounding itself with its own smell. If the cat’s not happy, no one is.

How to Prevent Cats from Peeing on Clothes, Towels, Sheets

Even when you’ve addressed and eliminated the inappropriate surfaces a cat is peeing on, you can’t stop there. A cat often develops a preference for that particular surface and wants to continue to urinate on it, even when the other issues have been resolved.

Try a Repellant or Eliminator

It’s important to make previously soiled spots unusable. You can do that by placing aluminum foil on the area (a cat’s kryptonite) or placing a water bottle sprayer in the cat’s vicinity. Some experts argue that a water bottle, or another type of punishment, won’t stop the cat from peeing on your bed or sheets. Similarly to children, cats don’t do well with negative reinforcement. Scent repellents are a good alternative if your cat’s not responding to a water bottle sprayer, and you don’t feel like buying aluminum foil in bulk.

Transform the Previous Place of Urination

Try playing with your cat on the bed or sofa and give out treats there. It will eventually learn to associate the bed or piece of furniture with food instead of a toilet. And when that happens, cats are less likely to pee in places they associate with treats or cuddles.

Switch Litters

Ultimately, your best bet is to switch litters. Try a fine grained, unscented, clumping litter, and to avoid plastic litter box liners.

Make Your Home Stress-Free

Cats really are just like humans. Anxiety can come in many forms, and while we don’t pee in weird places to express our anxieties, cats will. Keep the home as stress-free as possible, and if you can’t do that, try and make sure to rectify the spaces where your cat urinates and eats. Move the litter box to a place that doesn’t have a lot of heavy household traffic, and make sure other pets or children aren’t messing with the cat’s litter box.

The key to stopping your cat from urinating in your space is by being an attentive pet owner. Whether it’s changing the litter or the litter box, moving it around, adding boxes, or just giving your pet some extra lovin’, you’re sure to mitigate this issue. Of course, if the problem persists, revisit your veterinarian for support.

Buying Guide

Track your cat’s litter box activity with the ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box. With a detachable cover, you have the chance to figure out what kind of litter box your cat likes best.
Pretty Litter has natural litters for whatever your cat prefers. This cat litter subscription allows you to figure out what your cat likes best.
One Fast Cat sells a cat wand that doubles as a laser pointer that’s sure to keep your pet engaged for hours. Remember, happy cat, happy life.
A good way to stop your cat from returning to the bed or clothes it’s been peeing on is by completely removing the scent of urine from that area. Angry Orange created a spray that eliminates tough pet odors, rather than just masking them. It works directly on litter, furniture and fabrics.
Fuzzy Pet Health offers an online veterinary service so you don’t even have to leave your house to find out what could be wrong with your furry friend.