Cat Peeing on Countertops

February 2, 2010

Cat on Countertop I went away and my cat got mad. He peed in the dish drainer. The cat sitter cleaned it out with Clorox, but the day I came back he did it again. I threw it away.

Then last night he jumped on the counter and peed in the fruit bowl. This is getting expensive. He knows the counters are off limits, so he is clearly acting out.

What will work as a cat repellent that isn't a spray? I was told moth balls, but I hate to put them in my fruit bowl. Help.

By Joanie from Mill Valley, CA

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Myrna
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February 2, 20102 found this helpful

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If the cat is doing this only when you are away from home, confine the cat to a room with door closed like a utility room. Put a throw rug down for the cat to lay upon, the water/feed bowl, litter box and toys. That way when you must leave, the cat will be come used to this room. Turn a radio on so the cat doesn't feel so alone and perhaps things will improve.

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Joanie

February 9, 20101 found this helpful

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Thanks all. I did take him to the vet, and he had too high (?) a PH, so he is on acidifiers. He wasn't angry, just in pain.

Hopefully this will take care of the problems. Thanks for suggestions.

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5 More Questions

Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.

Question: Cat Urinating on Countertop?

ragdol

October 20, 2017

I have 3 cats who use a cat flap which is always open. They also have litter indoors to use as when there was no litter in the house 1 cat would pee on the carpet. The litter very regularly gets used. Recently over the past few months I have noticed pee on the kitchen counter. I don't know if it's one of my cats or if it is another cat coming in through the cat flap. I am now locking the flap at night.

I have never see the cat pee on the counter. All 3 cats seem healthy with no other noticeable issues so I wouldn't know which one to take to the vet. How would I stop this behaviour? Any ideas? My cats are all around 9 years of age and have never urinated on the counter before. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.

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poehere
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts

October 20, 20170 found this helpful

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Here is a few things to check to see if this helps:

You don't know if it is actually one of your cats or a stray cat that is coming in your home to pee on your coutertop. Therefore, you will need to find out if it is one of your cats or a stray.

Try isolating each of the cats in an area alone with a litter box. Check to make sure you have no more pee on the countertop when you let them out.
If you don't find pee you'll know for sure it is one of your cat's doing this.
Now you need to find out which one. In order to do this you will need to isolate one of them alone in a room with a littler box. Check to see if you have pee.
If you still do then it means one of the other two cats is doing this. Keep isolating one to find out who is doing this.
Now that you know which cat it is you will need to determine why they won't use their litter box.
Have you changed the litter that you used? If you haven't then it is another reason.
Examine your cat's feet. Check to see if your cat has an ingrown nail or a sore foot.

Normally if they do this means they won't use the litter box because it is hurting their feet when they dig in the litter.
You might need to take a urine sample to the vet and have it tested. One of your cats could be sick and you don't realize it.
As some cat's get older they can have stress related issues. Do you notice that one of the cat's has been stressed or acting differently?
Last one is are you gone when the cat pees on the countertop or are you home when this happens?
If you are away from home when this happens one way is to keep the cats in a room with thier litter box when you are gone. Only let them out when you arrive home again. Keep the cat door locked when you are not home.

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Question: Cats Urinating on Countertops?

nspratl

October 14, 2017

I am not sure which of my cats is doing this behavior. About 3 or 4 times a week we find puddles on our countertops. We have been using tin foil to block things, but they pee on it or near it.

We use disinfectants to clean and an odor deterrent, but it doesn't seem to matter. All the litter boxes are always clean. This is a multiple cat household. Help please!

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cybergrannie
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October 16, 20170 found this helpful

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From reading your question it appears you are already doing a lot that responders are suggesting but in a situation like this, sometimes just simple changes will help.

Do all of your cats have a clean bill of health? Vets say that sometimes cats that have a urinary tract infection will do things out of the ordinary to try to let someone know they are in pain.
Perhaps you could talk to your vet about this problem just to see what they think. There are home remedies for UTI.
If no health problems then have there been any changes to their normal routine? Changes will also make cats change their bathroom habits.
Only an enzyme cleaner will completely remove urine odor (cats have great smell ability) and it will draw them back to the same spot.
Bleach will not remove the odor.
Not all enzyme cleaners are equally effective. Cheap ones will work, but need to be reapplied over and over (and probably end up costing as much as the more expensive enzyme cleaners).
Advertisement

Enzyme cleaners: Nok Out, Urine Off and Anti-Icky Poo.
From a vet: Vinegar and baking soda work to neutralize the odor temporarily, and hydrogen peroxide is 30% more oxidizing than chlorine. But cat urine is composed of things that REQUIRE enzymes to break down the chemical bonds. When cat urine dries, the urea is broken down by the bacteria. This is what makes it smell like ammonia.
Health first and good cleaning second.
You may have to place a barricade on your counter tops until you can break the habit. Maybe some boxes to prevent the cat from jumping on the counter tops. Be sure they are large enough for the cat to see from the floor.
You may have to cover even your stove top so there is no vacant spot.

This question is asked off and on so maybe you would like to read some responses from previous questions.

www.thriftyfun.com/Cat-Peeing-on-Countertops-3.html

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Question: Keeping Cats from Peeing on Countertop?

kimkeraga

February 3, 2019

I recently re-homed two Siamese cats. My sister-in-law passed away and left behind these two that are brother and sister. They are 11 years old and I flew them from Massachusetts to Florida. They have been extremely stressed out, but are starting to come around; it hasn't been a month yet. There are two other cats in the house.

They for the most part get along however have developed a bad habit of peeing on the countertops in the kitchen. My sister has taken them to the vet and there are no issues; it is related to stress. I tried enzymes and have heard to try cayenne pepper. I wondered if anybody out there has any other ideas.

Answers

Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts

February 3, 20190 found this helpful

Ask your vet for anti anxiety medication. Your cats have been through a lot.

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Lizzyanny
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February 4, 20190 found this helpful

Do not use cayenne pepper. If they get it in their eyes they can be blinded. When I want to keep my cats off of something I put down a piece of aluminum foil. After a couple of days throw away the foil.

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Pghgirl40
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February 10, 20190 found this helpful

Poor kitties! Sending them prayers to relieve their stress. You are wonderful to take them in. It is hard to reach older animals new habits. You can try the foil trick to line the counters with foil slightly scrunched and flattened. Some folks try double stick tape on card stock on the counter. Do not do that if they are long hair cats, as then it goes from a deterrent to a hazard sticking to their fur and pulling. Ouchies! Post back how it goes.

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