You have been recommended to me by a friend. I have an 8 month-old spayed and declawed, feline leukemia positive, tortoise shell cat. (my first cat) She is in very good health. I work for a vet and keep very close tabs on her health. She came into my home with 2 dogs. They do very well together. I also have a male, neutered tabby cat. He came later. They also do well together. She is very affectionate with me and enjoys being on my lap while I'm sitting on my love seat. Whether I am reading, working on needlework or just watching TV, she wants be be with me. She also sleeps with me. But when I can't be right with her, she has urinated on my bed. I have put a plastic shower curtain on the bed. If left alone there, she will manage somehow to urinate in the bed. I have a litter box right at the base of the bed and also one where she has her food in the utility room, just across the hall from the bedroom. And also one in the family room. She uses all of them. Most of the time she does that in the morning, soon upon rising from the night before. I always put her in the room and feed her while I take my shower. I have caught her about 2 times. I made her exit the bedroom and closed the door when I have caught her. I only allow her in the bedroom when I am there and able to watch her closely. She also will go in the bathrooms when unsupervised. We just keep doors closed at all times.

Any advise on this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Mona Y.
Meyersdale, PA

Hi, Mona -

I have gotten in touch with the Official Behaviorist of Cat Chat, Dear Sally (Bahner) and our best guess is that it's marking behavior. The cat is very attached to you and is marking you as her own possession. As much as we hate to deny giving affection to a cat, you may in fact have to back off a bit and be less indulgent and more matter of fact. This is kinder to the cat because it helps her maintain some psychological distance from you so that your movements in and out of a room or the house don't throw her into a virtual tailspin. We suggest that you go to the LittleBigCat.com Web site and look into Spirit Essence's Separation

Anxiety Remedy ...for the cat who gets anxious or upset when her person or people are getting ready to leave - or who acts out (such as urinating on the bed) as soon as you're gone.

Keeping your bedroom door closed is a simple but highly effective common sense way of protecting your bed and her need to mark in there.

Good luck!

Tracie Hotchner

P.S. Please check out the nifty Cat Chat baseball caps I am selling on www.CatChatRadio.com to raise money for the Morris Animal Foundation.

Tracie Hotchner