What to do When Your Cat Always Goes in One Spot

If your furry-friend is of the feline variety, a common problem that pet owners face is their pet repeatedly going in one spot. It's an issue in animals both young and old, that with the right steps in place can be fixed.

We've dug deeper into what some of the causes for this are, preventative measures you can take to combat it, and finally - what to do when accidents occur.

Spot the Cause

There are plenty of different reasons why your four-legged family member has taken to that particular spot on your carpet. Finding the time to identify exactly what's causing the problem will help you to know what measures to take to solve the problem.

Cat pee anywhere in the house can be a real issue, due to the strong odour it emits. Cat pee contains strong-smelling proteins and hormones, which leave a lingering scent long after you've cleaned the stain.

If you're cat is peeing in one spot in the house, they're likely trying to let you know that something is wrong. They could be sick, scared, territorial or unhappy with their litter box. Once you figure out the cause, it will help you find a solution, so you and your cat can be friends again!

Here are some possible reasons why your cat is a repeat offender:

Behavioural issues

• If you've recently moved to a new house, your cat may feel threatened by the sudden change. Cats like to be comfortable in their surroundings, and frequent accidents may be your cat letting you know they're uncomfortable.
• Cats often spray when they feel threatened. If there's a new cat on the block, your pet might be letting everyone nearby know where it's territorial boundaries lie.
• Your cat's in a bad habit that's difficult to break. Cats return to the same spot to pee because the scent of their spray is a cue to relieve themselves again. If you've got a new kitty litter or designated spot you'd like your cat to go, this may be why your cat is resisting the change.

Medical reasons

• If your cat is peeing in the same spots often, and exhibiting signs of distress or is tender to the touch, it could be a sign of infection or blockage. If this is the case, a quick check-up with your local vet will identify this as the issue, and be able to help your pet to feel better again.

The litter box

• Cats are notoriously pedantic when it comes to their own personal hygiene. If your cat is unhappy with the state of their litter box, this could be the cause of your problem,

Consider the following:

• Have you recently moved the box from privacy?
• Is the litter dirty?
• Are there too few boxes for the amount of cats in your house?
• Has your cat ever been interrupted or upset while using the box?

If any of these issues seem like something that may be causing your cat to pee in a spot your carpet wont thank you for, it could be time to address the problem.

How to help your furry friend

Once you've identified the source of the problem, you can start formulating a plan to help your cat feel comfortable taking their toilet-time outdoors or back to their designated kitty litter.

Here are a few things we'd recommend to help out your feline friend.

• Give their kitty litter a refresh: make sure the tray is clean and tidy and refresh the litter inside. If the space is clean, they'll be more inclined to use it.
• Make sure their new spot is private: cats are just like us - they don't like being watched while they're doing their private business anymore than we do!
• Give your pet time to adjust: if you suspect the case is a big change or a new cat in the house, your cat will naturally adjust with time and return to its usual habits
• Remove the odour from the problem area: getting rid of the stain from where your cat's been isn't enough to stop them from coming back. Because cats use their scent to know where to pee, it's important to follow up with the Odour Remover to deodourise and disinfect.
• Time for a trip to the vet: if none of these suggestions seem to be helping the problem, it could be time to seek help from a vet to get your pet's health back on track.

What to do in a cat-astrophe

You've identified the problem, put all of the preventative measures in place and reassured your pet that they're loved, safe and a part of the family - yet there's still a yellow patch in the corner of the room.

Don't worry - accidents happen, and when disaster strikes we've got you covered.

Cat pee is acidic, and can leave a nasty, bleaching stain on your carpet, so it's important to act quickly and remove the stain. We'd recommend using our stain remover to tackle the problem!

• Gently blot the patch as dry as possible with an absorbent towel.
• Spray Rug Doctor Stain Remover onto the area
• Gently agitate with a clean cloth
• Follow up with Rug Doctor Odour Remover to eliminate any lingering scent

If you're unsure, refer to our FREE Pet Stain Removal Guide - this will explain in detail how to effectively get rid of your cat's accident left behind on your carpet!

Make sure to also check out our Ultimate Guide to Owning a Pet: Everything you need to know.