What does it mean when a cat pees on you?

1. 94

   Daughter Of Maatposted 13 years ago

   What does it mean when a cat pees on you?
   
   One of my cats has the stangest behavior. Occassionally, he will jump up on your lap, only to urinate. Does anyone know why? or how to stop it/

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2. 41

   ChristinSposted 13 years ago

   typically this is a cats way of telling you something is wrong.  When our male cat did that before, we took him to the vet and he was having some kidney issues that required a special diet.  Once we got the diet under control and his health issues cleared he didn't urinate on us anymore. 
   
   A male cat will spray or "mark" if they are not neutered. Typically they don't go "on you", but will spray around the house etc.  Having your pet fixed can help if that's the problem, but if he's urinating on you chances are it is probably something more than just a behavior issue and he should be examined.

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3. 86

   Amber Killingerposted 13 years ago

   Oh, that is very strange. I haven't heard of that issue in particular. I've heard of something similar...don't know if this will help or not.
   
   I heard of one case where a cat would pee in the woman's suit case, if she left the suitcase out and open. The woman figured out the reason was that the cat hated it when she left on business trips, leaving the cat behind. The cat associated the suitcase and her packing her clothes, with her leaving. So to show his dissatisfaction with her leaving, he would pee in her suitcase. This included if she had it open on her bed with clothes in it, in the middle of packing for a trip! So she learned to keep the suitcase hidden in the closet and never leave it out when the cat had access to the room.
   
   I had one cat that did something kind of similar. He always used the litterbox, faithfully, EXCEPT when me and my boyfriend (at the time) went out of town for a couple of days. Without fail, when we were gone, he would pee in the bathtub. Of all things to pee in or on, I guess we could count ourselves lucky that at least this was easy to clean up. This cat leaned a little toward the nervous side, so I believe that he was uneasy and nervous without us being home, maybe even scared, and this was his way of showing his discomfort.
   
   I also knew a couple that had recently been married. The husband had a cat named Wednesday prior to the marriage. After getting married and the wife moving in, Wednesday started peeing on the wife's pillow; never on HIS pillow. Only on the wife's pillow. The wife always thought it was because Wednesday  knew that she (the wife) didn't like her (the cat). So this cat was showing distaste for the wife by peeing on the wife's pillow.
   
   Some cats will pee anywhere other than the litterbox if they don't like the litter or if their litterbox isn't as clean as they require it.
   
   I can guarantee you that your cat is trying to tell you something. The trick is to figure out what.
   
   So as a suggestion, maybe try to figure out if something happens prior to the episodes where the cat pees on you. Are you gone for some length of time? Have you recently disciplined your cat? Is the cat box dirty? Have you just had a guest over that the cat doesn't care for?
   
   Good luck! I hope you figure it out.

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   1. 54

      Alexia Silposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am a woman. The cat started doing this when I was with my boyfriend at the time. We're not together anymore and the cat stays with my ex. He will pee on the side where another female lays. Even switching sides, doesn't fail to pee only on HER side.

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4. 89

   Frieda Babbleyposted 13 years ago

   I know they do it to mark territory and to express jealousy by spraying.  But If this is happening after your cat jumps on your lap, I believe it is a kidney issue.  My friends' cat was having that same problem.  It's definitely something you want to take your cat to the vet about, and hopefully some tests will show what's going on medically.  I don't think it's a personality thing, nor is it personal (accept to say your cat wants some help so is coming to you to get it).  Hope this helps.

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5. 61

   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 13 years ago

   The only time my cat ever urinated on me is when I put him in his crate to take him somewhere, and that was from stress due to his dislike for the crate and leaving home.

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6. 74

   nancynurseposted 12 years ago

   They are marking their territory on you or rather you are theres.  This is per my sister that owns a siamese cat. I do not have one myself.

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7. 75

   SidKempposted 12 years ago

   In general, if you live alone, or if this is your own cat, it is a sign of distress and a call for attention.
   
   If the cat belongs to, or closest to, someone else, it is a sign of stress in the relationship. The cat may feel that you are intruding on, or interfering, with his or her relationship with the other person. Or, the other person may have repressed discomfort about you that the cat is expressing.
   
   I had one friend who had a roommate who's cat would pee on my friend's furniture. I suggested that she humorously ask her roommate, "I think your cat is expressing your repressed feelings. Why would you want to pee on my furniture?" We had a good laugh about it, but it worked! The roommate expressed some unresolved issues, and the cat stopped peeing on my friend's furniture.
   
   I also had, as friends, a married couple who's cat (closer to the husband than the wife) would walk between them in bed. (No peeing in this story.) I suggested that the cat was expressing their ambivalence about intimacy. Again, becoming aware of it helped - the couple became much closer.

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8. 83

   ii3rittlesposted 10 years ago

   If it is a female, it is likely a UTI. Uncommon peeing or spraying in female cats is 9 times out of 10, due to a urinary tract infection. My one female started peeing on anything soft on the floor. She loved my white rug a lot. Needless to say, I do not have that rug anymore. Blood is not always seen in the urine.

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9. 61

   bwinwrightposted 10 years ago

   They are infuriated with you.  This is true.  When a cat pisses on your shoes or anything you own, they know exactly what they are doing.  They are simply telling you they do not like you.  And, generally the reason they don't like you is that feel that you don't like them.
   
   I have seen it quite a few times.  I have been around cats all my life and they are much smarter than you may think.  The folks who love them, like I do, are never pissed on.  However, folks who yell at the cats, kick at them, and generally don't like cats will have their shoes or clothing pissed on.
   
   It's so fair.

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10. 78

    Besarienposted 10 years ago

    We had a cat when I was small who did this to my father's pillow when he was sleeping on it. We took her to the vet to find out that she had a rather severe urinary tract infection. I think they are trying to tell you that urinating is a problem or that they are in pain down there. She had never done it before and never did it again.

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11. 0

    MrDanielAbramposted 10 years ago

    This means he has bladder issues and you should go to the vet immediately.

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12. 60

    alekdoposted 9 years ago

    I don't think that your cat behaves in a strange ways. Though cats are not easy to understand, they behave just like they wish. However, I agree with the fact that cats tend to mark the area they live in by urinating in those places. There is another supposition. Maybe, you are too tired at work or at home to give your pet the attention it needs. So, it tries to attract your attention in such an unusual way. Or, maybe, your cat is just mischievous. That will explain the fact as well:))) anyway, it is you who knows your cat most of all, so keep an eye on it to decide what it currently lacks. Good luck!

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13. 68

    Gaurav Oberoiposted 9 years ago

    When a cat pees on a non-living thing it is marking it's territory whereas when it pees on a living thing it is establishing contact.

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14. 61

    Selena Meyersposted 9 years ago

    It means that he's marking his territory. It's normal for a male cat to urinate on you because, you,to him, are his territory. The way to stop it is to have him spayed.

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15. 60

    Dc Potzkieposted 9 years ago

    try to bring your cat outside of your house for some time..
    they love to urinate and poop on a grassy place.
    bring him outside everyday you'll notice that your cats behavior will change.

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    1. 60

       Aterrizajeposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       I agree this could work.  Cats should have a little time in a nature area.   It is good for them.  It is also good for people.

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16. 83

    passionatelearnrposted 9 years ago

    He's marking his territory.Male cats often do that though not on a lap.

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17. 70

    clivewilliamsposted 9 years ago

    could be kidney problems, or it could mean you are his property!

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18. 69

    ePetNationposted 9 years ago

    I hope you have taken him to the vet by now based on the answers. It is true. Your cat is trying to tell you he is having issues. Either kidney or he has crystals in his bladder. Either way he needs to see his vet.
    Best of luck

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19. 55

    willmcwryterposted 9 years ago

    any update on this?  this question is posted to the front page so it must be really important to hp

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    1. 94

       Daughter Of Maatposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Here's an update. We still have the cat. He's about 6 yrs old now and the vet gave him a clean bill of health when we took him 4 yrs ago. He was claiming us as his apparently.

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20. 52

    Canucks goalposted 9 years ago

    Believe the cat is claiming ownership over you!

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21. 0

    LoliHeyposted 9 years ago

    It means it is time to take your cat to the vet.

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22. 59

    Chathushkieposted 9 years ago

    I don't know the exact reason but I think it could be due to love over loaded+ old age! My cat does the same, and he's quite old,8 years. I've noticed that he does it when he's in full swing, purring at his fullest. So I think its just a moment of uncontrollable pleasure.

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23. 89

    Robert Levineposted 9 years ago

    It means you're standing in the wrong place.

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24. 45

    Ann810posted 9 years ago

    When a cat pees on you it means take a shower, and train the cat to practice urinating in his litter-box. I'm not superstitious, so it doesn't mean anything but to train the cat to pee in a appropriate place such as outdoors or litter-box.

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25. 82

    Stella Kayeposted 8 years ago

    It means you need to get a litter tray or a cat flap. Are you sure it is urine and not spray? Cats will spray to mark their territory by spraying so must be a rite of ownership if it's spray (males are the smelliest) but females leave their scent on you too, although it is not at all detectable to the human nose.

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26. 83

    FlourishAnywayposted 8 years ago

    I had a neutered male pet cat, Jamal, spray me and express dominance behavior towards me (e.g., climbing on my shoulders and trying to gently bite my scalp).  He was a very nice cat otherwise but didn't always get the attention he desired because I traveled.  He did have a habit of spraying my car tires (but not my husband's) daily as a means of expressing ownership of me.  Terrible and unpleasant behavior. 
    
    I had him medically checked out after he peed on me and it turned out he had undetected diabetes.  (He is now deceased.  We treated his diabetes for several years before he died.) 
    
    Thus, I would suggest that if your cat is peeing on your lap he is trying to "shout" to you that "something is wrong with me" and "please help."  I have had many cats over the years and have found that when they are ill they tend to magically "present" themselves to me in ways that make me pay attention -- if I listen.  Usually it's much more subtle, such as wanting to close by all the time or insisting on sleeping with me when they normally sleep elsewhere.
    
    A good vet can help you rule out medical issues then deal with the behavioral side if needed.  Hope this helps!

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27. 92

    Rangoon Houseposted 8 years ago

    I've never heard of this! I have no idea what the meaning is, but I would certainly be chasing answers very quickly! You must love him dearly.

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