Hi - it's the newbie again! Basil (one of the 5 month old kittens I adopted on Saturday) has peed on our bed three times out of the 4 days he's been here! He's perfect at using the litter tray all other times - he did it the first night while we were getting ready for bed, the second night when when boyfriend was getting ready for bed and I was asleep in it, behaved on the third and today when I came home from work and looked at me while he did it! I've batted him off while doing it and he runs around going mental then comes up for cuddles and I've put the sheets and duvet in the wash immediately. We don't have a bedroom door so can't just shut it and he cries for ages if he's excluded from a room. What to do???

Anyone have any pointers?

I'm assuming he uses the litter tray normally for stools then I'm wondering about the litter you're using in view of his preference for 'soft surfaces' for urinating on. If you've only one litter try then I'd provide an additional one with a different litter. Some cats like to have one for each function/don't like sharing with others.

Of course he may also have a UTI or cystitis brought on by the 'stress' of change in environment. Adding extra water to food might help.

Thanks Ianthi - he uses the two litter trays I've put down for both, he only does on the bed once and only while I'm there and looks at me while doing it! Most odd, perhaps he's marking his territory! Going to try a citus spary - apparently that works a lot, here's hoping...

Yes, of course given his age ( just noticed he's 5 months! ) that's a very real possibility though I would have expected the urine to be quite strong smelling, though not always the case initially.

Don't forget the importance of removing all traces of urine in soiled areas though - otherwise he will most likely revisit these!

Yes, he has been neutered so maybe this has helped prevent him doing it all over the house - have to keep reminding myself that this is only the 5th day he's been living with us, so it's very early days! I've only ever had dogs before, so am very new to all things kitty!

He is marking his territory. The bed is the place you spend a significant amount of time, so as he's probably feeling a little insecure at the change of home. He's trying to make you (the most significant thing in his life) smell more like him. Its like a security blanket for him.

You need to get a feliway diffuser ( gives out 'happy cat hormones) to reassure him, and maybe use a kitten attract litter to make the tray (s) extra tempting.

As you can't shut him out of the room you could put a plastic cover over it during the day, and shut them in another room or in a dog crate at night. I don't suppose he'll particulary enjoy it at first, but the longer he stays in your home the more settled he'll become and the less the urge to mark will be, and you'll be able to let him go wherever he wants. The alternative is letting it continue until you get so fed up you end up having to rehome.

Thanks Puindoors yep, Feliway has been ordered and is on its way! I'm going to try lots of things! Rehoming won't be one of those things though - they're part of the family now, we all have family members with bad habits!