Q: Since we got our new cat, our dog started urinating in the house, which he didn’t do before. What should I do?
A: While you might be very excited about your new family member, your dog experiences the addition of a cat a little bit differently. Having to now share his home with a cat means a big change in the dog’s everyday life, making him feel a bit insecure.
As we all know, change is stressful! Providing your dog is healthy, the urinating could be him sending a scent message to the cat: “I live here too!”
Firstly, never punish your dog for doing this. Simply clean the mess using a product that doesn’t contain ammonia (ammonia smells like urine and will encourage your dog to use this spot again).
Go back to the basics of housetraining – profusely praise your dog for urinating outside, and offer a treat. But even more important, you have to help your dog to feel better about the cat’s arrival. Consider your dog’s routine – did anything change after you got your cat?
Dogs thrive on routine, so try to keep mealtimes, walks and playtime as they were before.
Make sure that your dog receives lots of attention from you. Aim to take him for a daily walk – no cats invited.
Play with him, provide him with mental stimulation in the form of brain games, or offer a lovely stuffed Kong to chew on regularly.
All of these will help your dog to relax, put him in a better mood, and keep his mind busy – giving him less time to worry about the newcomer. If you don’t see an improvement after a few weeks, I would recommend the services of a qualified behaviourist.
Noleen Fourie, behaviourist
