Fear

• The presence of puppies, kittens, babies or house guests can frighten cats so much that they're afraid to use the litter box. To a terrified cat, a bed might seem like the safest place to go.
  
  

Anxiety

• Anxious cats sometimes urinate on beds and other favorite objects to reassure themselves with their own scent.
  
  

Chronic Disease

• Untreated diabetes, hyperthyroidism and kidney disease can all cause cats to urinate so often and in such volume they can't always make it to a litter box. If your older cat suddenly starts urinating on the bed where she sleeps, take the cat to the veterinarian for a thorough checkup including a full blood panel.
  
  

Urinary Tract Infection

• Cats with urinary tract infections often associate the litter box with pain and seek out another place to urinate.
  
  

Declawed

• Some declawed cats experience real or phantom pain in their paws and prefer the soft surface of a bed to the litter box.
  
  

What to Do

• Spray the bed with Feliway, which mimics the "friendly" hormone in a cat's cheeks and discourages inappropriate elimination. Most pet supply stores sell Feliway. Catnip, too, is a friendly scent and can be sprinkled on the bed. Electronic devices like the ScatMat (see Resources) will keep your cat off the bed.