kitten peeing on couch when i leave the room

My 8-week-old kitten is peeing on the couch instead of the litter box every time I'm not in the room. She uses the box fine when I'm watching, though.

I have tried moving the box to different locations and using a larger one, but the issue persists. I am at my wit's end and worried this will become a permanent habit. Has anyone else experienced this specific type of separation-related elimination?

Sounds like she is anxious. I had the same issue with Ollie when he was young. I wrote about it in My cat hates the box if its not in the hallway. Basically, she needs to feel safe to go, and if you are the source of safety, she panics when you leave. Try leaving the room slowly and see if she follows or freezes.

It feels like a disconnect between her need for connection and her instinct to hide. When I had my kittens, I used a calming diffuser. It helped Willow and Sparrow settle in. You might look at Does the little plug-in thing actually work? to see if that kind of environmental support helps her feel the space is safe even when you are not there.

Mochi is 2 now but when he was a kitten he did weird stuff too. I think you need to make sure the box is easy to get to. Also, check Is it worth a trip to the vet for one accident? just to be safe. If it is only when you are away, it is likely behavioral, but rule out infection first. I would not want to miss something.

Thank you for the suggestions. I have already cleaned the couch thoroughly using the method described in How do you get the smell out of the couch? so the scent is not attracting her back. I am considering the diffuser idea, but I am also worried about the separation aspect. Is there a way to build her confidence while I am out? I found this thread My kitten is clingy and cries when I leave which seems relevant, but I am not sure how to apply it to elimination.

Look at How to train a kitten to use the box consistently. The trick is to reward her when she uses it while you are present, then slowly increase the time you are away. Do not punish the accidents. It is about building trust that the box is safe regardless of your location.