Reduce The Amount Of Stress Your Cat Is Under
Stress is a major issue with cats, and its one that many cat owners are concerned about. Your cats spraying in your house might be the result of stress. They will most likely poop and scratch on household furnishings in addition to spraying.
Spraying all over the place is a sure indicator that a cat is agitated. This might be due to changes in their environment. It can be the result of a transfer to a new house, the arrival of a new cat, or the departure of another cat, among other things.
You should spend some time playing with your kitten and creating a fun space at home to keep a cat from spraying.
Also, double-check that you have enough food bowls and litter trays for the number of cats in your house. Also, keep an eye out for other cats that could come into your home and devour their food. The cat will be agitated and in a poor mood for you if this is not carefully arranged.
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If youve been following me for a while, then you know I absolutely love Worlds Best Cat Litter. Their Attraction Action® Formula is specifically made for kitties who are having trouble or just flat out refusing to use the litter box. This high-performance litter has a natural, plant-based additive that safely draws your cat to the box. So if your cat is spraying indoors, try Attraction Action® to end the problem.
Why Cats Spray In The House
There are several possible causes of cat spraying, but the biggest is linked to a cat feeling threatened in some way. They mark their territory as a means of showing other cats and other animals that they are the boss and are in charge. Specific causes may include hostility with other cats, anxiety caused by another cat or dog visiting the house, or even illness. Try to determine the cause of the spraying and then take steps to prevent it, to ensure a better life for you and your cat.
Featured Image Credit: Helen Liam, Shutterstock
Contents
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How To Prevent Spraying
Its extremely important to consult with a veterinarian any time a cat is having going outside the litter box. Inappropriate elimination behavior often means the cat is sick or experiencing pain.
Whether a cat suddenly starts spraying or having other accidents in the house, or has been spraying for a long time, a visit to the vet is in order to rule out a medical issue. The veterinarian will conduct a complete physical exam and might recommended a urinalysis and/or bloodwork to make sure the cat is not suffering from a urinary tract infection or any other medical condition that might be causing the spraying.
If your cat gets a clean bill of health from the vet, you can assume the spraying is behavioral.
Here are some steps you can take to prevent spraying, listed in order of importance:
Find The Method That Is Right For You
There are many options available to stop your cat from spraying in the house. Each cat is different, so not every method will yield the same result. Pay attention to your cat and look for signs of discomfort and other stressors. From there, choose a course of action most appropriate for your furry friend. Spraying may be a frustrating habit to deal with, but there is always a solution!
This article is accurate and true to the best of the authorâs knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
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How Can I Stop My Cat From Spraying
Since there are so many reasons why a cat might start spraying, there are also several ways to stop it. Every cat is unique and will respond differently to different techniques. Some will instantly stop overnight and never do it again. While others will require behavioral training over several days or weeks.
The first thing youâll want to check is your cats litter box. As weird as it might sound, itâs often the most common reason why cats start spraying in the first place. A litter box is a catâs sacred place to do their business and when you start messing with it, they can get stressed. Have you recently moved your catâs litter box to a different location? Or have you recently got a different brand of cat litter?
Cats love a routine and a safe environment. If their litter box is constantly moving around the house and having new litter put in every week, they can feel threatened and stressed. Did you know that scented cat litter is a common reason why your cat started spraying in the first place?
Scented cat litter often gives off a smell to cover up your cats business. Sometimes this can backfire and actually cause your cat to start spraying in order to cover it up. A good tip is to make sure you buy unscented cat litter from the brand. Changing the scent and texture every week is a bad idea if youâre trying to keep your cat in a routine.
Is There A Medical Cause Of Spraying
Its estimated that approximately 30% of cats will spray urine for medical reasons, rather than behavioural problems.
The most common medical cause of urine spraying is cystitis which is an inflammation of the bladder. This can be caused by bladder stones or infection but there is often no known cause in cats. Theres lots of evidence that cystitis is related to stress in cats, a syndrome known as feline lower urinary tract disease . If left untreated male cats are at risk of urinary blockage. This is where grit or stones obstruct the urethra, or inflammation causes it to go into spasm. If the urethra is blocked the cat cant pass urine, and will quickly become very sick. This is an emergency and needs immediate veterinary intervention.
Some cats may adopt a more upright position to urinate, similar to spraying, due to pain in the hips or spine. This can be due to a previous injury or osteoarthritis developing with age. Other signs may be present such as reduced willingness to jump, sleeping more, and grooming excessively around the affected areas. Joint pain can usually be identified on examination and successfully treated with pain killers.
All cats who suddenly start spraying should initially see a vet to check for an underlying cause.
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Determine If There Are Any Conflicts
The next most important thing to do is identify any conflicts your cat may be having with other pets in your home. Is another cat or dog chasing them or bullying them in some way? If so, you may want to seek the help and guidance from a qualified animal behaviorist who can recommend techniques and training the will resolve the conflicts.
If the spraying is a result of stray cats in your yard, either keep your cat indoors at all times , and also consider blocking his view with curtains.
What Are The Medical Causes For Cat Spraying
Some cats spray indoors because they have a medical problem, so if your cat is spraying indoors, take them to your vet to have them checked over. For example, Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease is a common, treatable condition which can be potentially life threatening if ignored. It usually causes blockage or partial blockage of the urinary tract, which makes urinating difficult or almost impossible.
The causes and treatments for FLUTD are very different to spraying, so its a good idea to speak to your vet if you think their spraying may have a medical, rather than emotional, cause.
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Clean The Area And Restrict Access
Thoroughly clean the area the cat has sprayed. Use a product designed for pet odors, such as Anti-Icky-Poo or Equalizer. If the cat smells the previous mark he may decide to re-mark it. If there is one specific problem area, try to eliminate the cat’s access to the spot. Keep the cat out of the room, rearrange furniture, or place an upside down spiky carpet runner or aluminum foil on the floor next to the area being sprayed. After a week, slowly allow the cat supervised access to the area again. Removing access to the problem area may help, but sometimes it will cause the cat to start spraying in a new area instead. Be vigilant!
Decrease The Cat’s Stress Levels
Some cats will spray due to stress from changes in the household. Cats can be very sensitive to changes in their environment or schedules. Try to think if any changes have occurred in your house and if there’s any way you can minimize the change.
Feliway can be helpful in reducing anxiety in cats. It is a synthetic feline pheromone and can help cats feel like their territory is sufficiently marked. Feliway can be sprayed in the area that the cat was spraying or room diffusers can be used in problem areas.
It is important not to punish cats that are spraying. Punishment can increase the cat’s stress level and cause them to spray more!
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Know When Your Cat Sprays And Understand His Behavior
Spraying is your cats silent means of communication. This behavior begins when they reach sexual maturity at six months old and terminates for the most part when they get spayed. They spray when they want to mark their territory, to signal readiness to mate, and when they feel stressed.
Thank you for reading our article we hope it answers the question, When do male cats start spraying? If you want to learn more about feline behavior and how to train your furry friend, check out our other blogs. Get them spayed to avoid the spray!
Common Reasons Why Cats Spray
Territory: Spraying is one way cats mark their turf, especially if another cat is lurking around and leaving their own mark in your yard. Even if your cat never goes outside, theres still the possibility that they will see or smell the intruder, and then spray around a door or window in response.
Conflict: In multi-feline households, spraying can also be a way for cats to draw boundaries, establish pecking order, and settle disputes.
Change: Moving to a new place, a home remodeling project, changes in routine, or the arrival or loss of a human or pet sibling can all make a cat feel insecure and stressed. The changes dont have to be big, either. Even moving around the living room furniture can upset a more sensitive kitty. Spraying is just one way for a stressed cat to show their stress.
Mating: Both female and male cats spray although unneutered males are more likely to leave their mark as a way to let the opposite sex know theyre available . Even if your spraying cat is spayed/neutered, if the procedure was done later in life, this could be a learned behavior theyve carried over from their previous fertile days.
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Change The Purpose Of The Space
Cats are less likely to mark areas that they use for other purposes. Try moving your kitty’s food and water bowls to the area that is being marked and use it as a feeding station instead. Alternatively, give treats in the area that is being marked. Try using that space for playing with the kitty or for giving her extra attention. The more secure and relaxed the kitty feels, the less likely it is that she will have the urge to mark her territory!
Spraying Solution #: Curb The Stress
If youve recently moved, it may take some time for your cat to feel comfortable in his new home. Start by providing small boundaries for him, perhaps giving him one room.
If a new person has been introduced into the family, make sure to give them and your cat plenty of time to bond.
In addition, pheromone therapy can produce wonderfully calm behavior in cats. I use this diffuser from Feliway in my house. It emits pheromones that mimic those of a nursing cat mother, calming your cat naturally.
For more about pheromone therapy, see this post from Dr. Liz Bales, the Cat-vocate.
Other natural and effective therapies that can be used during transitional periods include Zylkene. This capsule is lactose-free and contains a naturally soothing milk protein. Its safe for both short and long-term use, so its perfect if your cat just needs to get over the hump or if the situation is long-lasting.
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How To Permanently Stop Your Cat From Spraying
April 15, 2021 // by Kristen Levine // Chew on this: Some posts may include affiliate links for which I receive a small commission. However, all products I dig up are ones I pawthentically love!
Is your cat spraying in the house? Spraying, or urine marking, is something not all cats do, but when yours decides to call out a spot in your house for his personal bathroom use, its hard to think of a more offensive cat behavior.
My cat, Max, was a sprayer. And of all the places he picked to mark his territory, it was my stovetop! The smell permeated everything to the point where I couldnt even use my oven or stovetop for quite some time.
So what is spraying? And why do cats spray, or mark their territory? How can you clean up cat urine and eliminate the smell? And, perhaps most importantly, how can you get your cat to stop spraying in the house?
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Do Older Male Cats Spray
Cats of all ages and both sexes will spray urine to mark their territory its a natural behaviour, and your pets way of leaving a scent message for themselves and for other felines. If, however, theyre simply urinating to relieve their bladder, cats usually squat and produce a sizable puddle in one spot.
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Litter Box Problems Vs Communication Problems
In some cases of inappropriate peeing, theres an issue with the litter box that forces your cat to do their business elsewhere. Look for these signs to tell the difference between a litter box problem and feline urine marking:
- A cat thats spraying will have their tail straight up in the air and project their rear toward the target. The tail may shake or quiver.
- A cat thats spraying will usually only mark with urine and will still use the litter box regularly. Its rare for a cat to mark with stool.
- A cat that has a litter box problem will leave their excrement on the floor or other horizontal surface. A cat thats spraying will usually leave their urine on a vertical surface, like a wall.
Continued
Help Reduce Your Cats Stress
Stress can trigger urine spraying in indoor cats. To help your stressed cat, start by identifying and eliminating stressors in your cat’s environment. Any small changes can create stress for your cat, including changing feeding times or moving the litter boxes.
You can also use pheromone sprays such as Feliway sprays and plug-in diffusers, and provide additional hiding places and elevated areas such as cat trees.
Anxiety-reducing supplements such as Zylkene or Purina Calming Care can also help manage your cats stress. If you feel that your cat has severe anxiety and none of these things are helping, ask your vet about anxiety medications.
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Is The Cat Urinating Or Spraying
Firstly, its important to differentiate between true urine spraying, and inappropriate urination. During true spraying behaviour cats stand with their tail erect, with the rear end elevated. They may twitch the tail, pad with the hind feet, or pull a strange face before spraying a small jet of urine. This is usually only a couple of millilitres of liquid. Inappropriate urination is usually a normal sized urination in places other than the litter tray.
There are some problems that can cause both urine spraying and inappropriate urination, however leaving large volumes of urine in the wrong place can be a sign of more serious illness such as kidney disease or diabetes. Its therefore important that this doesnt get passed off as spraying, and a more serious condition goes unintentionally ignored.
Why Do Cats Spray What Does Spraying Look Like
Cats, by nature, are typically very neat and tidy when it comes to their bathroom habits.
So if you find your feline friend away from the litter box with their backside raised, tail quivering and marking against a wall, fence or other vertical areas, it can be a little confusing!
But, this is perfectly natural and is, in fact, spraying – meaning your cat may be marking their territory or even leaving a message to let the opposite sex know that theyre available!
Spraying is an often-misunderstood cat behavior it can be confused with urinating and may be done in combination with meowing and yowling cat-speak for Im available for dating!
Our kitty friends can spray for a number of reasons – such as to reduce stress, to comfort themselves, and mark their territory. This goes for both male and female cats, even after neutering or spaying. However, its important to look out for when your cat first starts spraying, as this is a good indicator that your kitten is now an adult!
So when can you expect your cat to start spraying, and what should you do about it?
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