Which Cats Are More Likely To Urine Mark
Both male and female cats can mark with urine. Urine marking is most common in intact male cats. When an intact male sprays urine, it will have the characteristic tom cat odor that is strong and pungent. Castration or neutering will change the odor, and may reduce the cats motivation for spraying, but approximately 10% of neutered males and 5% of spayed females will continue to spray. While cats in multiple cat households are often involved in spraying behaviors, cats that are housed singly may spray as well.
“Neutering will decrease the odor of tomcat urine.”
Is Your Cat Really Spraying
Unless you catch them in the act, you may not be able to tell if your cat is urinating or spraying. When cats urinate, they typically squat down on a flat surface. Theres normally quite a lot of urine present when this happens. On the contrary, when cats spray, they tend to stand upright, lift their tails, and spray a vertical surface like the bottom of your sofa or a wall. Theres typically less urine present, too. If your cat is urinating outside their litter box, give it a thorough clean. Cats are extremely finicky, and they may let you know their box is dirty by urinating where you can see it. If your cat continues to urinate outside their box, try changing the litter, relocating the litter box you should never place litter boxes near food and water bowls and taking them to the vet if their behavior continues. Once youve determined that your cat is really spraying in the house, you can attempt to curb the behavior with the following tips.
What You Can Do About It:
Introduce some playtime on the bed, so the cat makes a positive association. Offer some treats.
-
Address conflict with another family member by asking that person to feed the cat.
-
Eliminate any litter-box issues as well as multi-cat issues. Make sure the cat feels safe going out of your bedroom.
-
Try changing the bedding, including the comforter. Look for different fabrics and textures.
-
Take your pet to the vet to rule out any other factors contributing to the issue.
Also Check: Cat Litter Box For Pine Pellets
What Is Urine Spraying
Spraying is a particular kind of urination, which is a little different from how a cat normally pees.
When a cat sprays urine, they will do it on a particular upright object or surface not on the floor. They turn their back to the object, raise their tail, and push the urine out forcefully. This will cover the object in a fine layer of urine.
Spraying is often done in high-traffic areas places where humans and cats like to pass through on a regular basis, like hallways or doors. It may also be targeted at items that are often warmer than average , or at items that smell new or different .
This is different to normal urination, where the cat will squat down to pee, so that their back end is close to the floor while their front end remains upright. They ideally should do this in a litter tray or outdoors, but sometimes cats will do it on the floor, or another flat surface like a table or kitchen counter.
Why Is My Cat Spraying And How Can I Make It Stop
Dear Tabby,
Our young cat has started spraying in the house! We dont know what to do and its making us crazy! What could be causing this and how can we make it stop?
Sick of Spraying in Shepherd Park Plaza
Dear Sick of Spraying,
Ugh. Cat spray is the worst! Im so sorry that youre dealing with it. Luckily, there is often a simple cause for the spraying that can be remedied rather easily and quickly. So first things first, lets parse through why your cat might be spraying.
What is spraying?
When a cat sprays urine, this is different from a cat urinating outside of the litter box. A spraying cat is trying to send a clear message by spraying an area and it looks different than typical urination. A spraying cat will back up to a vertical surface, shake its tail and then spray the area. In contrast, a cat who is urinating to relieve itself will squat–hopefully in a litter box–and then fastidiously cover it.
But why?
Cats spray for several reasons but the most common is because they are stressed and/or feel insecure about their territory. When determining why your cat is spraying, your first step should be a trip to the vet to rule out any medical conditions. Also, if you havent already, your cat needs to be spayed or neutered, which will help to stop the spraying.
Territory issues and stress
How to make it stop
With a little time, care and attention, you should be able to figure out what is causing your cat to spray and fix this stinky situation for good.
Don’t Miss: How To Create A Wild Animal In Little Alchemy
How To Stop Male Cats From Spraying After Being Neutered
An animal behavior specialist can assess your cat’s problem and assist you in developing a treatment plan.
Male kitties who have not been neutered are the most prone to indulge in this highly unwanted habit. However, only a small number of neutered males or even fewer spayed females can spray. Feathers, balls, fake mice, and reward dispensers are examples of toys that will provide your cat with activity and cognitive concentration. Cat furniture is an excellent place for cats to hide, climb, and rest away from the din of a busy household.
Cat furniture and toys are available at pet shops and veterinary clinics, and staff can assist you in making informed decisions. When a cat isn’t feeling well or is stressed, they may spray pee, especially if they have a urinary tract infection, diabetes, kidney problems, or thyroid problems. These medical issues can lead the cat to urinate outside the container due to pain.
If a cat is spraying, the first step is to take them to the veterinarian to rule out any medical problems. If a medical ailment causes your cat’s indoor splashing, you should consult your veterinarian immediately. Urinary tract infections and kidney disease are serious conditions therefore, make an appointment as soon as possible. Some cats spray to get people’s attention. Spend some time each day caressing and socializing with your cat in a pleasant manner.
How To Stop A Spayed Female Cat Spraying
This is quite a cliché question among cat owns, especially people who have had their cats spayed recently. This is because most people expect their cats to stop immediately after spaying. However, this is almost never the case as spraying may be a result of underlying behavioral issues. Whatever the case, the following tips are going to help you stop your spayed cat from spraying
Wash the sprayed surface
Once a cat sprays on a particular surface, there is a chance that she is going to do it again. This is why you should make sure that you have washed the surface completely. Use enzymatic cleaners to remove the scent and stains of the urine. This way, your cat will not remember the surface. In addition to this, you will need to find ways to encourage your cat to use the litter box instead.
Alternatively, you can also opt to use vinegar and water to wash off the surface.
Proper Litter box practices
The first thing to do when you notice your cat spraying is to try to understand why. You should consider looking into your litter box practices. Is there something about the latter that could be causing your cat to spray?
Make sure you clean the litter boxes thoroughly in order to encourage your cat to use it. In addition to this, you should also focus on placing them in strategic places. This should be at the convenience of your cat.
Spend time with your kitty
Block window view
Treat the underlying medical problem
Your vet is going to examine your cat and treat any illnesses.
Don’t Miss: What Is 13 Years In Cat Years
Do All Male Cats Pee In The House
Although female cats as well as neutered and spayed cats can urine mark, unneutered males have more reason to do so. One function of urine marking is to advertise reproductive availability, so unneutered males may urine mark to let females know they are available. There are multiple cats in the household.
Try Using Feliway To Reduce Unwanted Behavior
Now, if you are in a situation where prevention is too late, there are still things you can do: Furiously clean the sprayed spots and invest in a can of Feliway. Feliway is a synthetic scent that is completely odorless to humans. It mimics the smell of a cat’s facial pheromones.
Cats have scented glands behind their ears, and when they rub their heads on things, they mark it as their own territory. Feliway comes in a spray that can be applied manually to problem spots, or it can be used in a diffuser that you plug into the wall.
You May Like: Gargamel’s Cat Name
Lower Urinary Tract Tumors
Tumors of the lower urinary tract have a low prevalence. When they do occur, they usually affect the bladder and transitional cell carcinoma is the most common. It is very aggressive, invades deep layers of the mucosa of the bladder and can metastasize to the liver, lungs and other organs. Clinical signs may be painful urination, blood in the urine, dripping urination and inappropriate urination as can be seen by spraying in the home.
To prevent these diseases it is important that our cats are at their ideal weight, they maintain good daily physical activity and are properly hydrated.
Create A Reassuring Environment
Does your cat have a calm, positive environment they can escape to? Our kitties like the reassurance of a controlled, structured environment with a clear routine – without it, they may spray out of stress or anxiety. To create a reassuring space, make sure you feed your cat at a similar time each day, provide regular play sessions, and give them lots of regular attention!
You should also try to limit any stress factors where possible. New people, new pets or even changes in your home such as decorating may all cause kitty stress.
Using a FELIWAY Optimum Diffuser in the areas where your cat spends the most time, can also reinforce a calming home environment for your kitty and help to correct behaviors such as urinary marking by creating a calm comfortable atmosphere. Applying FELIWAY CLASSIC Spray to places where your cat has sprayed will also help to reduce stress, and stop your cat from returning to sprayed areas.
Together, you and your cat can create a calm, happy environment!
Also Check: How Do You Calculate Cat Years To Human Years
Try Adding Another Litter Box
Even if you keep your cats litter box clean, that might not be enough to make your finicky feline happy. Adding another litter box to your home may be the perfect solution to the problem, especially if you have more than one pet in the house. Your cats may be the best of friends most of the time and still become competitive when it comes to litter boxes.
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.
Read Also: Can Cats Eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Tips To Stop A Cat From Spraying
Cats come from wild cats and it is a natural behavior to mark their territory. For a cat, spraying an area is like leaving their personal calling card. However, in our civilized world, marking inside your home by urinating is not very pleasant. But the good news is that there are ways to stop a cat from spraying.
Read on to learn about spraying in cats and how to make it stop.
Why A Neutered Cat Sprays
Your neutered cat spraying may be caused by changes in your catâs environment. Things, like moving to a new home or adding a new pet to the family, can be very disruptive and stressful to a cat and spraying could be his reaction to this situation.
A neutered cat who sprays may also be marking his territory. This is especially true when there is an unspayed female or another male cat in the home that hasnât been neutered. Your cat may even spray when he detects the presence of another cat outside your home.
Cat spraying could also be a response to litter box issues. Your cat may be unhappy with the type of litter you are using or he may not like the location of his litter box. Or, he could be reacting to litter box odors that you canât even smell. So clean your catâs litter box once or twice a day. Wash out the litter box and replace the litter once a week. Also, make sure that you have enough litter boxes in your home. You need one litter box per cat, plus one. Make sure that the litter box is located in a private, low-traffic area.
Your neutered cat may be spraying because he is stressed. To learn more about the causes of stress in cats and what you can do to help, go to 14 Things That Stress Cats Out!
Also Check: How Many Years Is One Cat Year
Why Is My Cat Spraying
Cats who havent been neutered will use spraying as a way to attract a mate. Neutering your cat will reduce the amount of spraying of this kind, if not stop it completely. If your neutered cat is spraying this is called reactional spraying. This kind of spraying occurs when there has been a change in your cats environment, either physically, or with the addition of new cats or people. Theres most likely to be a reaction when the change is in a place where they usually feel safe which is where they eat, sleep and play. It doesnt matter whether your cat is confident or anxious, male or female any cat will spray if they feel like they need to.
Spraying of this kind normally becomes an issue when a cat feels threatened by something in the house and sprays indoors in order to help them feel safer.
What You Need To Know About Cats
Rather than getting angry at your wayward cat, it may be time to examine a critical element in the problem the litter box itself. Cats are very clean animals, and one thing that can drive a cat from his or her litter box is a box that is filthy. Put yourself in your pets place and imagine how you would like to use an overflowing toilet you wouldnt, so why should your cat. Todays busy world often leaves us trying to do too much in too little time, but the litter box cannot be neglected.
- Clumping litter is probably the best choice for the litter box. Not only does this kind of material make it easier to remove feces, but it also makes it simple to remove urine. You should use a scoop to take out the clumps at least twice a day, and if you are home most of the time, scoop the box as soon as your cat is finished. Remember to add a bit of new litter to compensate for what was removed.
- The entire box should be changed once a week if you have only one cat using it and at least twice if you have several cats all using the same box. Its best to provide a box for each cat, however, to prevent one cat from dominating.
You May Like: Hawk Grabs Cat
Do Neutered Cats Still Spray What You Need To Know
Vet approved
Urinating in the house is one of the most common behavioral problems in cats. Sadly, it is also the reason that a lot of cats get handed in to animal shelters. There are many different reasons why cats may urinate in the house, and spraying is just one of the types of problems that we can see.
We will look at urine spraying, how it differs from other types of house soiling, why it happens, and what you can do to stop or prevent it.
Change Cat Litter Frequently
Simply because you have additional litter boxes doesnt mean that you should clean less frequently. As a cat owner, one of your key responsibilities is to clean up your kittys litter box and place fresh litter at least every other day.
If youre not available to change out the litter, consider investing in a self-cleaning or automatic litter box. Such a device is equipped with a rake that automatically removes waste from the box. It then deposits it into a receptacle that you can empty out later. This ensures that your cat always has a clean litter box to use hence, less likely to spray.
Also Check: The Cat From Hocus Pocus
How To Tell That Your Cat Is Spraying
If you dont have much experience in caring for cats, you might not be able to differentiate inappropriate elimination from spraying.
The key difference between these two is the spot that your kitty chooses. Usually, cats spray on vertical surfaces whereas inappropriate elimination occurs on horizontal surfaces.
So if the puddle is on an upright surface like a wall or piece of furniture, this is a clear sign that your cat is spraying. Even if you dontsee a puddle, youll start noticing a strong ammonia-like smell. And if you inspect your furniture, youre likely to find urine stains or damp spots.