When Do Cats Start Spraying
If you have a cute kitten or a male cat that has not been neutered, you may be wondering at what age male kittens begin to become sexually active. Male kittens achieve puberty between the ages of 4 and 6 months, depending on their gender. The majority of cats start spraying when they are 6 to 7 months old. When a male cat reaches sexual maturity, the aroma of his urine begins to alter and become muskier in flavor.
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.
When Do Cats Begin To Spray
When do cats begin to spray? Spraying often starts around six months of age as cats reach sexual maturity. Spaying females and castrating males will reduce or stop spraying behaviour in up to 95% of cats!
How do I know if my cat is spraying? 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.
How do you stop a cat from spraying? A: The vast majority of cats do not spray. Males are more likely than females to spray, but if a cat is neutered before 6 months, he will almost never spray. If an intact male cat does begin to spray, neutering him will solve the problem in about 95 percent of the cases.
Do all cats start spraying? Spraying is usually caused because your cat feels threatened or stressed. Marking their territory makes them feel more secure. Common causes include: new cats in the home or neighbourhood.
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If You Have Multiple Cats Encourage Them To Get Along
The tension between household cats can cause spraying. According to the ASPCA, cats living in the same house should have separate resources and plenty of space from each other.
Also, utilizing your vertical space with cat trees and perches will provide your cat with more opportunities to seek their own space.
If youre introducing a new cat to the household, do so gradually. Petfinder recommends keeping them in separate rooms at first. This lets the cats hear and smell each other before they meet face-to-face.
Why Do Cats Urine Mark
Animal species who live in social groups in which the members depend on each other for survival have sophisticated interpersonal communication. Particularly animals who can cause significant harm to each otherlike dogshave developed a social mechanism for preventing conflict through interpersonal ranking. They are prepared to assume either a leadership or deference position, and they can read another animals body language to interpret his intentions and react accordingly. But cats have a somewhat unique social structure in that they do not hunt, eat or sleep in groups like dogs.
Given the opportunity, cats go off on their own when they mature and claim certain areas or territories for themselves. They might share a territory with other cats, but its a time-share approachthey avoid each other whenever possible. They havent developed a social system or a communication system like dogs. Socially, cats who greet often handle things like two neighbors in an argumentalthough one might back down if he thinks he might get injuredneither individual will ever perceive himself as having lower status than the other. Cats have no system for working out face-to-face disputes, so face-to-face disputes can be dangerous for them. To avoid disputes, cats communicate indirectlythey leave messages.
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Male Cats Start Spraying When They Reach Sexual Maturity
All cats, including male cats, start spraying as soon as they reach sexual maturity, which is around the time that they are six months old.
There is no way to prevent this occurrence aside from having your cat neutered before they are six months old, but it is possible to train your cat at a young age to stop them from spraying indoors.
Male cats usually start spraying by the age of 6 months
Occasionally, male cats may reach sexual maturity by the time they are only four or five months old, so the spraying could start long before you expected it to, leaving you bewildered and unprepared.
Although spraying involves urinating, they are completely different from one another.
Cats go pee as any other animal does, but this is done solely to relieve themselves and is usually confined to a litter box.
When a cat sprays, it is often done to attract a mate, so they may urinate anywhere and everywhere simply to spread their scent.
Prevent Boredom With Lots Of Different Toys
Cats are intelligent and curious animals, so they need a lot of varied mental stimulation. Rotate old toys out for new ones to maintain their interest in playtime.
Also use different types of toys that encourage stalking, catching, and chasing, which are all behaviors that a cat would engage happily in out in the wild.
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Overhaul Your Litter Box Setup
Cats can be very particular about where they go to the bathroom, including the cleanliness of their box, its placement, the type of litter, and other considerations. Make sure you have at least one litter box per cat in your house, plus one extra.
This means a family with one cat should have two litter boxes, and a family with two cats should have three boxes. Place the boxes in convenient locations so your cat doesnt have to roam too far to find a box. Use an unscented, soft, clumping cat litter and clean out the box at least once a day .
Cats Spray To Communicate With Other Cats In The Household
Cats communicate with each other through urine spraying. In general, a lot of cats are very solitary creatures, and even with multiple cats in a household, they will seek out areas to claim as their own. If one cat in the household feels like another cat is moving in on their space or trying to take their resources , they may spray urine.
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Ask Your Veterinarian About Medications
Veterinarians may prescribe medications like Clomipramine or Fluoxetine in cats with anxiety issues. Drug therapy is intended for use in conjunction with behavior therapy, the theory being that it reduces anxiety enough for the cat to be receptive to change. Ask your veterinarian if this is a good option for your cat, and work with a professional behaviorist skilled in techniques like operant and classical conditioning, which teach cats to refocus their attention. Punishment is never an acceptable option and can even make the spraying worse.
When Do Male Cats Start Spraying #1 Best Answer
Every cat owner knows to brace themselves for that unwelcome moment when their cute kitten starts spraying on the furniture, towels, bushes, or pretty much anywhere else they are able to distribute their scent.
But any prepared cat owner would want to know exactly when they can expect the spraying to begin.
While female cats are known to increase their spraying while in heat, male cats spray for entirely different reasons, which may lead cat owners to wonder when their male cat will start spraying, and more importantly, how to make it stop.
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Spraying Solution #: Switch To Worlds Best Cat Litter
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.
Train Your Cat Before They Start Spraying
No matter if you have a male or female kitten, both can pee, so both can spray. As we mentioned earlier, since there are no signs when a cat will start spraying, they can literally start at any second. But when they do start, maybe think twice about running to your vet.
Itâs still possible for cats to spray after theyâve been neutered. Do you really want to spend money if its not guaranteed to fix the problem? You canât exactly ask for a refund if it doesnât work.
If you want to truly stop your cat from spraying, then you need to teach them how to behave. In our detailed T.T.S system, we show you step by step how to stop your cat from spraying in 7 days or less. Why spend hundreds of dollars on an unnecessary operation thatâs only going to cause your kitten pain?
Stop your cat from spraying the easy way with our simple to follow eBook. Click below to learn more about whatâs included.
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Does The Pee Land On The Floor Or Wall
Goin says sprayers usually aim for vertical surfaces, which is why you may notice urine on walls, fences, or the sides of chairs. Cats with inappropriate urination issues, she says, will usually pee on horizontal surfaces . This is not a hard and fast rule, though. Some cats will occasionally spray on horizontal surfaces.
When Do Female Kittens Start To Spray
If trying to guess when a male kitten will start spraying wasnât hard enough, then how about female kittens?
Did you know? Around only 5% of female cats ever spray.
That in itself should tell you how unlikely a female kitten is to start spraying, especially if they are only a few months old. If we had to give you a timeframe, then it would be around 6 months, the same as a male kitten. But remember, thereâs a really high chance that your female kitty will never end up spraying anyway.
But what if they do?
Spaying or neutering your kitten is an option, but itâs not pleasant for anyone. Instead, there is a much cheaper and painless way that doesnât involve surgery.
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Address Conflict Between Cats
Tension between cats in a household can contribute to urine spraying. If spraying is an issue in your multi-cat household, make sure that each cat feels like they have the necessary resources available to be at ease.
Be mindful of the number of litter boxes, food bowls, and elevated areaseach cat should feel like their needs are being met. Make sure you have as many litter boxes as the number of cats, plus one. If you have two cats, you should have three boxes, and they should be located in different areas so one cat cant guard both boxes. Each cat should have their own eating areas and bowls, and their own perches or cat trees.
Always gradually introduce new cats to give the resident cat a chance to adapt. If the inter-cat tension turns into physical fights, consult with your veterinarian for further resources such as prescribed medications.
Why Your Cat Is Spraying And How To Stop It
Spraying can be caused by more than just instincts or territorial urges. And if you think its just the boys, think again. Female cats can spray, too.
The posting horrified all of us. Ripples, a handsome silvery-gray, possible Abyssinian cross, was scheduled to be euthanized at a kill shelter in Brooklyn. The shy but sweet 8-month-old cat had been surrendered because he sprayed. And he probably sprayed because he hadnt been neutered yet.
Spraying is one of the main reasons pet cats end up in shelters and/or are euthanized. We all rushed to share Rippless listing and prayed for the best.
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What Is Cat Spraying
Spraying is essentially your cats way of marking his territory, much like how some dogs urine mark. But whats the difference between spraying and urine marking?
Essentially, its in the position your cat assumes. When cats spray, theyll back up to a standing object. It might be a wall, a chair leg, or another piece of furniture. They raise their tail erect and squirt urine.
When cats urine mark, theyll squat just as if theyre peeing normally and theyll do this on a flat surface, like your carpet or your bed.
In both scenarios, the behavior is intentional, and not a matter of their inability to hold it. Its purely a behavioral issue. So why do cats spray?
Cat Spray Vs Pee: Whats The Difference
Cats pee to eliminate waste. Soiling issues like peeing right outside the litter box are usually due to a poor litter box setup, underlying diseases, cognitive decline, or old age. Though some of these can factor into spraying behavior, cats generally sprayto communicate mating status, establish territory, and respond to anxiety.
Here are some tangible ways to tell the difference between cat spraying and regular peeing. These are just guidelines, so its best to have your veterinarian make a proper diagnosis if youre unsure.
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Treating Urine Marking Caused By Conflict With Outdoor Cats
You can try the following recommendations to remedy urine marking behavior caused by conflict with an outdoor cat:
- Close windows, blinds and doors. Prevent your indoor cat from seeing other neighborhood cats.
- Attach a motion-detection device to your lawn sprinkler. Set the sprinkler by windows to deter the presence of neighborhood cats.
- If your cat is intact, neuter him or spay her.
- Use a synthetic cat pheromone in areas where the cat has marked. Products like this deliver a synthetic pheromone that has been shown to have some effect in relieving stress in cats. Deliver the pheromone through a diffuser plugged in close to where your cat has seen the outdoor cats. This type of product is typically available as a spray or through a diffuser, and can be found in many pet stores and online.
- Use medications. Because marking is often a sign of stress or anxiety, medication might provide additional treatment help. Always consult with your veterinarian, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or a veterinary behaviorist before giving your cat any type of medication for a behavior problem.
Spraying Smells Worse Than Regular Cat Pee
The cat spraying smellfrom an intact male is noticeably more pungent than female and neutered male urine. This is because intact male cats have higher levels of hormones in their system compared to neutered male cats, so that is why their urine smells stronger, explains Goin.
A neutered cats urine can stink, too, but not for the same reason. With neutered and spayed cats, the reason the smell is more noticeable to cat parents is because it is often deposited on objects repeatedly where it stays and dries, for example, against a wall or piece of furniture, says Bennett. After a few repeated visits to the same area, the dried spray becomes quite offensive to the human nose.
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New People Or Strangers
Cats sometimes mark their territory if their owners go on holiday and leave a stranger to care for them. Because they feel vulnerable, they mark an area that has a strong scent of the owners, such as the duvet. The best way to avoid this is to keep the bedroom door closed. Make your cat feel secure again on your return from holiday.
When Do Cats Start Spraying And What Can You Do About It
You should start to look for signs of spraying when your kitten reaches maturity. For most cats, spraying tends to start when they are 6 to 7 months old, although male cats can reach maturity between 4 to 5 months. But dont be fooled and think that your baby female kitty is too young to have babies before they reach this age! It is not uncommon for very young cats to become pregnant, so keep watch for spraying behaviour.
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Keep An Eye Out For Litter Box Issues
Whether or not your cat will continue using the litter box depends on how well you handle the litter tray. It also helps in part to stop cats from spraying.
You should pay attention to your cats routines and preferences. They could prefer a litter box that isnt soiled, like sprinkling litter or a filled litter box. They might not enjoy mud that clumps and adheres to their feet soles.
Also, think about the sort of litter tray youll be using:
- If your cat has arthritis, it may be difficult for them to climb into the high litter tray. Then a larger, shallower tray would be ideal.
- Other cats like complete solitude while going to the bathroom, so a covered litter box can be a good option.
Also, think about where youre going to put your litter box. Cats prefer a quiet, contained environment to one that is excessively raucous. Its generally a good idea to sit in the corner of a quiet room.
Your cats litter tray should be cleaned regularly as well. Some cats are quite picky, and they will only use the litter tray once.
Also, make sure there are adequate litter boxes for the cats in the house. If another cat is already in it, cats are unlikely to utilize it.
As a general rule, it would help if you also had more litter boxes than cats in the house. Also, keep in mind that they all need to be in distinct places!