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What is
spraying? Urine
spraying is the most common behavioural problem in cats.
Spraying is different to urinating outside the litter tray.
Urine spraying is most often performed on vertical objects
such as furniture, walls, windows, blinds etc. The cat will
smell the target object, then turn around and with the tail
erect & quivering will direct a stream of urine onto the
object. Feline
spraying is a deliberate act and is not related to urinating
at all & shouldn't be confused with inappropriate
urination. Spraying
occurs most often in entire male cats, although it is possible
for neutered males & female cats to also
spray. Spraying in entire cats often increases
during mating season, this can happen in both entire males
& entire females. It is believed that females in season
spray in order to attract male cats. Why
do cats spray? Cats
communicate non verbally in many ways. By scratching objects,
rubbing their cheeks & lips against objects (the face
contains glands which when rubbed against an object secrete pheromones)
& spraying. There
are numerous reasons why a cat may spray. Stress &
territorial issues are common factors. Cats are very
territorial animals & spraying sends a powerful message of
ownership to other felines in the area. Spraying is your cat's
way of marking it's territory & defining boundaries. Stress
is another factor. It may be that you have recently moved to a
new home, a new member (human or animal) has come to live
with you, a territorial battle between cats (be it two
cats living in the same household or a neighbourhood cat
threatening your cat's territory, a change in household
routine. Even the arrival of a new piece of furniture can
cause a feline to spray. Overcrowding.
In multi cat households, the higher the number of cats, the
greater the chances of spraying behaviour. How
to prevent urine spraying? Firstly,
take your cat to the veterinarian for a thorough check up to
rule out a medical condition. The most
important issue is to find out the causes of spraying &
try to resolve the problem. If you own an entire male or
female, desexing your cat is the most
effective way of reducing spraying. If
the cat is spraying in reaction to a neighbourhood cat
entering your garden then try to minimise your cat's exposure
to the outdoor cat by blocking the view (where possible), or
find ways to deter the cat from entering your property. If
the reason is stress then try to reduce the stress as much as
possible. Spend more time with your cat & engage in play
sessions with your cat. If
your cat is spraying in one location only, where possible you
could place food & water bowls near the location as cats
are clean animals & don't like to urinate/spray near their
food source. Clean
the area thoroughly & spray Feliway where the cat has been
spraying. Feliway is a synthetic pheromone which mimics the
feel good pheromones cats produce. If
the problem persists speak to your veterinarian about seeking
specialist help from a feline behaviourist. There
are several anti-anxiety medications on the market which
have proven helpful in reducing or completely eliminating
spraying behaviour in cats. Progestins may also be
recommended. Some of these drugs have contraindications
& therefore it is advisable you speak to your veterinarian
about possible side effects prior to using them so you can
weigh up the pros & cons. If
the problem is caused by two cats in your household not
getting along it may be advantageous to keep the cats
separated as much as possible. Another method is to try &
foster a harmonious relationship between the cats. This can be
done by creating positive associations such as playing with
the cats together, feeding them together etc. You
should never punish a cat for spraying by yelling, throwing an
object, smacking or rubbing it's nose in it. All this will do
is frighten your cat, increase it's stress levels & quite
possibly cause it to spray more. How
to clean urine spray? Cat
spray has a pungent aroma which is unmistakable. The use of an
enzymatic cleaner can help remove the odour. In Australia,
many cat owners & breeders swear by a laundry powder
called Bio-Zet. It is important you do not use an ammonia
based product to remove the spray as this will lead your cat
to believe another cat has sprayed there & therefore make
the problem worse. There
are many commercially available products on the market which
can be purchased either from your veterinarian or local pet
shop. For
further information on removing cat urine odour, click
here...
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice. |
