When Cats feel insecure they will spray so if we let them establish a sense of their own smell then their security increases. Spraying can become a problem if you cat starts to spray furniture and curtains. We need to first look into the reasons why cat spray. Both sexes spray and neutered males are just as likely to spray as un-neutered males.Normally cats do not spray indoors as they feel secure and there is no need to protect their territory. When you have more than one cat in the house they need to assert their identity and will mark their territory. If the spraying has suddenly started look for some changes in the household that could have caused stress. For some cats this could be the installation of a cat flap. This blurrs the distinction between the indoors and outdoors and the cat needs to mark its smell.
Some owners spray pepper or chilli or wipe the areas with vinegar but this does not really work. You can try to place a tray of marbles below the favourite spraying places but if you cat is determined he will just stand further away.A good idea that can work is to put a sheet of household foil around the spot as cats do not like the sound of urine hitting the foil. Taking a more psychological view may be more successful. With more than one cat its a good idea to have seperate sleeping places. When the neighbour's cat comes calling ,chase it.Try boarding up the cat flap and see the behavior stops. In difficult cases confine the cat to one room and make sure it has a cosy bed under a radiator and its toys. As long as you do not leave the cat on its own for too long, its sense of security will increase. As you see the situation improve let it use more rooms of the house and keep an eye on it. lastly if none of these strategies work then see your vet about hormone treatment. Remember that cats love the safety of routine and any change in their familiar surroundings or the behavior of their owners can cause stress. This will manifest in different behaviors and spraying is one of them.
A common annoyance with domestic cats, constituting 40% of all house soiling complaints, happens when one's cat stands back to an object and releases a pungent spray. This is called 'cat spraying', and is directly related to the cat marking their territory. It's mostly un-neutered male cats (toms) who spray, but some female cats are known to perform this activity as well when in heat.
Cats spray for a variety of reasons. They spray during territorial disputes, when they are aware of another cat in heat, when stressed and often after fights with other cats. So the cats, normally solitary creatures, mark their territory as a way to reduce conflicts with other cats in the area. Mostly cats will spray outside, but if there are conflicts within the home, they will spray inside as well.
A foul smelling odor, something like ammonia, is released when a cat sprays an object. This smell encourages the cat to spray again, therefore it is important to remove it as quickly as possible. Do not use cleansers that contain ammonia, since it smells like the spray. The object must be cleaned with an enzymatic cleanser that is designed to remove odors.
So what do you do about this behavior? Can it be stopped before it starts? If cat spraying is a problem for your tomcat, getting him neutered is the first step toward a solution. Also, seeking out the instigating factor for the spraying can help - try seeking the help of a cat whisperer or an expert in cat psychology for assistance. If you're always noticing spraying in the same place, try rearranging furniture or objects to discourage the behavior. It may also help to separate your cat from other neighborhood kitties that may aggravate the problem.
Cat spraying cannot be cured by punishment. A stressed cat may even spray more often, and hitting your cat will simply encourage fear, not obedience. Nor will taking your cat to the sprayed area for punishment be an effective deterrent.
Even with taking all the precautions, cat spraying will be difficult to eliminate completely but can be easily be controlled and minimized. It is just an occurrence that comes along with the responsibility and pleasure of owning a feline friend.
Both Kathy Davison & Paul Proctor are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kathy Davison has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Arthritis Signs and Pets. Kathy is an animal care lecturer in a college in N.Ireland. She specializes in domestic dogs and cats.