Contrary to what many think, spraying isn't a litter box problem, but rather a problem with marking.
Cat urine that is sprayed contains pheromones, which is a substance that cats and other animals use for communicating. Pheromones are much like fingerprints with humans, as they are used to identify the cat to other animals.
When a cat sprays something, he is simply marking his territory through his urine.
The spraying is simply the cat's way of letting others know that the territory is his. Even though it may make you mad and annoy you, getting angry with your cat will solve nothing.
If you raise your voice or show angry towards your cat, it can very well result in more spraying.
Cats that are in heat are easily attracted to the odor of urine. For cats in heat, spraying is more or less an invitation for love.
Often times cats that spray while in heat results in a litter of kittens that are born in just a few short months.
Keep in mind that cats not only spray during heat, as some will also spray during encounters with other cats, or when they are feeling stressed.
Although spraying is a way of communicating for cats, the smell for people is horrible. The good thing here is that most cats will do a majority of their spraying outdoors.
If you have an indoor cat that never goes outside, spraying can indeed be a problem. If you've noticed spraying in your home, you should take action and do something about it immediately.
The most effective and also the easiest way to stop spraying is to have your cat either neutered or spayed, which of course depends on the sex.
Most male cats that have been neutered will stop spraying the same day they have the surgery. If you don't want to get your cat neutered or spayed, you should look into other options.
If you hope to one day breed your cat, you certainly don't want to have him neutered or spayed.
The best thing to do in this situation is to talk to your veterinarian.
He will be able to give you advice, and possibly even solve the problem without having surgery. There may be a medical problem present that is causing the problem, which your vet can identify.
You should always do something about spraying the moment it starts simply because cat urine stinks and it can leave stains all over your home.
If you own a cat chances are you have had a spraying issue at least once. Spraying is a different type of urination problem in that instead of peeing on the floor or in a litter box your cat will go on an upright surface like a chair leg or door jamb usually at nose level for other cats to smell. It is important to know that in some cases a female cat will also spray urine directly on the floor.
The primary reason a cat sprays is because felines are very territorial animals and like to mark their turf by spraying urine to let other cats know who owns that little piece of the world. Think of it as an invisible but smelly No Trespassing sign.
Many times a cat will spray because of behavioral problems like anxiety, stress or a feeling of being threatened by something or someone.
Here are some common behavioral reasons a cat will start spraying urine:
* If personal items are being sprayed it is usually a sign that your cat has some issues with the person.
* The addition of a new cat or even having too many cats for the size of your house can cause spraying problems.
* If you notice things being marked near windows or screen doors where your cat can see outside it’s a pretty good chance there is a cat hanging around your house or passing by frequently.
* If the cat is put into a stressful situation like someone new moving in (a new baby) or being introduced into a new living environment they might feel the need to spray.
Constant spraying can also be caused by physical problems such as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). Your Vet can perform a simple urine test to determine if your cat has FLUTD and it is very treatable illness.
To eliminate spraying you need to get into your cat’s head and discover what is making them spray as medication from a Vet will only offer temporary relief. Spend time watching your cat to see if you can discover what is triggering the spraying. This could take some time so be patient and remember to not punish your cat as this will now make the problem go away and may aggravate it.
While you are observing your cat to determine the cause of the spraying you might want to put some lemon juice where your cat has been spraying as cats do not like the smell of lemons and this might stop them for a bit. Remember that lemon juice is acidic so you want to be careful and not put it on surfaces that might be damaged.
A final option is to have your cat neutered as they have a tendency to spray less often than un-neutered cats. You should always discuss the benefits of neutering with your Vet as their can be other health issues to consider.
Cat urine spraying and the resulting odor are problems that can be controlled provided you take the proper steps and work with your cat to solve them together.
Both Ann Kristin & Mike Taylor 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.
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