How to Stop Your Cat From Spraying—Training Steps to Take · Kinship Leave a comment

Spraying is likely one of the extra upsetting cat behaviors. As cat dad and mom, not solely will we battle to grasp the explanations for it, but it surely smells terrible and may smash our issues. It’s frequent to really feel anger and resentment towards your cat in the event that they’re spraying throughout your private home.

Nevertheless it’s necessary to keep in mind that there’s a motive for this instinctual conduct. And there are issues you are able to do to work on it.

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Is my cat spraying or peeing?

Step one in working in your cat’s spraying is to be sure that’s truly what they’re doing. There’s a distinction between spraying, a cat’s approach of deliberately depositing their scent, and peeing, which is emptying the bladder. After all, there’s some crossover. Cats will pee (and even poop) to unfold scent. However there are indicators you may search for to assist decide whether or not your cat is spraying or peeing. 

In case your cat is spraying:

• Spraying is completed standing up, backed as much as a vertical floor, like a wall or piece of furnishings. (Take note, some cats pee standing up, particularly if they’ve arthritis or points that make it laborious or painful to squat. So, standing just isn’t proof of spraying.)

• Fluid sprays out behind your cat versus down. 

• You will notice marks or stains on the vertical floor however can also have pooling on the ground which makes it simple to mistake for peeing. 

• The tail is often pointed up and quivering. (Cats will even do the tail up and quivering with no fluid popping out of the physique. It’s phantom spraying, usually taking place once they’re excited or blissful, and isn’t trigger for concern.)

• Some cats will tread with their again ft throughout spraying. Think about the kneading they do with the entrance paws however utilizing the again paws.

• Your cat might sniff round earlier than they spray. They’re checking the world for his or her scent or a scent they’d prefer to cowl. However they’re not as more likely to sniff afterward as a result of they know they’ve simply deposited their scent.

• They’re much less more likely to scratch or attempt to cowl the world after spraying as a result of they need their scent to be distinguished.  

Why is my cat spraying?

Spraying is an instinctual response to sure stimuli. Your cat is depositing their scent in particular areas for particular causes. It’s a type of communication with different cats and potential predators. It’s additionally a self-soothing conduct. Cats are comforted when surrounded by their very own scent. 

As a result of we haven’t achieved a lot selective breeding with cats, they’ve held on to many instinctual behaviors that we might not love. Nevertheless it comes with the cat territory. The excellent news is that there’s so much you are able to do to work on this subject. 

Frequent explanation why cats spray 

Listed below are some triggers to think about:

Stress

Stress might be attributable to any variety of points, lots of which we’ll focus on on this article. And it’s an enormous set off for spraying. Possibly your schedule has modified and your cat is getting much less bonding and play time with you. There could possibly be development exterior that’s loud and hectic. A brand new child within the house is a standard reason for stress-related spraying. Any huge modifications have the potential to trigger stress that results in spraying. 

Urinary points

Urinary points, like crystals, obstructions, and urinary tract infections are one other huge set off. If you happen to felt unbelievable ache each time you needed to pee, your stress would skyrocket. So does your cat’s. Your vet is your first telephone name to rule out this and different medical causes of ache or stress. 

Territory marking

Cats use scent to mark their territory, letting different cats know the place, and even when, they have been within the space based mostly on the areas they spray and the way robust and recent the scent is. 

Mating conduct

Much like territory marking, male cats might spray to thrust back potential opponents for the females in an space. They’ll additionally spray to draw a mate. And females will spray to sign they’re prepared for mating. 

Outdated age

Senior cats undergo a variety of bodily, emotional, and even cognitive modifications that may trigger stress and discomfort, which might result in spraying. These modifications also can make them nervous round different pets, wanting to speak extra and set territorial boundaries. 

Litter field points

Whereas spraying isn’t the identical as peeing, the litter field generally is a issue as a result of it’s one other alternative for stress. Litter bins that don’t meet your cat’s instinctual wants effectively, or that don’t really feel protected and safe to make use of, can result in stress and spraying. 

Relationships with different pets or folks

In case your cat isn’t getting together with different pets, otherwise you’ve introduced a brand new pet into the house, spraying is frequent. They might be making an attempt to speak, set boundaries, or handle their stress. The identical is true if there’s an individual within the house who doesn’t like or deal with your cat effectively. 

Outdoors cats 

This is likely one of the high causes indoor cats spray. Simply seeing stranger cats exterior, or smelling them by the doorways and home windows, sparks the necessity to talk and clearly mark territory. In these instances, your cat will usually spray across the exterior partitions and home windows. 

Do male cats spray after being mounted? 

Each female and male cats can spray after being neutered or spayed. That’s as a result of spraying isn’t nearly hormones and mating conduct. As you’ve seen above, there are lots of causes cats spray. 

It’s nonetheless vastly necessary to have your cat spayed or neutered. It’ll positively lower the probability of spraying and has many different well being and wellness advantages. 

Tips on how to cease cat spraying indoors

Step one to stopping your cat’s spraying is making an attempt to search for any clear triggers, like exterior cats, relationships with different pets, or medical points. Addressing these triggers will assist. You can too search for methods to scale back stress typically. 

Listed below are just a few techniques you may strive, along with working particularly on triggers:

Cut back stress

Play and enrichment are easy methods to scale back stress. Give your cat a bit of extra bonding time. Work to enhance any tense relationships. Check out how your cat’s assets are arrange across the house. You’re in search of methods to satisfy their instinctual wants a bit higher.

Take away and substitute their scent 

Whilst you positively wish to use a high quality enzymatic cleaner to wash spraying spots, there’s one other important step. You want to substitute their scent in that space. 

Keep in mind, they’re spraying as a result of they need their scent in that location. If you happen to take away it, they’ll wish to spray once more. 

After cleansing, strive inserting a litter field in that spot. You possibly can rub your cat’s cheeks with a delicate fabric to collect their scent. Then rub the fabric across the spraying space to deposit that scent. You possibly can put a scratching put up there. Even sprinkling catnip might help, as your cat rolls in it and leaves their scent. 

Spay or neuter your cat

As talked about above, spaying and neutering don’t cease spraying 100% of the time, however might help take it from a daily incidence to a uncommon one. 

Shut the blinds

If you happen to assume your cat is seeing different cats exterior, strive limiting their view for a few weeks and see should you discover an enchancment. Ideally, simply cowl the underside of the home windows. They will nonetheless see exterior, and you continue to get loads of gentle. They only can’t see straight down the place the cats can be. 

Clear up exterior doorways and home windows

If you already know there are cats exterior, verify round your doorways and home windows for indicators they might be spraying. Examine weatherstripping too. If that scent is coming inside, your cat might reply by performing some spraying of their very own. 

When to hunt skilled assist for spraying

If you happen to don’t see any clear triggers to your cat’s spraying, or your efforts to work on these triggers haven’t helped, take into account reaching out to a feline coaching and conduct guide. We cope with spraying on a regular basis. There’s so much we will do to attempt to resolve the problem. It’s additionally a good suggestion to see your vet and rule out any medical causes, like bodily ache or discomfort. 

Bottom line

• There are a lot of potential causes your cat is spraying.

• The most typical triggers are stress, stress between pets, and seeing or smelling exterior cats by doorways and home windows. 

• You don’t must stay together with your cat spraying. If you happen to can’t get to the foundation of the issue by yourself, attain out for assist. Name your veterinarian and a feline conduct specialist. 

References

• “Feline Decrease Urinary Tract Illness.” Cornell College School of Veterinary Medication, 4 Oct. 2017, www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-lower-urinary-tract-disease.

• “5 Good Causes Why You Ought to Spay or Neuter Your Pet.” Brown.edu, 2019, www.brown.edu/Analysis/Colwill_Lab/CBP/spaynueter.htm.

• Hester, Zach. “The “Repair” Is In: 5 Advantages to Spaying or Neutering Your Pets.” Metropolis of Huntsville Weblog, 16 Feb. 2023, cityblog.huntsvilleal.gov/the-fix-is-in-5-benefits-to-spaying-or-neutering-your-pets/.

• “Recognizing the Distinction between Urine Marking and Urinary Issues.” VMBS Information, 20 July 2023, vetmed.tamu.edu/information/pet-talk/urine-marking-vs-problems/.

• ‌“Spraying and Marking | Indoor Pet Initiative.” Osu.edu, 2025, indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/problem-solving/spraying-and-marking. Accessed 25 Feb. 2025.

• “Spay vs Neuter: Advantages of Spaying and Neutering Your Pets.” Ross Vet, 2021, veterinary.rossu.edu/about/weblog/why-spay-and-neuter-pets.‌

• Younger, Amy. “Feline Decrease Urinary Tract Illness.” Animal Well being Subjects / Faculty of Veterinary Medication, 17 Mar. 2021, healthtopics.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/feline-lower-urinary-tract-disease.