Why Do Cats Spray? Learn the Reasons Behind This Pretty Gross Behavior · Kinship Leave a comment

Cats spraying urine is a typical but irritating drawback for a lot of pet dad and mom, particularly these with a number of cats. Understanding the explanations behind this habits and implementing the appropriate prevention and cleansing methods may help you curb your cat’s spraying and preserve an odor-free residence.

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What’s cat spraying?

Cat spraying is totally different from merely emptying the bladder of urine. Cat spraying usually happens with the cat standing up, lifting their tail straight up (typically with the tail quivering), and spraying a stream of urine behind it, often (however not all the time) on a vertical floor. Sprayed urine will often scent notably pungent, and the quantity is usually smaller than when a cat squats to pee (often on a horizontal floor) and empty their bladder.  

Why do cats spray?

Urine spraying by cats is a standard a part of the cat habits repertoire, however it’s a habits that the majority cat dad and mom would like not occur in the home. Why cats spray comes down to a couple totally different causes, and it’s vital to know why your cat is spraying so to discover the right resolution to your particular state of affairs.

Territorial marking and communication

Cats go away urine round their territory to speak their presence to different cats. This may increasingly sign to different cats that the sources within the territory are already claimed, and to maintain transferring alongside.  

Stress and anxiousness

If a cat feels that their sources or security are threatened by different cats (particularly in multi-cat properties), that may trigger stress and anxiousness. Cats who’re careworn might spray in a fashion much like territorial marking, however it’s additionally thought that generally cats will use urine spray to assist self-sooth; i.e., encompass themselves with their very own scent to assist them really feel safer of their territory.

Medical points

Spraying has additionally been related to feline decrease urinary tract problems (FLUTD) in cats. Cats who’ve underlying medical points might also be experiencing ache or discomfort, which may enhance stress, and due to this fact, spraying.  

Hormonal elements in intact cats

Male cats who haven’t been neutered and feminine cats who haven’t been spayed will spray urine to let cats of the alternative intercourse know that they’re accessible for mating. The pheromones in urine talk this message, which might be smelled by cats from a substantial distance.

Easy methods to cease a cat from spraying indoors

Whereas spraying is a standard cat habits, having our residence scent like cat pee is one thing that the majority cat dad and mom worry. As soon as we all know why our kitty is spraying, we are able to use some particular methods to assist a cat cease spraying inside the house.

Figuring out triggers

There are various triggers that may set cats off and trigger them to spray: the presence of outside cats, unfamiliar scents coming into the house, a brand new child or pet addition to the household, guests to the house, and even minor modifications like rearranging furnishings can affect some cats. The vital factor is that, as soon as a set off has been recognized, you utilize that info to both stop the set off or acclimate the cat to the set off regularly (i.e., use a desensitization course of to assist the cat perceive that the set off is just not a risk).

Spaying or neutering cats

Get your cats spayed and neutered! This r esolves spraying in 90 p.c of neutered male cats and 95 p.c of spayed feminine cats.  

Offering area for every cat

Kitties in multi-cat properties usually tend to spray than in single-cat properties. So, make it possible for all sources (like meals and water stations, litter containers, scratchers, bedding, perches, and toys, and so on.) are repeated all through the their territories so that everybody has free entry to what they want. Including vertical area to your house can even dramatically enhance the quantity of useable area for cats, permitting for “time-sharing” between cats who might not get alongside so effectively.

Lowering stress

Giving your kitty alternatives to truly be a cat will assist cut back stress; just be sure you play together with your cat to offer them looking experiences and that you just present them with ample choices for scratching, resting, and perching. If there’s an inter-cat relationship that has gone south within the residence, work on repairing that. 

And that soiled litter field? Scoop it not less than as soon as a day and ensure to wash it out each few weeks and substitute the litter totally. And please, keep away from punishing your cat — that may simply trigger extra stress and is basically ineffective anyway. Lastly, your cat may have an anti-anxiety treatment if the above ideas don’t work fully, so speak together with your veterinarian about what choices are greatest on your kitty.

Pheromone diffusers and sprays

Pheromones are chemical substances that convey information about one animal to a different, and might have an effect on habits and emotion. Diffusers and sprays that comprise the F3 fraction of feline facial pheromones may help cats really feel extra snug of their territory and a few cats can expertise calming from these pheromones as effectively. It’s thought that the presence of this pheromone principally tells the cat, “Nope, you’ve already marked right here, no have to pee to go away your scent.”

Addressing any underlying medical points

Any cat who begins spraying ought to be examined by a veterinarian to rule out accidents or medical points that could be inflicting stress or ache; specifically, administration of FLUTD ought to be a precedence in case your cat is identified with decrease urinary tract infections or disfunction.

Easy methods to take away cat pee scent

Cat urine is, in fact, some of the noxious substances on the planet. Anybody who has had a cat pee on carpet or furnishings has doubtless struggled with making an attempt to get the odor out of these mushy surfaces. Don’t fear, we’ve bought you lined!

Thorough cleansing to stop re-marking

Getting the scent out of soppy materials or off of onerous surfaces is essential to stopping re-marking; when cats scent urine, they’re extra prone to comment the world, whether or not they initially left the mark themselves or if it’s a distinct cat within the family. 

Keep away from ammonia-based cleaners

As a result of ammonia is current in urine, and cats will comment over issues that scent like urine, you need to keep away from ammonia-based cleaners. Cats additionally don’t like sturdy scents like citrus, vinegar, and bleach, so keep away from utilizing cleaners with these scents — cats will typically urinate on high of these scents, too!

Enzymatic cleaners to interrupt down odors

The perfect sort of cleaner you should utilize to take away cat pee scent is an enzyme cleaner — the useful enzymes within the cleaner will break down these urine crystals and forestall them from inflicting dangerous odors. Watch out, although: In the event you’ve used cleaning soap or detergent on the floor earlier than (notably mushy surfaces), rinse completely earlier than making use of the enzyme cleaner. In any other case, these soaps might kill the useful enzymes, making the cleaner much less efficient.  

Eradicating cat spray odor from carpets, furnishings, and materials

Be sure you learn the label in your chosen enzyme cleaner in relation to eradicating urine from carpets, furnishings, and materials, and all the time check the cleaner first on a small a part of the floor that may’t be seen to verify the cleaner gained’t stain the material. 

With most enzyme cleaners, it’s greatest to blot up any liquid urine nonetheless current, then saturate the floor with the enzyme cleanerer. Let soak for as much as 20 minutes, then blot out the surplus liquid and let it air dry. You’ll have to reapply the cleaner a second time. However not all cleaners are the identical, so make certain to comply with the producer’s directions.

FAQs

What are cat pheromones?

Cat pheromones are chemical substances that cats use to speak with one another, and trigger the receiving kitty to behave accordingly. Cats have pheromones used to mark territory, discover mates, and calm their kittens down. Artificial cat pheromones might be bought to assist your cat really feel calmer and cut back urine-marking habits.  

Easy methods to take away scent of cat pee from carpet?

One of the best ways to take away pee scent from carpet is with an enzymatic cleaner, which breaks down odor-causing urine crystals.  Blot up any remaining liquid urine, saturate the world with enzyme cleaner, let soak for as much as 20 minutes, then blot up extra liquid and let air-dry.  Not all enzyme cleaners are the identical although, so be sure to learn the producer’s directions.

Why is my mounted cat spraying?

Your spayed or neutered cat could also be spraying for a lot of causes, together with to mark territory, discover a potential mate, an underlying medical concern, or stress or anxiousness. It’s vital to rule out medical causes for spraying first, then decide why your cat is spraying primarily based on your house setting and the cat’s sources.

References

• Landsberg, Gary. Conduct Issues of the Canine and Cat, third Version. New York: Saunders. 2012.

• Mills, Daniel S., et al. “A Meta-Evaluation of Research of Remedies for Feline Urine Spraying.” PLoS ONE, vol. 6, no. 4, 15 Apr. 2011, p. e18448, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0018448. Accessed 10 Dec. 2019.

• Washington, Alycia. “What Are Cat Pheromones and How Do They Work?” Kinship.com, 2023, www.kinship.com/cat-health/cat-pheromone. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.