Cat spraying is a form of territorial marking, a way of communication and a way to declare ownership. These behavioral patterns are natural to a cat and must be curbed if they are to live successfully indoors. Cat spraying is one of the leading causes of cat abandonment. Usually adjustments to the cat’s environment can eliminate cat spraying.
Cat spraying needs to be differentiated from urinating outside of the litterbox. When a cat is urinating outside of the litter box, the cat will squat to urinate on a horizontal surface. When a cat sprays, it will present its backside to a vertical surface such as a wall or couch at about the height of a cat’s nose. The cat will then twitch its tail and spray. Sprayed urine has a different, stronger smell than regular urine.
Non-spayed or non-neutered cats are the heaviest sprayers - especially males. Spraying by unaltered cats can be a way of letting other cats know that they are ready to mate. Cat spraying rarely happens prior to a kitten reaching sexual maturity. Cats are sexually mature at about 6 months of age. Spaying or neutering kittens before 6 months of age will help to eliminate the majority of indoor cat spraying. A small percentage of cats will still spray even after being spayed or neutered.
If spaying or neutering does not eliminate indoor spraying, then you need to examine why a cat maybe spraying and where a cat is marking. Sometimes changes in a cat’s environment will cause a cat to spray. The changes can include moving into a new home or the addition of a new cat to the family. If this is the case, spraying may cease once the cat settles into the new house or when the cats become used to each other. It may be necessary, in some cases, to separate cats that are not able to resolve conflicts to stop the cat spraying. If a cat is able to see another cat outside, they may spray indoors in response to the stimuli. If outdoor stimuli is the cause of cat spraying, then preventing the cat from being able to see outside can eliminate the marking. This can be as simple as moving a plant in front of the window or putting something on the ledge to prevent the cat from being able to perch there.
Placing items that stimulate behaviors incompatible with spraying, such as a food dish or toys, in the sprayed spots can possibly help change cat behavior in that area. There are commercial sprays that can help stop some cat spraying by eliciting a calming pheromone. Be sure to completely clean the sprayed area. Adding a little vinegar or lemon juice to the water will help neutralize the odor of the cat's urine. You could also use a commercial odor neutralizer purchased from a local pet store. Do not use ammonia; this will make the smell worse.
Punishment doesn't work with cats. Punishing will generally only act to increase stress and, as a result, potentially increase spraying. If you are unable to stop your cat from spraying, then discuss this with your veterinarian. He or she will be able to check for any medical problems and offer other behavioral solutions. If cat spraying is not addressed early, it may become a habit.
