How to keep your kitty cat from spraying
Does your cat spray inside your house? If so, you know that awful smell and just how difficult stopping the behavior can be. If you can find the reason for the kitty’s behavior, you can address the issue and hopefully get the spraying stopped.
The most common reason that felines spray is territory marking to announce to other cats that they exist. The cat may also be interested in mating. Other kitties may spray due to conflicts with other cats living in the same house or as a display of aggression. The sight of a strange cat outside the window can be enough to cause the behavior. Yet another cause is stress which could be created by new human or animal family members, a move to a new residence, or other changes in routines.
Male cats are usually the spraying culprits. But, some females spray under stress or when in heat. Chemicals from the anal glands mix with urine to give the spray its characteristic odor which is different from regular urine.
Spaying or neutering your pet may be the fastest method to stop spraying if your cat has not already been altered. Most will stop spraying after the surgery. Altering felines is best done by six months of age. Unfortunately, some animals can be altered and still spray.
Do not punish your cat for spraying. Kitties are unable to make a connection between the behavior and the punishment. In fact, he or she may spray even more due to the stress of a beloved owner being angry with them.
Litter boxes must be scooped daily and cleaned regularly as some cats will register their displeasure with litter box cleanliness by spraying. Household routines should be consistent such as times for feeding, playtime, and litter box maintenance. Any sprayed areas should be cleaned with an enzyme cleaner as these cleaners remove the odor that if allowed to remain, may cause your kitty to soil that area again.
If you are not successful in determining why your cat is spraying, consult your veterinarian. Health issues such as bladder infections can cause the behavior. Anti-anxiety drugs such as Prozac can also be prescribed, since anxiety may be causing the behavior even if you cannot tell that the animal is anxious.
If conflicts with other felines are causing the problem, separate the fighters to different areas of your home. You may have to give one pet to another home if they cannot exist peaceably. The cat may not display the behavior if moved to a new environment, especially if there are no other kitties there.
As spraying is territorial, you can try confining the cat to only a room or two in the house. Then, he or she will have a smaller area to defend, and may not continue to spray.
Cat behaviorists work with owners to solve behavior-related issues. You may want to consult with one if other actions to solve the issue fail. They can help you retrain the animal to display preferred behaviors such as using the litter box.
Read Part II of How to Keep Your Cat from Spraying to learn even more ways to prevent spraying.
The author, Annie Clark, is the proud owner of two felines. Read more cat articles at her Feline Info website.