Cat Spraying - What is It, Why Do Cats Do It and How Do you Stop It?

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.