While male cats are more frequently known to spray, certain female cats can participate in this undesirable behavior. Spraying is a practice that not every cat owner appreciates seeing their cat engage in, but cats commonly use it to express themselves. It can be less stressful and frustrating for both yourself and your cat if you're aware of what your female cat could be spraying and what you may do about it.
Exactly why do female cats spray?
Exactly why do female cats spray?
Spraying is not a sex-specific behavior, despite what the general public may think. Male and female cats both use spray to demarcate their territories. Cats use spraying to set boundaries outside, but they can also do so indoors when something disturbs their daily pattern.
Causes of female cats spraying or marking
1 - Anxiety
The cat can be very temperamental, something you might not be aware of. Any change to your home, including the removal of a beloved piece of furniture or the addition of a new family member (a person or a pet), can lead to an increase in stress.
2 - Medical conditions or urinary tract infections (UTIs)
The most significant reason for your cat to spray, especially in male cats, is a UTI. A male cat with a partially obstructed urinary system will likely be in great agony and may urinate right away as soon as they experience any pain. UTIs can also occur in female cats, but obstructions are less prevalent.
Your cat may become more vocal than usual and exhibit other behavioral changes if they have a UTI or obstruction. Take the cat to the doctor as soon as you suspect a clogged tract or other medical problem; blockages nearly never resolve themselves on their own or can be fatal if neglected.
3 - Mating Practises
You'll probably notice more than some spraying if your cat hasn't been fixed or spayed. Cats naturally have the instinct to perform this while they are in heat. If you have several cats in the house, this behavior might happen much more frequently.
4 - Territory marking
Even if your cat is an inside cat, they may feel the urge to mark their area if they observe outdoor cats walking around your yard or through a window.
5 - Issues with Litter Boxes
Cats are renowned for being erratic, particularly when it comes to their preferences for the litter box. What was previously entirely acceptable can suddenly become wholly undesirable. This can be the reason if other factors don't fit the bill.
How do you get rid of cat spray naturally?
Here are seven strategies you may apply to prevent spraying and marking now that you are aware of the most common reasons:
1 - Offer tension relief.
By giving your cat extra attention, whether through play or petting, depending on what they prefer, you can aid in their relaxation. You can even get a second copy of your cat's preferred toy, or perhaps two of those, in addition to some catnip.
2 - Remove the mark.
Naturally, you must always tidy up the designated area. The best kind of cleaning to use isn't as obvious. Despite the strong smell of cat urine, you shouldn't use a fragrant or strongly scented cleaner. Your cat can view the use of a cleanser with excessive fragrance as an issue and mark the area again. Use an enzyme-based, odor-neutralizing cleanser instead.
3 - Improve the area that has been marked.
Consider using the area again (at least momentarily) for play or cat feeding when the cleaner has finished its job and dried. If your cat left a mark on an item, relocate it to a less accessible location or even temporarily store it. This will change how your cat perceives the area and may lessen the likelihood of re-marking.
4 - Have your cat neutered and spayed.
The most trustworthy and efficient method to stop marking is this. The ideal course of action is probably to spay or neuter them if excessive spraying is starting to become a problem.
5 - Draw the shades.
Cats vary in their level of territoriality. Don't allow your cat to view other cats outside the window if they make them feel intimidated. Many pet channels and sites offer "cat TV" that features fish swimming and birds in a tree if you wish to provide them with something different to watch as a substitute.
6 - Modify the Sort of Litter
Given that cats can be extremely picky about the litter they produce, this may prove to be a difficult matter. Consider switching to a different brand of litter or even purchasing an additional litter box if you've done all the procedures above and the cat continues to spray, to see if it will stop them.
7 - See a veterinarian.
If everything else fails, the optimal course of treatment for your pet can be discussed with your veterinarian. Although cat spraying may be upsetting for pet owners, following these instructions can help the cat revert to solely using the litter box as a place to urinate. Contact your veterinarian if your cat is still spraying to find out what is causing the behavior.
Related Post: