One of the most frequent problems for cat owners is house soiling, or urinating beyond the litter box. 10% of pet cats are thought to have issues with this behavior. House soiling, on the other hand, can either be a cat actually peeing outside the litter box or the result may be urine spraying, also known as urine marking.
Why do indoor cats spray?
Spraying is not considered a sex-specific behavior, despite what the general public may think. Cats' territorial marking spray is used by both male and female cats. Cats use spraying to set boundaries outside, but they may spray inside if something disturbs their daily pattern.
1 - Mating Behavior
Male cats that are sexually mature and are intact—that is, not neutered—often spray to alert intact female cats to their presence. While this is a contributing factor in some cats' pee spraying, not all intact male cats spray. According to studies, five percent of all spayed female cats or ten percent of neutered male cats will display this behavior. This suggests the urine spraying is used for purposes other than luring a possible partner.
2 - Setting a boundary
Cats also frequently spray in order to mark their own territory. Cats have anal smell glands in addition to pheromone scent glands on their paws or cheeks, which contributes to their tendency to engage in bunting behavior. This explains why sprayed urine frequently has a stronger smell than urine that is dumped into the litter box. Cats use it to signal to other animals, "This is my space. Please move along."
How to get rid of cats spraying behavior
What must be done to persuade your cat to quit spraying will depend on what the cause of the problem is.
1 - Neutering
This needs no explanation. Neutering your male cat can help stop them from spraying to draw in a mate if they are an intact cat. Reduced testosterone levels in cats can also reduce their territoriality. In that way, it may also lessen a cat's desire to spray urine to demarcate their territory.
2 - Diffusers for pheromones
The same pheromones that cats produce in their smell glands are used in diffusers like the Feliway one to help cats feel more at home and reduce the likelihood that they may spray pee. We cannot detect the pheromones within the diffuser, but cats can readily sense them. An airborne scent-sensing cat will be less likely to spray to demarcate its territory.
3 - For cats, multimodal environmental modification (MEMO)
The idea is rather straightforward, yet the phrase sounds elegant. The objective is to modify your cat's environment in order to reduce stress that can build up for a variety of reasons. Cats prefer having their own space or the freedom to walk about without running into other pets or obstructions. They enjoy having no-cost access to items like perches, water and food bowls, litter boxes, and their humans.
Try increasing the number of vertical surfaces using cat shelves, increasing supplies (food bowls, water containers, or litter boxes), and controlling any chronic discomfort or anxiety to help reduce the desire for a cat to mark. Your cat may be anxious about another cat or animal approaching the house if it starts to mark around windows or doors. If your cat fits this description, try using curtains, shutters, or other materials to block your cat's view of outdoor creatures.
4 - Removing cat poop and spray
Cleaning any previously marked places carefully is a crucial step in preventing the cat from spraying. To stop the pheromones from penetrating the carpet, furniture, and other surfaces, this ought to be done as quickly as possible. An enzymatic cleaning is necessary for carpets in order to destroy the pheromone, which will continue to draw your cat.
While cats' spraying behavior may be seen as "normal" in their repertoire of behaviors, most cats won't engage in this behavior if they live in secure, loving environments. Ask the vet for additional suggestions on how to help the cat if it struggles with pee spraying.
Related Post: