Cat Spraying Behaviour, A Normal Cat Behaviour
Cat spraying has to be differentiated from outside of the litter box . It should not be confused with a miss in litter box training. It is a normal cat behaviour.
Spraying usually takes place at ankle height, which distinguishes it from a litter pan problem. Cat spraying is when they back up to a surface, and tail twitching, mark the surface with their urine. When a cat is urinating outside of the litter box, the cat will squat to urinate on a horizontal surface. Inappropriate peeing is not the same as cat spraying.
Cat spraying is also more common among male cats than it is among female cats. Non-neutered cats are more likely to spray than are neutered cats. Cat spraying can also happen when a cat is stressed, anxious or territorial. Male and female cats that are not neutered mark their territory as a way of calling another cat.
Urine spraying is a standard, innate territory-marking behavior that has nothing to do with your cat’s hygiene. Though both male and female cats will spray, the behavior is most common in non-neutered males, and in multi-cat families. Urine marking is a communication system for cats. Cat urine has pheromones which are chemical compounds that give other cats certain messages. Do not confuse spraying with behavior that might indicate urinary infections and digestive issues that cause uncontrolled peeing.
Neutering or spaying a kitten at an early age can prevent spraying problems down the road. Your vet will tell you on the best age to spay your cat.
Stress is another trigger for cat spraying. To reduce this stress, maintain a home routine, feeding your cat at the same time each day and keeping his bowls and litter pans in the same place. Stress can also be a cause of cat urine problems starting up. Cats can get stressed for a variety of reasons.
Clean sprayed places thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner. What doesn’t work is punishing your cat after the fact.
Cleaning the area with an enzymatic cleaner so the cat is not attracted back to the same site helps. Putting plastic or aluminum foil over the area, if you can, can work very well. Cleaning alone does little to reduce spraying. Cats that mark in one or two particular places may stop if the purpose of the area is changed.