Cat Spraying: What You Need To Know

A common annoyance with domestic cats, constituting 40% of all house soiling complaints, happens when one's cat stands back to an object and releases a pungent spray. This is called 'cat spraying', and is directly related to the cat marking their territory. It's mostly un-neutered male cats (toms) who spray, but some female cats are known to perform this activity as well when in heat.

There are many reasons cats spray. One is to mark their territory. They will also spray if they encounter another cat in heat, if they are stressed or after a fight with another cat. Marking their territory is a social way for the normally solitary cat to reduce conflicts with others in the vicinity. Most spraying is done outdoors, but if there is a conflict within the home, a cat will spray there as well.

A foul smelling odor, something like ammonia, is released when a cat sprays an object. This smell encourages the cat to spray again, therefore it is important to remove it as quickly as possible. Do not use cleansers that contain ammonia, since it smells like the spray. The object must be cleaned with an enzymatic cleanser that is designed to remove odors.

How can you stop your kitty from performing his normal instinctive behavior of spraying? You'll find that if you have your cat neutered, he will be far less likely to spray. Employing a cat whisperer or cat psychologist to come into your home to resolve problems can also lessen the problem. For cats which only spray in one place, rearrange your furniture to make this area a much less attractive location for him to spray. If the spraying problem is outdoors, just keep your kitty inside until the issues he has with neighborhood cats are resolved.

You should not punish your cat by taking him to the spot and hitting him. This will instill fear of you in the cat and will have the opposite of the intended effect. The cat may become more stressed. Often times this will lead to an increase in the frequency of cat spraying.

If you know the joy of having a cat as your companion you probably also know about the problem of cat spraying. It may not be possible to get rid the problem completely but can be controlled.

Cats spray for a variety of reasons. Mostly cats will spray outside, but if there are conflicts within the home, they will spray inside as well. You'll find that if you have your cat neutered, he will be far less likely to spray. Employing a cat whisperer or using cat psychology can also lessen the problem. If the spraying problem is outdoors, just keep your kitty inside until the issues he has with neighborhood cats are resolved. Don't ever try to punish your cat by hitting him. Your cat will probably have increased stress, which can in turn make your cat spraying problem worse.

- Paul Proctor