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 An indoor cat who sprays can create stress
and frustration in the whole household.
Spraying is often misunderstood by owners
and so the problem doesn’t get resolved
effectively. Many people assume that only
intact male cats spray but in fact, neutered
males can display the behavior as well, as
can females. If you read
Pam’s Quick Tip on litter box problems
part 1, you know spraying visually
differs from indiscriminate urination. Now
it’s time to learn a bit more about why a
cat may spray.
·
Territorial marking.
This is how a cat distinguishes what’s his
and to let others know where his territory
begins.
·
Information exchange.
The pheromones in the urine contain
information about the cat. By spraying, the
cat basically leaves a calling card, so to
speak, in order to tell others about
himself.
·
Aggression. Spraying can be a form
of covert aggression if a cat doesn’t feel
confident enough to engage in a face-to-face
confrontation. A confident cat may also
spray as a victory display after a battle.
·
Sexual announcement.
In an intact male, spraying is a way to let
females in the area know he’s ready for
action, and also to let other males know not
to intrude.
If you’re dealing with a spraying problem
and your cat isn’t neutered, there’s an
excellent chance the behavior will cease
once he has the surgery.
If you think the spraying behavior is due to
conflict with another cat, make
environmental modifications to allow each
cat adequate space. In extreme situations,
you may have to separate the cats and do a
reintroduction. Use vertical territory such
as cat trees and perches to expand indoor
territory. If your cat is spraying because
he sees another cat outside, temporarily
block viewing access from the windows.
If your cat has a tendency to spray new
objects in the house, use Feliway
pheromone spray on the object. Some cats
spray new furniture or anything unfamiliar
in the home. In addition to the pheromone
spray, try placing a towel or sheet over the
object that contains your scent.
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