Many cat owners confuse urine spraying with
urinating though they are quite different. Urine
spraying is a normal, innate territory marking behavior that has
nothing to do with your cat's
sanitation.
Most common in non-neutered males and multi-cat
households, the spraying of urine on
vertical surfaces like drapes and furniture is his way of identifying
"his" property or covering
the scent of other cats.
Here are a few suggestions for controlling spraying:
Have your cat neutered
Neuter your cat when it is 4-6 months old.
In addition to the many other good reasons to
have your cat neutered, more than 90% of cats will not start spraying
if they are neutered
before the behavior begins.
Restrict the view of the outdoors
If your cat sees another cat, his natural
response will be to mark his territory- your home.
Move furniture away from windows, pull the drapes, or cover the
lower portion of your
window.
Foster a positive relationship between your cats
Cats that get along are not competitive
and are far less likely to spray. Play with them together
and give each one equal attention. Have them eat and sleep together.
Encourage them to
groom each other by wiping them down with a damp cloth.
Keep to the routine
Change often causes spraying. Feed at the
same time each day and keep its food, litter box,
and bed in their respective places. When people visit, put your
cat in a separate room
(particularly if your visitors have cats of their own and may
carry in their scent).
Use a pet repellent
If your cat repeatedly sprays in one spot,
spray it with a product designed to keep pets away
by leaving an odor they prefer not to be around (but is OK for
you).
Clean sprayed areas thoroughly
Clean up requires special products which
will remove the urine odor.Use products that have
natural enzymes to actually devour odor-causing bacteria instead
of just covering up the scent.
Please note: If your cat urinates outside
of its litterbox, you should call your vet immediately.
It may have a urinary tract infection (cystitis) that needs to
be treated as soon as possible.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for
educational purposes only. All content is general pet health
information and not specific to your pet. You should not, therefore,
rely solely on the information,
products or services mentioned in the article in lieu of consultation
with your own veterinarian.