Spraying is one of the most common reasons owners abandon their pet cats or surrender them to shelters. It's a behavior that can become nearly impossible to correct if it's not caught and dealt with as soon as it begins. Cats crave routine and security, so they are quick to embrace a negative behavior such as spraying as a lifelong habit if it makes them feel better.
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Origin
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Spray is urine delivered in spurts to a vertical surface to mark whatever the cat considers its territory. Cats also mark by scratching or rubbing their faces against surfaces to deposit their scent.
Why
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A cat sprays because it feels insecure and wants to be surrounded by its own familiar scent. The causes are myriad, including disruptions in the cat's or its human's routine, other cats in the house (particularly of the opposite gender) or strange cats outside that are perceived to be a threat.
Who
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Spraying is more typical in male cats once they are sexually mature, and they may be intact or castrated. Unsprayed females can spray to signal their availability to males, although spayed females may spray in rare cases.
How
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Instead of squatting to urinate, the cat will stand upright with its backside to the area it wants to mark, hold its tail erect (with the tip slightly twitching) and release a small quantity of urine, which smells worse the longer it remains exposed to bacteria.
Avoidance
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Neutering male cats before they mature (six to 10 months old) can reduce spraying behavior, but it's not a guarantee. A cat who never sprayed before can develop the habit later in life if it feels stressed or threatened.
Deterrence
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Once a cat has marked a spot, it is likely to return and spray there repeatedly. The key to eliminating the behavior is to eliminate the smell. Home remedies, such as baking soda and white vinegar, can be used. Commercial cleaners that neutralize the odor with enzymes are also effective, although full results may take weeks.
Using a feline facial pheromone diffuser to calm the cat, such as Feliway, can also reduce spraying incidents.
Before resorting to any medical fix, the cat should be checked by a veterinarian for any underlying condition causing the behavior, such as a painful urinary tract infection.
Some cats will stop spraying with prescription anti-anxiety medication, such as Buspirone. One study showed this drug to work equally well on both genders, but best on cats in multi-cat households, rather than solitary cats. Only half the cats resumed spraying once they stopped receiving the medication.
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