Problems With a Neutered Male Cat Urinating Around a Female Cat in Heat

Cats spray by leaving a tiny amount of urine on vertical surfaces around the home and usually choose furniture and walls for this purpose. The cat typically backs towards the area and begins to quiver its tail. Spraying is not related to the need to urinate. Multi-cat homes with numerous females normally experience a bigger problem with males spraying when these females are in heat.

  1. System of Communication

    • Cats communicate with each other through spraying. The urine of cats contains chemical substances, termed pheromones, which relay important information about the individual animal to other felines. Males actively spray during the mating season. Although spraying is normally associated with un-neutered males, a number of neutered individuals will continue to spray, particularly around females in heat. Spraying is more evident when a number of males are in the vicinity of a female in heat.

    Unnecessary Aggression

    • Male cats who are allowed to roam outdoors can become involved in fights when they begin to spray. A female in heat will attract all the males in the immediate vicinity, and these toms will begin spraying to establish their right to mate her. Cats have sharp claws and teeth, and males can get injured during a serious fight. These fights can spread a number of feline diseases, including feline leukemia. Bite wounds can form abscesses, which may require veterinary treatment, as will serious puncture wounds or lacerations.

    Training Probably Won't Help

    • It is instinctive for cats to spray, so you cannot easily change this behavior through training. Because spraying, particularly when a female is in heat, is part of a male cat's natural behavior, cat owners attempt to prevent this habit by having their tom cats neutered. Neutering a male cat prevents spraying in the majority of cases, but not in all. Once a male cat has begun to spray, particularly in response to a receptive female, it is difficult to prevent the behavior. Cats should never be punished for spraying, as this may cause anxiety which will make the problem worse.

    Territoriality

    • Cat urine has a strong smell, which is unpleasant when left against furniture and walls within a home. Male cats spray mainly to mark territory and this is also applicable when a female is in heat. The male is advertising his presence to the female in question and also warning other male cats to keep their distance. In a multi-cat home with both male and female animals, each male will continually leave numerous spray marks as a message to other toms that reside in the same home.

    Possible Solutions

    • The simplest solution to spraying is to have your male cat neutered before the age of six months. Although select individual tom cats will spray after being neutered, statistics show that 77 percent of neutered cats do not spray. The odor of urine normally encourages your cat to mark repeatedly on the same spot, so always clean these areas as soon as possible. Avoid cleaning agents containing ammonia, as these may actually remind the cat of urine and encourage spraying. If your male cat sprays out of anxiety because of strange males in the area, your vet may prescribe a medication to keep him calm. Another option is to use a "friendly" pheromone diffuser in the form of a spray or plug-in device. Use the diffuser in areas where your cat normally sprays.