Does Tom Cat Spray Come From the Same Place as Urine?

There's nothing quite like the unmistakable funk of tomcat spray. Both male and female cats engage in spraying behavior for a variety of reasons. And though it's referred to as "spraying," when Tom lifts his tail and lets go, he's dousing his target with his urine.

  1. Cat Spray and Cat Urine

    • It's tempting to think of cat pee and cat spray as two different things, but they're really not. When a tomcat sprays, he's spraying his urine to mark territory. If you've ever seen a cat spray, you're familiar with the ritual: The cat backs up to his target, his tail may quiver a bit and he lets loose with a stream of urine hitting the side of a tree, bush, house or even your couch. If it weren't so stinky and messy, his aim would be something to admire.

    Single Male ISO Single Female

    • If Tom's a true Tom, meaning he's intact, he's probably spraying urine to let the ladies of the neighborhood know he's available for action. Unneutered cats still have testosterone in their urine, giving the spray that extra special something. Most people consider the pungent aroma of tomcat spray noxious, but Tom's potential lady friends smell a potential suitor.

    Toms and Tinas

    • Tomcats get a bad rap, perhaps because many people associate spraying and marking with unneutered male cats. However, both genders can, and will, mark. Marking territory is very important to cats, a way to establish what's theirs and make their presence -- and dominance -- known. Reasons for spraying include "ranking," where cats are jockeying for the dominant position, a change in the home, such as the addition of a new family member, or conflict between cats.

    Coping with Spraying Cats

    • If you think your cat is spraying, it's best to make sure he's actually spraying and not showing symptoms of a urinary problem. Often when a cat is suffering from a urinary tract infection he'll squat and deposit small amounts of urine just about everywhere but the litter box. Neutering the cat will take care of spraying behavior about 90 percent of the time. If Tom is neutered and he's still spraying, clean the area thoroughly with an odor-neutralizing product such as Nature's Miracle. Try an additional litter box -- or two -- with a different cat litter, and make sure it's cleaned daily. Using a cat pheromone, such as Feliway, where Tom has marked may dampen his enthusiasm for re-marking the area. There are also anxiety reducing drugs that may be effective in controlling marking behavior.