How to Stop a Cat From Spraying on Carpeting

Cats spray inside the house for several reasons. As the cat's owner, it's your job to find out what the reason is to stop the behavior. According to the ASPCA, approximately 10 percent of cats will eliminate waste outside a litter box at some point in their lives. Take your cat to the vet to ensure that your cat does not have an underlying medical disorder, such as a urinary tract infection. Discovering the reason behind the spraying can take time, but once the reason is discovered, the behavior can be deterred.

Things You'll Need

  • Enzyme cleaner
  • Synthetic cat pheromone
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Instructions

    • 1

      Spay or neuter your cat. Unaltered cats are more likely to spray indoors. It can be a cat's way of communicating sexual maturity to other animals in the household, so it's best to have this done within the first six months of a cat's life.

    • 2

      Clean thoroughly the carpet where the cat has sprayed. The scent can cause them to spray in the same area repeatedly. Use a commercial enzyme cleaner found in most pet stores.

    • 3

      Observe whether your cat seems stressed by spraying when it sees neighborhood cats outside the window. If so, your cat may be marking out of feelings of insecurity. Try preventing access to the window out of which your cat sees the neighborhood cat or close window blinds and doors. You can also install motion-activated lawn sprinklers to deter neighborhood cats from getting near your home.

    • 4

      Play with your cat to ensure it feels wanted and secure as cats may spray due to insecurity and stress regarding the introduction of a new family member, another pet, or any another reason its comfort zone has been disturbed.

    • 5

      Spray or use a plug-in diffuser of a synthetic cat pheromone where the cat sprays. These pheromones serve to soothe the cat, therefore soothing anxiety and, ultimately, stopping the spraying. The pheromones can be found online and in many pet stores.

    • 6

      Take your cat back to the vet if all attempts at behavior modification have failed. As spraying is generally caused by anxiety, your cat may need medication to eliminate the anxiety and spraying.