How to Stop a Cat From Marking Furniture

Urine spraying, also called scent marking, can be a common problem with cats. Urine spraying is different from a situation in which a cat urinates normally, but misses the litter box. With spraying, short jets of urine are intentionally ejected on vertical surfaces, such as doors, walls and furniture. This behavior is not limited to male cats--females get in on the act too. Causes can include a need to mark territory, emotional reactions to changes in routine, and stress. Sometimes, a cat with a urinary tract infection will avoid his litter box because of a perception that the litter box itself is causing the painful urination. If your cat suddenly starts voiding outside the litter box, have him checked out by his veterinarian to rule out infection or disease. For cases of ordinary urine spraying, however, there are many techniques you can use to resolve the problem and have a clean, fragrant home once more.

Things You'll Need

  • Dye and blacklight kit for detecting cat urine, sold at pet stores
  • Video camera
  • Tin foil
  • Dried orange peels
  • Water pistol
  • Pillow (optional)
  • Repellent spray
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Instructions

    • 1

      Spay or neuter your cat, if you haven't already done so. In many cases this is enough to stop the spraying behavior. According to veterinarian Dan Moore, founder of The Natural Vet Companies, 87 percent of all tomcats stop spraying after being neutered, with 78 percent stopping immediately, 9 percent stopping within a few months, and 13 percent continuing to spray.

    • 2

      Observe your cat closely to try to catch him in the act. This will help you determine where and when he is spraying, and whether he is scent-marking or merely avoiding his litter box. In normal urination, the cat crouches or semi-squats, with his tail pointing down. In urine spraying, he stands tall and rigid, with his tail straight in the air. If you can catch him spraying, you will not only be able to deter him, but you may be able to figure out what triggered it.

    • 3

      Identify the exact area or areas in which the cat is spraying by using a dye and blacklight kit, sold at pet stores. Your nose will give you some indication, but the blacklight will show you exactly where the urine is.

    • 4

      Use a video camera to record your cat when you're not home if you're still having a hard time figuring out where and when he is spraying.

    • 5

      Restrict the cat from approaching the spraying site, if possible, by closing doors and setting up physical barriers.

    • 6

      Cover the area on which the cat stands to spray, as well as the target object itself, with tin foil. Most cats don't like the way tin foil feels under their feet and will avoid standing on it. Also, the tin foil will cause the spray to deflect back onto the cat.

    • 7

      Set bowls of dried orange peels near spraying sites. Although the scent of citrus is pleasant to most people, cats usually dislike it.

    • 8

      Throw a soft projectile, such as a pillow, or squirt your cat with a water pistol while shouting "No!" if you catch him "assuming the position." Do not spray the cat in the face; the forceful stream of water could cause eye injury or infection. Remember, you're using behavior modification, not punishment. Aiming for his body, and especially his haunches, is fair game, however. Some cats don't need to be startled in this way more than once or twice to abandon the spraying habit.

    • 9

      Give your cat little treats, plenty of cuddling, and toys, in order to show him extra attention and combat insecurity and stress, the root cause of most spraying.

    • 10

      Stick to a regular routine when feeding, brushing and playing with your cat. Felines, true creatures of habit, sometimes spray in response to disruption and change.

    • 11

      Use a repellent spray all around the perimeter of your house, especially near shrubs and gardens, to prevent strange cats from urinating and triggering a territorial spraying response in your cat.