Cat spraying needs to be differentiated from peeing outside of the
litter box . It should not be confused with a miss in toilet
training. It is a normal cat behaviour [1].Spraying usually takes
place at ankle height, which distinguishes it from a litter pan
problem. Cat spraying is when they back up to a surface, and tail
twitching, spray the surface with their urine. When a cat is
urinating outside of the litter box, the cat will squat to urinate
on a horizontal surface. Inappropriate urinating is not the
same as cat spraying. Cat spraying [2] is also more common among
male cats than it is among female cats. Non-neutered cats are more
likely to spray than are spayed cats. Cat spraying can also happen
when a cat is stressed, anxious or territorial. Male and female
cats that are not neutered mark their territory as a way of calling
another cat. Urine spraying is a normal, innate territory-claiming
behavior that has nothing to do with your cat's hygiene. Though
both male and female cats will spray, the behavior is most common
in non-neutered males, and in multi-cat households. Urine marking
is a communication system for cats. Cat urine has pheromones which
are chemical substances that tell other cats certain messages. Do
not confuse spraying with behavior that might indicate urinary
infections and digestive issues that cause uncontrolled peeing.
Neutering or spaying a kitten when young can prevent spraying
problems down the road. Your vet will advise you on the best time
to spay your cat. Stress is another trigger for cat spraying. To
reduce this stress, keep a home routine, feeding your cat at the
same time each day and keeping their bowls and litter pans in the
same location. Stress can also be a cause of cat urine problems
starting up. Cats can get stressed for a variety of reasons.Clean
sprayed places thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner. What doesn't
work is punishing your cat after the fact. Cleaning the area with
an enzymatic cleaner so the cat is not attracted back to the same
location helps. Putting plastic or aluminum foil over the area, if
possible, can be very helpful. Cleaning alone does little to stop
spraying. Cats that mark in one or two particular areas may stop if
the function of the area is changed. Joey Boop as over 15 years
experience as a part of a multiple cat household. Learn more about
other cat behaviour issues at Cat Behaviour Maven [3] [1]
http://www.catbehaviourmaven.com [2]
http://www.catbehaviourmaven.com/cat-behaviour/cat-spraying-behaviour/
[3] http://www.catbehaviourmaven.com
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