This could include living in a multi-cat household, in a neighbourhood with many cats, moving to a new home, separation for long periods from the owner or a change from being an outdoor to an indoor cat. Your vet will also be able to advise you on how best to discourage the behaviour if no medical reason is apparent. Indoor Spraying In Cats. What is spraying? Who sprays? Common sites for inappropriate urination include carpet, settees, duvets, baths or sinks. To spray urine, the cat stands up, usually making a treading motion with its back feet, quivers its tail and a small amount of urine is sprayed backwards onto a vertical surface such as a wall, leaving an obvious scent mark.
Common sites for spraying include doors, windows, around cat flaps, curtains, electrical equipment and shopping or rubbish bags. Once it has been ascertained which of the two the cat is doing it is necessary to take action to resolve the behaviour. Cleaning Whether a genuine accident or not, once the cat has urinated or defecated at a particular location its sensitive nose will encourage it to use that place as a regular toilet.
The best way to break the habit is to keep the cat away from the area as long as possible, remove any smell that the cat can detect and change the geography of the location by using pieces of furniture to block access. Spray the area using a plant mister with surgical spirit, scrub and leave to dry.
You may want to try a small area first on delicate fabrics. Petfresh Urine-off Urine Stain and Odour Remover is a particularly effective product to remove residual odours; this can be purchased from your local veterinary surgery. Carpet is extremely absorbent and the urine often penetrates the full thickness of the carpet to the flooring underneath. If the area is badly soiled over a long period it may be necessary to cut out the section of carpet and underlay and treat the concrete or floorboards underneath before replacing.
Medical problems A cat that has started to urinate inappropriately in the house should be taken to the vet for a check up. Cystitis may cause the cat to strain and pass small amounts of urine frequently. A form of urinary tract disease that is stress-related is less obvious in its presentation but one common symptom is urinating outside the litter tray. Any urinary tract infection or irritation can make the cat urinate when standing rather than attempting to go outside or to the litter tray.
Urination in this way can sometimes be confused with spraying. Cats often benefit from increased fluid intake if they suffer from recurrent cystitis. This may require your cat to change from a dry diet to a wet one but your veterinary surgeon should be consulted regarding any dietary management. Why does my cat spray indoors?
All cats, male or female, entire or neutered can spray. Usually this occurs outdoors as a part of the scent communication system. They also leave scent signals by rubbing, scratching and bunting rubbing the glands around the mouth onto twigs or other objects. The cat leaves a scent not just to let other cats know it is there but to 'furnish' its area with its own familiar smell, for confidence. In the un-neutered cat, the urine not only signals the cat's presence but its status.
Females in season have high levels of oestrogen in their urine to attract toms. Look for signs of feral or stray cats lurking outside, such as cat droppings or dead rodents or birds left on porches.
If you have other pets, determine whether they could be bullying or harassing your cat. Before you jump to conclusions, ask yourself these questions:. Often, these changes can cause unneeded stress on your cat. If you have enough room, consider putting out several litter boxes so your cat always has a nearby option when nature calls. A regular schedule gives your cat a sense of stability and structure.
Learn more in our guide to cat exercise. As annoying as it is to clean up cat urine or remove spraying odour, you should never yell or punish your cat. This will only increase their stress levels — and the spraying. If your cat is returning to the same spot each time to spray, clean the area with a biological washing solution and encourage them to play,sleep or even feed there instead — this will help your cat associate that area with play or relaxation instead of anxiety.
There are a number of products on the market designed to calm cats and reduce their stress levels. These include collars, sprays, diffusers or supplements. After this, spray with alcohol available from your vet or pharmacy and allow it to dry again. You should now have a clean, smell-free area! We believe people and pets are 'Better Together'. Our programme promises to support you through every stage of your journey. Next article. Teaching Children to Care for Cats and Dogs.
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