Why Is My Cat Spraying, and How Can I Fix It?

Is Your Cat Spraying?

One of the most frustrating aspects of cat ownership can be when our beloved pet turns our house into their own personal litter box. As much as we love our cats, having a house that reeks of cat urine is never a good thing. So, what are the reasons cats spray, and what can you do about it? Let's find out.

Why Do Cats Spray? Eight Reasons Why Cats Spray

1. Urinary Tract Infections
2. Bad Litter Box Training
3. Sexual Maturity or Immaturity
4. Territoriality
5. Messy Habits and Poor Awareness
6. Pickiness
7. Major Changes
8. Senility

Cats Are Only Semi-Domesticated

Unlike dogs, cats are only a semi-domesticated species, and their behavior can be complex and completely baffling at times ... but that doesn't mean there isn't hope. Below, I will explain all the common reasons why cats spray and what can be done about it.

I will also give solutions that won't break the bank since we all know that pet ownership is an expensive endeavor. Even if you use a cheap fix, the cats aren't going to notice or care—they're too busy playing in the box the cat tree came in anyway.

1. Urinary Tract Infections

The first thing you want to do is make sure your cat isn't spraying because of a medical condition. The most common medical reason a cat would suddenly start peeing in odd places would be a urinary tract infection. UTIs are most common in older male cats, but they occur in both male and female cats independent of reproductive status; they also occur in cats of any age.

Signs Your Cat May Have a UTI

• If your cat has had perfect bathroom manners for years, and there have been no changes to its environment, then you may want to consider taking your cat to the vet for a diagnosis.
• Cats with urinary tract infections often like to pee on smooth, cool surfaces. This could be your bathtub, sink, kitchen counter, or anywhere else that is smooth and cool.
• If your cat appears to be straining to pee, yowling while trying to go, or is feverish, a vet should be sought out immediately. A UTI can kill a cat if it goes on for too long.

2. Bad Litter Box Training

Most cats like a clean environment, and part of that is having a specified area—a litter box to use as a potty. With that being said, cats are very individualistic creatures, and some of them never get this memo. It is a fairly common problem for rescued ferals to find the idea of a litter box a bit confusing. Even worse still, these same cats can teach their kittens the same bad manners.

The Importance of Litter Box Training

Prevention is actually much easier than retraining. If you happen to be raising a litter of kittens, please consider keeping them in an appropriate space with their mom until they are weaned. This will allow only enough space for sleeping, eating, and using the litter box, and will hopefully ensure that they learn what the litter box is for. (This is not to say that you can't let them out for supervised exercise from time to time!)

3. Sexual Maturity or Immaturity

Almost all unaltered male cats will begin to spray when they reach adulthood. It's not their fault—this is inherent in their biology, and they are only doing what cats have been doing since the dawn of catdom. Males will spray to leave a scented calling card in case a female in heat comes into the area. (It's like the cat version of setting up a dating profile! It doesn't matter if there are no females in your home—a tom must live in hope!)

The Importance of Spaying and Neutering

Again, prevention is the answer. If you adopt a male cat that you do not intend to breed, please have him neutered before he hits a year of age (six months would be even better!).

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Sometimes, unaltered female cats will display this same behavior, so make sure she's spayed as well. If you find yourself with an old cat who was neutered too late, you can still try to curb the behavior by washing down any marked areas really well. If the scent is no longer there, they shouldn't have the need to remark it. If the scent is still there, it won't matter if the cat is altered or intact; they will likely keep spraying on the spot.

Tips for Detering Spraying

Keep in mind cats actually detect scent better than dogs do, so the removal of carpet and the use of some pretty hefty cleaners may be needed. In the meantime, you may have luck spraying vinegar on and in the area. Most cats really don't like the smell of vinegar and may try to avoid the area.

4. Territoriality

Just like the tomcats in the previous section, most cats mark something to claim their territory. This doesn't have to be about a mate; it can just be a big sign reading, "Private property, get out!" This is most often a problem when a cat who has been kept by itself for a number of years suddenly has to deal with the arrival of a new cat or kitten.

Just think about that for a moment: How would you feel if you lived the good life completely alone, only to one day come home to some stranger living in your house that you couldn't get rid of?

Dealing With a Bully Cat

Another common scenario is with a multi-cat home and another cat who is, to put it lightly, a bit of a bully. At that point, it doesn't matter if they are used to living in a group home; the newcomer is just annoying and hostile, and who wants that? In these situations, I actually suggest finding the bully a more suitable home—it's not worth the stress to your older residents.

Try a Slow Introduction

This is not to say that new cats should never be introduced into a household; it only is to say that if you are going to do that, take the cats' feelings into mind, and do the introductions as slowly as possible:

1. Start off with the new cat in a cage (accessible to the resident cat or cats).
2. Watch their behavior. Are they hissing? Spitting? Puffing up their hair?
3. Leave the new cat in the cage until the resident cat(s) stops doing the aforementioned behaviors.
4. When everyone seems comfortable, let the new cat out of the cage into only one room of your house.
5. Observe the reactions and move on from there slowly.

Try Using Feliway to Reduce Unwanted Behavior

Now, if you are in a situation where prevention is too late, there are still things you can do: Furiously clean the sprayed spots and invest in a can of Feliway. Feliway is a synthetic scent that is completely odorless to humans. It mimics the smell of a cat's facial pheromones.

Cats have scented glands behind their ears, and when they rub their heads on things, they mark it as their own territory. Feliway comes in a spray that can be applied manually to problem spots, or it can be used in a diffuser that you plug into the wall.

Transfer Scent With a Cloth

If you really don't have the money or prefer a more natural method, you can collect your cat's scent yourself on a damp washcloth by stroking it behind the ears, and then transfer that scent onto the problem areas around your house with the towel. This takes time and a lot of repetition; at the very least, do this once a day (the more, the better).

5. Messy Habits and Poor Awareness

Just as with any species, some cats can be virtual geniuses, while others can leave a lot to be desired in the brains department. I had a cat once who was so unintelligent, she'd just stare at you with a blank expression all day, and you could almost hear the static running through the space between her ears.

Every time she used the litter box, she'd literally back up until her rear was hanging over the edge. She'd leave a fresh turd on the floor just outside the litter box every time and then scratch and paw at the sand to cover up a treasure that never made it into the box.

Get a High-Walled Litter Box

Be patient with these messy creatures . . . this is not an act of malice; they really are just operating on autopilot. I found the best way to deal with this issue was to make a high-walled littler box so that my cat couldn't hang her rear over the edge. The photo below shows a nice DIY example made from a tote.

Cats can exhibit similar behaviors to obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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6. Pickiness

Would you believe me if I said that cats can exhibit similar behaviors to obsessive-compulsive disorder (at least in the sense of hyper-cleanliness)? Some cats just have to have a clean litter box, period. And if they don't get what they want, they'll just turn your living space into a litter box until you get the hint.

These cats usually need their box cleaned at least once daily, if not after every use. They are as picky as they come and will have you wrapped around their little paws! Lucky for us, self-cleaning litter boxes and toilet training do exist!

7. Major Changes

Cats can get very set in their ways, and changes to their environment can be very stressful to them. Things like a new dog, a new baby, sudden loud noises, or a move to a new location can upset them greatly, and they can start marking as a way to comfort themselves and confirm that they do have territory.