Cat Spraying- Why Do They Spray?

One of the most frustrating problems for any cat owner is the problem of their cat spraying or marking. There is nothing worse than coming home and realizing that your cat has sprayed in the house yet again- the smell is very difficult to get rid of, and not to mention the damage done to furniture etc. I have been there; for months on end, a neighbor’s cat kept coming into my property through the cat flap, and leaving his mark. It was sometime before I realized the extent of the problem, and I have had to throw so many books and ornaments away that were stained or damaged beyond repair! So- why do cats spray?

There are quite a few reasons why a cat may start spraying or marking. The most obvious reason is that they are marking their territory with their scent. Unfortunately, once they have started to mark, they feel the need to continue to do this on a regular basis, especially if there are other cats or even dogs around. Toms tend to be more guilty of this, although female cats have also been known to mark territory. It is a myth too that only ‘entire’ toms spray, as the one who kept marking my house had been neutered as a kitten.

A cat spraying may also be a sign of distress. Cats thrive on routine, and if anything happens to change this, they are easily upset. If you have moved house recently for example, everything will be unfamiliar to your cat, and he may feel the need to mark his new territory. If you have tried to introduce another animal into the house, such as another cat or a dog, he may become upset and start spraying. Even a new baby can have an impact on his behavior, or any change in his usual routine.

Cats may also spray when they are in heat, although this is not so common. If your cat sees other cats in the yard, then she or he may become sufficiently excited to want to spray.

The sooner you manage to identify the reason your cat is spraying, the sooner you can put measures into place to stop it.

Click here to discover 18 ways to stop cat urine odor problems.