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Cat Spraying & Territorial Marking
Reprinted Courtesy of the ASPCA (aspca.org)
A new cat has recently moved into the apartment next to yours,
and your resident feline seems to be heralding the newcomer in
his own way. You've caught him standing near the front door,
posed with his tail straight up in the air as he sends a stream
of strong-smelling urine down the wall. What gives? Your cat is
exhibiting a very common feline behavior known as spraying.
While it is not clear whether cats spray to claim territory or to
warn trespassers to stay away, the behavior is usually
accompanied by some sort of stress. Spraying may be brought on by
the arrival of a new person, pet, or even piece of furniture into
the household. Cats who are allowed outdoors may spray to let
other neighborhood cats and roaming strays know who's boss of the
backyard.
Some indoors-only cats may begin spraying when they see new cats
in backyard courtyards or out of windows. In this case, the best
course of action is to block a cat's access to those views until
the newcomer strays can be removed. And although both males and
females spray, almost all unneutered toms begin spraying to
attract potential mates and ward off rivals when they reach
sexual maturity.
What can you do if your cat has taken to spraying? If he or she
hasn't yet been neutered, make that appointment today! If your
unneutered male cat has just started to spray, very often
neutering will put a stop to this behavior
To discourage repeat offenses, it is important that you remove
all traces of the urine from furniture, rugs, walls and any other
objects that your cat has deposited his scent on. You can use a
solution of water and vinegar or an odor neutralizer, available
at pet-supply stores. To eliminate the odor, it's important to
use a product that is safe for use around your pet and is not
just a perfume cover-up. Procter & Gamble makes a product
approved by the ASPCA called Febreze, and it works very well. Be
sure to follow manufacturer's instructions. Remember, the ASPCA
recommends letting your cat explore the great outdoors only if
you are there to supervise your pet in a well-fenced-in area.
Unfortunately, if your cat has been allowed to spray for some
time, as is the case with many rescued tom cats, neutering alone
may not solve the problem. In this instance, it is recommended
that you consult a professional behavior counselor.
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