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Cat owners sometimes confuse urine spraying with urinating, even though the behaviors are quite different. Urine spraying is a normal, innate territory-marking behavior that has nothing to do with your cat's sanitation. Though both male and female cats will spray, the behavior is most common in non-neutered males, and in multi-cat households. The spraying of urine on drapes, furniture, and other surfaces is your cat's way of identifying territory or covering the scent of other cats. While this behavior is normal, it can and should be prevented to keep your home odor free.
Do not confuse urine spraying with eliminating outside of the litter box. If your cat urinates outside of his litter box, leaving a puddle or a large carpet stain, you should call your veterinarian immediately. He may have a urinary tract infection, cystitis that needs to be treated as soon as possible. Or, as mentioned above, he may be marking territory by spraying.
Here are a few suggestions and cat supplies for controlling spraying:
Have your cat spayed/neutered by the time he is six months old. In addition to the many other good reasons to have your cat neutered, more than 90% of cats will not start spraying if they are fixed before the behavior begins.
Restrict his view of the outdoors. If your cat sees another cat, his natural response will be to mark his territory... your home. Move furniture away from windows, pull the drapes, or cover the lower portion of your window. You might also provide a well-located, cat tree or play area to refocus attention.
If you have more than one cat, foster a positive relationship among them. Cats that get along are less competitive, and are therefore far less likely to spray. Play with your cats together, and give each one equal attention. Have them eat and sleep together. Encourage them to groom each other by wiping them down with a damp cloth.
Reduce stress in your cat by keeping things routine. Changes of any kind in your household can create anxiety, for example, new cats in the area, new people, or re-decorating. Feed your cat at the same time each day, and keep her litter box and bed in their respective places. When people visit, put your cat in a separate room, particularly if your visitors have cats of their own and may carry in their scent. Pet supplies for cats like Feliway Spray, or Comfort Zone Plug-in with Feliway, contain a pheromone-like substance designed to help calm cats, can be used for cats under stress, or when you think planned events might foster anxiety.
If your cat does spray, thoroughly clean the area to prevent re-marking. We recommend Bio Zapp or Petrotech Stain and Odor Elimnator which uses biodegradation without any polymers or artificial bacteria, the patented Petrotech process shears and encapsulates the odor source and continues working until the odor is completely eliminated. It is extremely effective in eliminating all types of odors including urine, fecal material, sports equipment, and skunk odors, and can be used on many types of surfaces including fabric, plastic, concrete, tile, wood, carpet, and metal.
SSSCAT Spray and No-Scratch! Spray repel your cat with unpleasant essences, so your cat will avoid treated surfaces or your houseplants. They can be used to keep your pet away from selected areas, furniture, and drapes, which may help disrupt the undesirable pattern of behavior.
Spraying is definitely a problem you don't have to live with. Whenever you spot spraying or recognize its signs, the sooner you take action the better.
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