Cats that spray outside of the litter box is a common frustration for cat owners. The odor is terrible, and getting the cat to stop seems to be an impossible task. To stop spraying issues, first determine why your cat is choosing this behavior.
Cats commonly spray to mark their territories so that other cats know they are around. Felines also may spray if they want to mate. Fights with other cats residing in the same home can cause spraying as this behavior can be a show of aggression. A cat lurking outside of the house could also cause your cat to spray. A new baby or pet, moving to a new house, or other differences in the cat's normal routines can also create this behavior. Kitties that are under any kind of stress such as living in a chronically chaotic household may resort to spraying.
Male cats are often sprayers. A female that is in heat or stressed may also spray. The smell of the spray differs from that of normal urine since spray also contains chemicals produced by the anal glands.
If your cat has not been neutered or spayed, doing so is likely to solve the problem. But, some altered cats will still spray. For the best results, the surgery should be performed before the age of six months.
One thing that you should not try is punishing your cat. Kitties do not understand the relationship between behaviors and punishment, and the stress may cause your cat to spray even more.
Litter boxes must be cleaned and scooped regular. A cat may express its dissatisfaction with the state of the litter box by spraying. Routines such as times for feeding, playing, cleaning the litter box, and bedtime should be consistent. Any accidents that your cat has should be cleaned with an enzyme cleaner to stop the odor. Cats will often return to the same place that they have soiled again and again if the odor is not removed.
A veterinarian examination is important. Bladder infections and other health problems can cause cats to spray. And, if the cat's issue is anxiety, the vet can prescribe anti-anxiety drugs such as Prozac.
If you have cats that fight, try confining each cat to different areas of your home. Sometimes, the best way to solve this problem is to find a new home for the spraying cat. Neither the cats nor your family will be happy if there are chronic battles or spraying. The offending kitty may stop the behavior in a new home, especially if there are no cats living there.
Since spraying is often over territory, confine the cat to a small part of your house. With a smaller place to defend, the cat may not feel compelled to spray. And you will at least be cutting down on the messes to clean up.
Cat behaviorists specialize in analyzing cat behavior and working with you and your cat to implement desired behaviors while reducing unwanted behaviors. You may want to consult one if other measures are not working.
Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Stop-Cat-Spraying-Inside-Your-House/47935
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