Spraying – International Cat Care

what is urine “spraying”?

Urine spraying is a form of territorial marking behavior, performed by adult cats. there is still some debate about the purpose of urine spraying, but it is suggested that it facilitates communication between cats at a distance, to coordinate the movements of different cats in a territory to allow for “time sharing” and to avoid aggressive encounters.

however, there is no evidence to show that any cat investigating another cat’s spray marks would avoid or stay away from it. information about the time these markings were made may be present because the sniffing and flehmen response varies with the age of the urine deposit. scents are so important to a cat’s survival that they have a second scent organ called the vomeronasal or jacobsen’s organ that allows them to “taste” significant odors.

This organ consists of two small apertures behind the front teeth in the roof of the mouth that connect to the nasal cavity. The cat opens its mouth and draws the air into the apertures; the facial expression adopted at this time looks like a kind of grimace and is referred to as the Flehmen response (see picture right).

possibly, urine spraying has also adapted to serve other functions in the neutered domestic cat, reflecting the animal’s emotional state. cats spray during socially stressful situations, possibly to increase their self-confidence, or as a stress coping strategy or even as a form of commuting activity. you will often see other cats outside spraying urine against bushes, fences, and other objects. It is normal behavior for a cat to spray urine in these circumstances, however, if a cat begins to spray urine indoors, it indicates that she is not feeling safe and that something is stressing her out.

view our information on how to identify and address signs of stress.

what does it look like when a cat sprays urine?

the classic presentation of urine spray involves the cat backing up to a vertical surface, often after sniffing the area intensely and displaying a flehmen response. the cat stands with its tail erect and quivering and raises its hindquarters. the cat may or may not stamp with its hind legs while expelling a stream of urine (usually less than 2 ml). some urine marking can take place on horizontal surfaces (usually objects or clothing on the floor), either in a squatting position or standing and spraying. spray marks can be quite hard to find, you may only be aware of the smell. sometimes all you can see is a tiny thread of sticky brown substance on a skirting board, radiator or door. other preferred targets for urine spray include electrical equipment, long curtains, plastic bags, and clothing.

do only male cats spray urine?

Both males and females are able to spray urine, although the frequency is higher in males. the incidence is much higher in intact animals (those that have not been castrated), suggesting that it may be facilitated by sex hormones, providing information about the presence of the spray and reproductive status. approximately 90% of intact males and 95% of intact females show a significant decrease in spraying after neutering/spaying.

is this a common problem?

In the castrated population, it is estimated that 10% of males and 5% of females are dedicated to spraying urine. the incidence of urine spray in a home is directly related to the density of the cat population. the likelihood of urine spraying increases in direct proportion to the number of cats in the household, up to 86% with more than 7 cats (some studies show a figure of 100% with more than 10).

what should I do if my cat sprays urine indoors?

The first thing to do is contact your vet. If your cat is young and has not yet been neutered, the most likely cause would be that your cat is becoming sexually mature. neutering at this time would likely prevent re-spraying and prevent wandering, fighting, and unwanted pregnancies; your vet will advise you.

Caution should be exercised in assuming that all urine spraying has a primary behavioral motivation, as conditions that cause localized pain or discomfort may cause the cat to adopt a urine spraying posture. Research indicates that up to 30% of cats that present for spraying may have an underlying medical problem, for example, cystitis, also known as feline lower urinary tract disease. therefore, your vet may recommend a urinalysis of your cat or other tests to rule out disease.

once medical causes have been ruled out, your vet will refer you to a behavioral specialist.

My cat doesn’t seem stressed?

The domestic cat is a self-sufficient species (responsible for its own survival) and does not show emotion easily, as this can make it vulnerable to attack. this means that cats are excellent at hiding signs of illness, pain, or stress. the signs are there, however, but they are very subtle; often stress can only be established by looking for changes in behavior patterns. spraying urine would certainly indicate that all was not right in your cat’s world.

what might be stressing my cat out?

Not all cats respond to the same pressure when spraying urine, as it depends on the individual’s temperament. Generally speaking, cats can be stressed by other cats, humans, or the environment in which they live. some specific stress triggers, for example, are:

• conflict with other cats in the household
• dense population of cats outside the home
• invasion of your home by a strange cat (eg, entering through an open window or cat flap)
• decorate or add to your home (ie, disturb your cat’s territory)
• new additions to the family (eg, new baby, tenant, dog)
• absence of the owner or change of working hours
• inappropriate punishment
• excessive or intrusive human contact

see our information on how to identify and address signs of stress

Is there anything I can do while I wait for a referral?

once you’ve seen your vet about this problem, the best advice is to wait for the behaviorist to assess your specific situation and recommend changes to suit your particular cat’s needs and circumstances. however, there are some general things that may help in the meantime:

• clean sprayed areas with 10% bio-based powder detergent solution, rinse thoroughly before drying, and spray with surgical alcohol
• place new feeding stations at sprayed sites and place a portion of your cat’s normal daily ration in these areas
• alternatively, use feliway® spray to treat sprayed sites, according to manufacturer’s instructions
• use the feliway® diffuser to help reduce stress and anxiety
• provide safe indoor litter trays, one for each cat in the household plus one extra. distribute these trays in different places in the house, away from food, water and cat litter
• if you have a multi-cat household, make sure all resources (bedding, food and drinkers, scratching posts, litter trays, high seating, hiding places, toys) are provided with the same formula (1 per cat + 1 additional in different locations)
• if full-length drapes have been treated, once cleaned, consider temporarily pinning them to prevent repeat spraying
• If your cat has ever seen strange cats outside through full-length glass doors or windows, then place an opaque, static cling film or cardboard over the bottom section so they can’t see out and cats outside can’t see in

my cat has stopped spraying now after a few weeks, do I still need to see the vet?

Urine spray can come and go, depending on the presence or absence of whatever is stressing your cat. often the problem returns and the longer you wait before addressing the problem, the more complicated it can become. urine spraying is difficult to resolve as it is normal behavior for the species and often identified stress triggers may be outside of their influence (such as cats outside). however, prior to a known and anticipated stressful event, it may be beneficial to use a feliway® diffuser for those cats who have a history of urine marking during times of heightened anxiety.

the problem can be reduced or contained to your satisfaction, but guidance should be offered as to the long-term well-being of the individual cat.