How to Stop a Cat Spraying Furniture?
Spraying is a common problem among cat owners. It has led many people to surrender their kitties to shelters. Therefore, it is an issue every cat owner should know and know how to correct. It gets worse when your cat develops a habit of spraying your furniture.
Your house will stink of cat pee, and the fantastic feel of your couches won’t feel the same as they used to be. It can be very frustrating and not to mention embarrassing. However, you do not need to panic as you can quickly correct the behavior. In this article, we will discuss some ways you may use to stop cat-spraying furniture.
How to stop cat-spraying furniture
If you’ve experienced the unmistakable and unpleasant aroma of cat spraying on your furniture, there are steps you can take to prevent it from happening in the future.
The first step is determining why your cat is exhibiting this behavior.
This may be due to several factors, such as a change in routine or stressful situations.
Once you have identified the root cause, you can begin introducing solutions into your home environment, such as providing extra scratching posts and engaging toys.
Additionally, providing plenty of mental stimulation by playing with your cat daily can help them release any pent-up energy they may have.
And lastly, keep litter boxes impeccably clean – cats will avoid using soiled litter trays! Following these tips will help reduce spraying behavior and keep your furniture free from any unwanted odors.
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Clean the soiled place.
This should always be the first step when you find your cat spraying on your furniture. This will help because he will not be prompted to repeat the behavior upon smelling his scent. Next, it is recommended to use the enzymatic cleaner to get rid of the smell and stains.
Cats tend to develop the repetitive behavior of spraying on the same spot. So whether your cat is doing it to mark his territory or because he feels insecure, there is a chance that he will repeat it.
If your kitty has sprayed your couch, vacuum it and thoroughly clean it. This will not only discourage the cat from spraying, but it will also keep your house clean. Alternatively, you may also use a water and vinegar solution to clean the soiled part of the furniture. The smell of vinegar, which will last a few days, will keep the cat away from the place for some time.
Provide clean litter boxes.
As mentioned above, praying could also indicate litter box issues. Thus, encouraging the cat to use the litter boxes would be best. The first step is always to provide clean litter boxes. Understand that your cat is quite sensitive to smells. Therefore, you must scoop the soiled litter every few times every day.
In addition, you must choose the correct type of litter for your kitty. Some types of litter may discourage your cat from using the latter. For example, most cats often use soft material over massive particles for litter. This being said, invest in getting the excellent type of litter that will not hold pee or odor after scooping.
This will prevent your cat from looking for alternative places to pee. It will also eliminate the frustration your cat may experience from the lack of enough clean litter boxes causing him to spray.
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Get your kitty spayed/neutered.
Other than controlling breeding in cats, spaying or neutering your cat will also have some other advantages. For example, your cat may be spraying because he/she wants to attract a mate when in heat. We can say that spaying/neutering your cat will help you eliminate this vice.
Furthermore, cats that have not been spayed or neutered often seem more protective. This means they will want to own the place, and there is no better way to achieve this than spraying your furniture and items. By spaying your cat, you will be getting rid of your cat’s protective nature, thereby eliminating the need for marking territories.
Male cats are often more hostile, so they fiercely protect their territory. Thereby, He will spray all over your house to stamp authority. However, upon neutering him, he is going to remain calm and a lot friendlier.
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Restrict access to the soiled furniture.
If your cat cannot reach your furniture, then you do not have to worry about him spraying them. However, you may restrict your cat from acceding your living room if he adopts the naughty spraying habit. To do this, you must deter your cat from getting to the furniture. There are several ways you can be able to do this.
Lemon peels work well to repel cats; therefore, you can use them in the living room. You may place a few peels on the table or the carpet to keep your kitty off the room. Target the room your cat is spraying.
Alternatively, you may use essential oils to keep cats off your place. However, you must be careful not to use too much of it to make your house uncomfortable for you and your kitty. Eucalyptus and lavender oils will work well to repel cats. And lastly, you could decide to close the door and keep him out of the living room for a while. This way, he will forget about spraying behavior.
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Treat underlying anxiety
Anxiety can be blamed for causing spraying in cats. To deal with spraying resulting from the latter, you must examine your cat and determine the cause of anxiety. The most effective way to comfort your cat is to get rid of the stimuli for anxiety.
For instance, if your cat feels uncomfortable and anxious around your guests, you must pay attention to him. You can have your guest engage your cat in various activities that will help alleviate anxiety symptoms. Playing with your cat is a great way to bond with a cat. In addition, you can have your friend help with simple tasks such as feeding the cat. This will enhance a great bond between your guest and your cat.
If your cat feels threatened by another cat or even a dog, you should consider separating the two until your cat is willing to socialize with it.
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Leave the curtains down.
Often, cats are prompted to spray upon seeing the happenings on the outside. You may consider leaving the drapes down if you live along a busy street. This will help block the outside view, which will lead to spraying your furniture.
In this case, the stimuli for spraying might result from anxiety or even stress. For instance, noisy neighborhoods will disrupt your cat’s peace. Therefore, you must provide alternatives by distracting his attention from the outside world. To be able to do this, make sure he cannot see anything on the outside. In addition, provide toys and music to calm your kitty when you are away from the house.
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Stick to the routines.
Daily routines are essential to your cat. He does not want anything to change in it, and neither is yours. Once you adopt a kitty, you should make him stick to a specific routine. This means that your cat feeds simultaneously every day and sleeps. It is up to you to fix a schedule that will benefit both you and your cat.
Changing the routine may lead to your cat spraying your furniture. Therefore, avoid even the slightest change in your routine and your cat’s.
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Avoid moving from one residence to another.
Cats detest moving from one place to another, which is also why most cats spray. As we have discussed above, cats do not like change at all. Moving from one apartment to another is a massive change for your cat to adapt to. And to deal with this change, your cat will spray your furniture to feel secure. It will take a few weeks before your cat fully embraces your new home.
Therefore, all cat owners need to refrain from moving. Finding a place you can settle for a while with your cat is best. In addition to this, avoid rearranging your house, as it will confuse your cat. He may end up peeing on your couch or carpet.
Why is your cat spraying your furniture?
Whenever you are looking to correct a behavioral issue in pets, you must understand the reason behind it. This is especially important if your cat suddenly starts soiling your furniture. Some of the reasons why your cat may do so include the following:
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Vulnerability
Cats thrive when they are in control, they want to feel comfortable in their residence. However, certain situations could lead to your cat feeling vulnerable. As a result, your cat may spray your furniture to claim ownership. This happens when you leave your cat alone for long periods.
It could also be initiated by an intruder in your home, perhaps another cat or a neighborhood dog. Your cat may feel insecure, especially if the other cat has access to the inside of your home.
Your cat may also feel vulnerable if you leave him at home with a stranger. As a result, most cats go-ahead to spray their owner’s bed or favorite items in the house.
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Stress
A stressed cat will most often want to spray to communicate with you. However, it is up to you to monitor him and understand what he is trying to tell you. Stress in cats can be induced through simple measures such as moving from one residence to another, noisy neighborhoods, other animals, and boredom.
For instance, your cat may feel vulnerable because you just moved. He wants to familiarize himself with his surroundings. In other cases, your cat may spray furniture after remodeling your house. Getting new furniture can also make your cat want to spray to ‘own’ it. It is somehow a way for your cat to accept the new table.
If you recently got a new kitten, he may spray your furniture for the same reasons. He wants to feel like he belongs in that home and wants his scent.
Like most pets, cats are also territorial beings. They want to own and protect their homes and will spray to mark their territories. Male cats are prone to this behavior as they want to protect their homes. Female cats can also be very territorial, as they are even more jealous.
Urine marking, however, may also indicate your cat’s sexual behavior. Cats over the age of five months are mature enough to reproduce. For this reason, your female cat may spray while in heat. I usually invite male cats for mating.
A male cat will also spray your house to mark territory and invite female cats during the season. If your cat is unneutered/unsprayed, chances are you will have trouble controlling spraying when your cat is in heat.
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Emotional distress
Cats also suffer emotional distress, which is usually accompanied by extreme anxiety. Again, this could be a result of exposure to various situations. For instance, your dirty litter box is not a great thing for your cat. As a result, he may get frustrated and instead spray your furniture.
In other cases, anxiety can make you spray all over. For example, anxiety can result from another pet or bringing a visitor home. Until your cat gets used to the new person, you may have to address spraying on furniture issues.
As I conclude
I will emphasize providing enough and cleaning the litter box as a significant step to stop cat spraying furniture. However, it is even more critical to check if your cat is suffering from any urinary/bladder infections.
Once you rule out this, you may use the above-discussed methods to solve spraying furniture problems. Furthermore, get your cat neutered before he becomes of reproductive age.
This will eradicate the chances of your cat spraying because he wants to mate. Also, always ensure that your cat gets adequate time with you for bonding. Eliminate any stimuli that are causing your cat to spray your furniture. The goal is to make your kitty as comfortable as he needs in your house without soiling and destroying your furniture.
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