Why has my cat started spraying in the house? This Method works     

Stop cat spraying furniture

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Whenever your cat starts spraying in the house, it means that there is a problem. Since we do not have a common medium for communication, your cat will use urine to communicate. However, it is for you to try and figure out why he is spraying in the house. This is not exactly easy to determine and that is why we have prepared a list of some of the causes of cat spraying.

Before we proceed to understand why your cat has started spraying in the house, we have to differentiate between urinating and actual spraying. Most people tend to confuse the two even though they are quite different. A cat that is spraying will pass only a small amount of urine, and usually on the wall or curtains. On the other hand, a cat that is urinating inappropriately will purposefully avoid the litter box and pee on other items.

 

Why do cats spray?

 

When your cat is spraying, he will do so with his tail and hind legs upright and he will spray vertically. Most cats will target the wall, curtains on the window, or door. Other cats will spray your electronics sitting on the floor.

On the contrary, cats with inappropriate elimination will pee normally. That is, your cat will squat and urinate horizontally, maybe on your carpet, duvet, or even couch.

Now that we can differentiate between the two, let us look at cat spraying in the house. What could be the reason behind a spraying cat in the first place?

 

Reasons why your cat is spraying in the house

 

Cats are quite affectionate to their owners such that it is unlikely for them to piss you off intentionally. However, your cat may start spraying in the house, which can be annoying. understand that even as much as you love your cat, cat pee is not exactly inviting. No one wants to come back home to a soiled house.

Whenever your cat is spraying, take it as him trying to send a message.  I am not saying that the habit is acceptable. I am simply saying that you should always look into it and understand why he is doing so. Fortunately, we have had the chance to actually study cat behavior in order to live with them peacefully. Below are some of the reasons why cats spray in the house:

 

 

  • Anxiety

Cats, like us, also experience anxiety when faced with certain situations. This is because cats are quite sensitive in nature, which means that we constantly have to check on their emotional status. spraying is common in cats that have experience anxiety recently, and especially in the absence of their keepers.

For instance, you may consider leaving your friend in your house while you travel for a few days. This will expose your kitty to anxiety as he tries to bond with the new person. In such a case, you may find your cat spraying on your bed. This is because he feels vulnerable without you around. However, the new person should focus on creating a bond with him in order to minimize the anxiety. This can be done especially during playtime and feeding time.

  • Stress

This is another common reason why your cat is spraying in the house. Once again, leaving your cat all alone for long periods of time is capable of causing him stress. However, this is not the only thing as there are others.

People with multiple cats will confess to dealing with stressed cats at some point in life. This is because running a multi-cat household is most definitely not easy and a number of things could go wrong. For instance, your cat may be subjected to stress because there is too much competition for resources at home.

Like humans, sometimes your cat may need isolation for a while to recharge. This explains why you will pick him up to pet him and he walks right back to where he was before. However, in a multi-cat home, your cat may not be able to get this chance. Therefore, it is important that you provide options like an isolation place in hidden corners in the house.

Your cat may spray certain places to keep the other cats away from him. It always works.

In addition, it is important that you provide enough resources including food, water, and even litter boxes.

  • Boredom

Domestication has made it possible for us to live together with pets. However, now that we can understand cat behavior, we should also keep it in mind that cats do not. This is why you would be okay with staying home all day and your cat does not. The point here is, we have resulted in treating our cats like fellow humans. Thereby, we undermine their nature while thinking we are keeping them happy.

Once you leave home for work or daily activities, your cat is left at home, all alone. And since he cannot engage in the things he would in the wild, he is bound to get bored. In order to keep him busy, you may consider getting a few toys for him. In addition, increase the playtime for you and your cat. You may also leave your TV or music on softly to calm him. The TV will definitely capture his attention.

 

 

Cats tend to exhibit their dominance by marking their territories. Even though this will happen in male cats mostly, female cats can also engage in the behavior. On most occasions, your cat will spray windows or front doors to mark his territories.

Usually, this is led by a previous intrusion of your cat’s boundary by a stranger or another cat. For instance, if you have a cat flap in the house, another cat may be able to access the inside of your house. Your cat, however, will find this intrusive and will want to protect his space. This may make him spray on the cat flap.

On the occasion that a stranger is at the door when you are away, your cat is also going to protect your home by the best method he knows: spraying. This could be why you come home to a sprayed door every other door.

  • Frustration

We often tend to forget that cats also get pretty annoyed over some things. For instance, leaving the litter box dirty and the smell is a good reason to get your cat all riled up. For this reason, it is important that you understand the things that trigger your cat to be afraid, annoyed, or even angry.

Providing clean and enough litter boxes are therefore vital if your cat is spraying. Make a point of scooping the waste at least twice a day. Additionally, get the correct type of litter that will absorb cat pee and also not produce odor.

By keeping your cat happy and healthy, you will be evading quite a number of other cat behaviors.

  • Medical Reasons

Cats are prone to contracting urinary tract-related infections at some point in their lives. This is why you should have your cat checked by a vet to rule out illnesses resulting in spraying in the house. Some of these illnesses include idiopathic cystitis, bladder stones, crystalluria, and urinary tract infections.

Your cat will pass small amounts of urine more frequently than usual. Again, your cat may want to spray in your presence to alarm you of their pain while doing so. In some severe cases, some cats pass bloody urine while others may have a blockage and thus be unable to pass urine at all.

Your vet will diagnose your cat following a urine test. In case your cat is sick, your vet will also provide treatment options for your cat.

It is important that you do not ignore cat spraying as it might be an indication of an underlying illness.

 

 

  • Other cats and animals

The view of another animal, it could be another cat or a dog, is likely to instill some sort of fear in your cat. For this reason, he might end up spraying your window or even the door. Therefore, it is important to keep the curtains closed in order to block his view of the outside. In some cases where your cat is not neutered, he may spray as a way to attract the female counterpart.

Your cat may also spray because he wants to chase away the other animal but is confined in the house. In other cases, your cat may simply be looking to engage with another cat on the outside. Spraying, in this case, is usually done on the windows.

In conclusion

cat spraying is not a new term for cat parents. However, there are so many options in which you can be able to solve this behavioral problem. After all, you do not want your house smelling of cat pee every day. Consider seeing the vet as soon as you notice your cat spraying in the house or even outdoors. It could indicate underlying health issues if not behavioral.

 

 

 

 

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