The cat backs up to the door, lifts the tail and releases a fine spray of urine. Yes, your cat is spraying. You have a problem. But one you can solve.
Figures from the British Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors say that aggression in dogs and marking behavior in cats are the biggest behavior problems in the UK pet population.
Cats sometimes engage in a behavior called urine spraying or urine marking. The cat stands, backs up to an object, holds his tail up erect and quivering, and releases urine out backwards onto the object. The urine sprayed differs chemically from the urine cats normally release from a squatting position because it also contains oily secretions from the anal glands. Sprayed urine is extremely pungent. Some people describe it as smelling like ammonia; others say it has a heavy musky odor. Cats occasionally spray from a squatting position.
Cats do not come into this world knowing how to use a litterbox. Kittens learn how to use a litterbox from their mother around 4 weeks of age. If orphaned kittens are found, the caretaker must be responsible for introducing, or imprinting the litter box concept.
Most kittens learn how to use a litter box very quickly. Most often we hear horror stories from cat owners on how their cat has been going to the bathroom in everyplace BUT the litterbox.
All felines CCHS puts up for adoption are known to use the litterbox. However, it is desirable to confine your new pet to the room with the litterbox when she is first brought home, so she can learn its location.
If you’re having a hard time persuading your cat to use the litter box, it just may be time to draw a line in the sand. Most cats prefer eliminating on a loose, grainy substance, which is why they quickly learn to use a litter box. But when their preferences include the laundry basket, the bed, or the Persian rug, you may find yourself with a difficult problem. By taking a closer look at your cat’s environment, you should be able to identify factors that have contributed to the problem, and make changes that encourage your cat to head for the litter box once again. The most common reasons why cats don’t use the litter box are an aversion to the box, such as dislike of a covered box, or dissatisfaction with the depth of the litter. Two other common reasons are a preference for a particular type of litter not provided in the box, or a preference for a particular location where there is no box.
Litterbox and Spraying problems can be discouraging, but there is help. Understanding what triggers the behavior is the first step. Whether it’s caused by a urinary tract infection, a cat outside that may be triggering a territorial response, a new home, a new baby, discomfort associated with the litterbox, type of litter, depth of litter, covered versus uncovered boxes, location and number of boxes, or the addition of a new household pet, there is help for you and your cat. Please understand that punishment is not the answer, and may in fact may the situation worse.
The most common behavioural complaint about cats presented to animal behaviour consultants in North America is house-soiling. The typical presentation is that of a cat that both uses its litterbox and eliminates outside of it. It is also typical for the cat to deposit only urine or stool outside the box, but not usually both.
A new cat has recently moved into the apartment next to yours, and your resident feline seems to be heralding the newcomer in his own way. You’ve caught him standing near the front door, posed with his tail straight up in the air as he sends a stream of strong-smelling urine down the wall. What gives? Your cat is exhibiting a very common feline behavior known as spraying.
The phenomenon of cats marking their territory, especially indoors, produces anxiety for many cat owners. The very first thing to know is that cats are not malicious or sneaky; They don’t go around marking objects by spraying to irritate you. Long before we took cats into our homes, they developed behaviour patterns that helped them survive and reproduce in the wild. These behaviour patterns which include marking or spraying through urination are 100% natural and are in the genes of every domestic/wild cat. Cats spray and mark territory as a way of communication and declaring ownership. Unfortunately for the cat, these types of problems are disliked by many cat owners, and all too often they lead to their abandonment. Usually adjustments in the home can solve the problem.
Forsaking the litter box and urinating in inappropriate areas is the most common behavioral problem I see in cats and the most troublesome problem cat owners face. Included in this group of cats are those that pick areas of the house in which to urinate (and sometimes defecate) as well as cats that spray mark the house with urine.