It is normal behaviour for cats to use urine marking as a means of communication. However, this urine marking becomes inappropriate when happens inside the house, or for inappropriate reasons such as excessive anxiety or excitation.

What is spraying?

When a cat is spraying they will approach a vertical surface, turn around and stand with straight legs, their tails up and sometimes flicking from side to side. A small jet of urine will be sprayed backwards onto the surface and the cat will move off. They often do not scratch and do not squat.

Who Does it?

15% of desexed cats, both male and female, spray urine. Spraying and marking behaviour can change when cats routines are interrupted, such as springtime and increased sexual excitation, or increased stress from moving house or where new cats have entered the neighbourhood. Even for desexed cats, spring and summer are when there is increased activity of other cats in the area, often leading to increased anxiety.

Cats in multiple cat households are more likely to spray.

Why do they do it?

Urine contains pheromones, these are natural chemicals that are used to communicate with other cats. The pheromones in urine are used to express stress. They are usually sprayed to let other cats know that they are on already controlled territory and to alert themselves that they are in an area that is not secure or that they feel stressed in.

You have probably also noticed your cat rubbing their face against objects and yourself. There are facial glands that produce pheromones that express happiness and well being. Cats like to mark their environment this way because the facial pheromones make them feel secure that they are in a familiar area where they feel happy and safe.

Can this lead to other problems?

Yes. Excessive stress can precipitate disease such as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), urine crystals, cystitis or gastrointestinal upsets. Cats can also go off their food if stressed.

The situations that cause stress can also be linked to problems, such as bullying cats causing catfight abscesses or wandering cats causing unwanted pregnancies.

What Can We Do About it?

There are several options to correct inappropriate urine spraying, not all can be done by the vet!

• Reducing stress at home is very important. This may mean increasing the number of litter trays if there are several cats. They need to be washed with soapy water daily (after each use if possible). Place the litter trays in quiet, relatively private areas and try changing the type of litter, some cats find different textures more inviting or comfortable.

• Clean urine stained spots with detergent and use a product that breaks down the urine/stain rather than trying to mask the smell. Do NOT use ammonia-based bleaches, as they will only increase the amount of spraying! (the cats will try to cover the foreign smell of ammonia with their own urine smell)!

• Talk to new neighbours and let them know if their cats are entering your yard or if they are fighting with other cats. Bringing them inside at night might be an easy solution!

• Medication is available to reduce anxiety, but this does not reduce the cause for the stress. Most of the medications available do not cause drowsiness. In most cases medication is only used in conjunction with other measures and may not need to be permanent.

• Facial pheromones are available to increase your cats ‘well-being’ feelings. They are quite useful when moving to a new home or where providing a secure, safe zone away from other cats is required.