Problem with cat spraying

Spraying in cats is a common problem in the house .It is also one that can be easily rectified if you understand why the cat id doing it.

Cats can actually be easily trained and when behavior problems do occur we can tackle them simply if we look at the reasons why and see the world from a cats point of view

When Cats feel insecure they will spray so if we let them establish a sense of their own smell then their security increases. Spraying can become a problem if you cat starts to spray furniture and curtains. We need to first look into the reasons why cat spray. Both sexes spray and neutered males are just as likely to spray as un-neutered males.Normally cats do not spray indoors as they feel secure and there is no need to protect their territory. When you have more than one cat in the house they need to assert their identity and will mark their territory. If the spraying has suddenly started look for some changes in the household that could have caused stress. For some cats this could be the installation of a cat flap. This creates a Blurr between outside and inside and the cat has to mark its smell.

Some owners spray pepper or chilli or wipe the areas with vinegar but this does not really work. You can try to place a tray of marbles below the favourite spraying places but if you cat is determined he will just stand further away.A good idea that can work is to put a sheet of household foil around the spot as cats do not like the sound of urine hitting the foil. Taking a more psychological view may be more successful. With more than one cat its a good idea to have seperate sleeping places. When the neighbour's cat comes calling ,chase it.Try boarding up the cat flap and see the behavior stops. In difficult cases confine the cat to one room and make sure it has a cosy bed under a radiator and its toys. As long as you do not leave the cat on its own for too long, its sense of security will increase. As you see the situation improve let it use more rooms of the house and keep an eye on it. lastly if none of these strategies work then see your vet about hormone treatment. Remember that cats love the safety of routine and any change in their familiar surroundings or the behavior of their owners can cause stress. This will manifest in different behaviors and spraying is one of them.