Why Cats Mark Territories And How To Stop Them

     For cat owners who are puzzled about some of their pet's actions, this can be the explanation that you need. Cats that urinate in certain places, that scratch furniture, and that rub against your legs are exhibiting behaviors of territory marking.

And there can be several reasons why your cat is doing this. First, it can be insecure of its surroundings. A single change in its daily routine can already trigger it to feel uncomfortable. Also, there can be cats that are just new additions into the home. They will seem to survey the place and mark their territories. Changes in their owners patterns and routine activities can also be a trigger.

You will be getting problems like couches wet with urine, or your wooden and upholstered furniture ruined with scratch marks in their posts. These are the things that push you to find a way to stop your cat from doing what they do.

To stop them, you need to get your cat fixed. You need to keep them in a routine that they have started from day one that they are living with you. When they are already comfortable with the things that they are doing, there will be no reason for them to feel threatened. Also, you have to stick to your routines when you are with your cat. These routines don't have to be strict and entirely the same to the second in each time. But, you just need to avoid drastic changes.

As much as possible, do not come in contact with other animals, especially another with cat. When you come home smelling like another cat because you were playing with it beforehand, your cat will feel its security has been breached. It will feel that its territory was taken away. Also, visitors in your home can make your cat feel wary. Be aware that visitors who have cats and who smell like them will likewise cause your cat to protect its territory.

Also, show your cat that you care for it. Spending time in every day to show your affection will help a lot. You need to make your cat feel loved, welcomed, and secured for them to do away with these marking behaviors. When you have a new cat at home, you need to make an extra effort in introducing it to the family and the home. As early as possible, you need to spend time in making it feel that you are its new owner.

As much as possible, keep your cat from going outdoors. There are a lot of elements outside the house that will be difficult to control. Stray animals can just come up to your cat and trigger it to feel threatened. Thus, your problem may reoccur.

When you can't seem to stop your cat, you can take such measures as providing them areas to urinate or to scratch. Placing litter boxes inside the house and letting your cat become familiar with them are necessary. Likewise, there are scratch posts available in the market. There are even those that double as sleeping quarters for your cat. So, your cat can just scratch these posts, and hopefully, spare your furniture.

Jerri Nice D. Torres enjoys writing for Petflow which sells evo dog food and chicken soup for the pet lover cat food as well as a host of additional products.

Jerri Nice D. Torres enjoys writing for Petflow which sells evo dog food and chicken soup for the pet lover cat food as well as a host of additional products. http://www.petflow.com/explorer/brand/evo http://www.petflow.com/explorer/brand/chicken-soup