Feline Marking Behaviors

What is spraying?

Spraying is the deposition of small amounts of urine on vertical
surfaces. The spraying cast may be seen to back into the area,
the tail may quiver. And with little or no crouching the urine
is released. Some cats will also mark their territory by leaving
small amounts of urine or, occasionally, stool on horizontal
surfaces.

Why do cats “mark” with urine?

Cats mark the location where they live or which they frequent in
many ways. Cats will mark with scent glands on their feet
cheeks, face and tail as well as with urine. Deposition of odor
communicates that the animal was in a location long after that
animal has gone. Cats will mark their territory to signal
“ownership” and to advertise sexual receptivity and
availability. Marking can occur due to other cats in the
vicinity either outdoors or among the cats that live in the same
household. Cats will also mark their territory when they feel
threatened or stressed. This can occur with a change in
household routine, composition, living arrangements, new living
locations and other environmental and social changes. Because
marking is a method of delineating territory, urine is often
found in prominent locations and near windows, doors, and
heavily trafficked areas in the home.

Which cats are more likely to urine mark?

Both male and female cats can mark with urine. Urine marking is
most common in intact (non-neutered) male cats. When an intact
male sprays urine, it will have the characteristic “tom cat”
odor that is strong and pungent. Neutering will change the odor
and may reduce the cat’s motivation for spraying, but
approximately 10% of neutered males and 5% of spayed females
will continue to spray. While cats in multiple cat households
are often involved in spraying behaviors, cats that are housed
singly may spray as well.

Instead of spraying, I am finding multiple locations of small
amounts of urine. What does that mean?

Some cats will mark their territory with small amounts of urine
(and, on rare occasions, stool) in various locations. These
locations can be similar to those for spraying (i.e. near doors,
windows, new possessions in the home or favored locations) but
may occasionally be found on owner’s clothing or other favored
possessions. However, small amounts of urine deposited outside
of the litterbox can also be an indication of numerous other
problems including diseases of the lower urinary tract.
Similarly, stool found outside of the litterbox can be due to
multiple causes including colitis, constipation and any other
condition leading to difficult, more frequent or uncomfortable
elimination. As with any other elimination problem, a complete
physical examination and laboratory tests are necessary to rule
our each physical cause.

How do I treat a spraying or marking problem?

As with all behavior problems, the history will help determine
the treatment options. The location of the urine marking, the
frequency, the duration, and the number of locations are
important. The number of cats inside as well as contacts outside
of the home should be determined. Changes in the environment,
social patterns of humans and animals, and additions (people,
pets, furniture, renovations) to the home should also be
examined.

If the cat is not already neutered, and is not a potential
breeder, castration is recommended. A urinalysis should be
performed to rule out medical problems. The location of the
urine spots should be determined. Is the urine found on walls 6
to 8 inches up from the floor or are there small urine spots
found in multiple locations?

Treatment is aimed at decreasing the motivation for spraying. If
the problem is cats outside of the home, then the best option is
to find a way to deter the cats from coming onto the property or
prevent the indoor cat from seeing, smelling, or hearing these
cats. It may be helpful to house your cat in a room away from
windows and doors to the outdoors, or it may be possible to
block visual access to windows. When you are home and
supervising, you can allow your cat unlimited access to these
areas. It may also be necessary to keep windows closed to
prevent the inside cat from smelling the cats outside and to use
odor neutralizers on any areas where the outdoor cats have
eliminated or sprayed.

If the problem is due to social interactions inside the home, it
may be necessary to determine which cats do not get along. Keep
these cats in separate parts of the home with their own litter
and sleeping areas. Reintroduction of the cats may be possible
when they are properly supervised. Allowing the cats together
for positive experience such as feeding, treats, and play
sessions helps them to get used to the presence of each other,
at least on a limited basis. However, when numbers of cats in a
home reach 7 to 10 cays you will often have spraying and
marking.

I’ve cleaned up the spot but the cat keeps returning to spray.
What else can be done to reduce the problem?

Since the “purpose” of spraying is to mark an area with urine
odor, it is not surprising that the as the odor is cleaned up,
the cat wants to refresh the area with more urine. Cleaning
alone does little to reduce spraying. Cats that mark in one or
two particular areas may cease if the function of these areas is
changed. It is unlikely that cats will spray in their feeding,
sleeping or scratching areas. Some cats are less likely to spray
if a little of their cheek gland scent can be placed in the
sprayed area. This may change the area to one of cheek gland
marking and as the odor remains the desire to spray may be
greatly reduced.

A commercial product containing feline cheek gland scent has
been recently introduced in Europe and is now available in the
United States. The product is called Feliway® and is a synthetic
pheromone designed to mimic cheek gland secretions for a cat.
When sprayed on areas where cats have sprayed urine or on those
areas where it can be anticipated that the cat is likely to
spray, it may decrease the likelihood of additional spraying in
those areas. The scent of the pheromone seems to calm the cat
and may stimulated marking in the area by bunting (rubbing with
their cheeks) rather than urine spraying. Feliway® has also been
used to calm cats in new environments. You can perhaps get the
same effect by rubbing a cotton ball or gauze square on your
cat’s cheek or shin glands and the rubbing the scent onto the
previously sprayed areas.

Where practical, a good compromise for some cats is to allow
them one or two areas for marking. This can be done by placing a
shower curtain on the vertical surface, tilting the area, or by
taking of plastic litterboxes and placing one inside the other
to make an L-shape (with an upright surface to catch the marked
urine). Another option is to place booby traps in the sprayed
areas, but praying of another area may then develop.

Are there any drugs what available to treat this problem?

Over the years many pharmacological means have been tried to
control spraying behaviors. The choices have focused on the
theory that one of the underlying causations for spraying and
marking behaviors is anxiety. For that reason, many anti-anxiety
drugs such as buspirone and the benzodiazepines, antidepressants
such as amitriptyline, clomipramine, fluoxetine and paroxetine,
and females hormones have al been tried with varying degrees of
success. None of these are presently approved for use in cats,
but your veterinarian can discuss with you the potential
indications and contraindications of drug therapy for your cat.
Of course, if the underlying reason for spraying is not
addressed, the problem is quite likely to occur when the drug is
withdrawn.

The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin
any course of treatment without consulting your regular
veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every
12 months.