Why cats spray

You walk into the room and although you can't see it, there's an unmistakable odor in the air…cat urine. Maybe this is the first time you've noticed the tell-tale odor that indicates all is not happy in kitty's world. Maybe you've joined the select group of cat owners who have had to toss out drapes, send furniture to the trash, and rip up carpet. When a cat sprays, it can put the whole family in crisis.

Why do some cats spray? Many people often misunderstand the motivation behind feline spraying. The common belief is that the behavior is strictly territorial marking but that isn't the only reason cats spray. Unless you can uncover the true cause for the behavior, you won't have much success in stopping it.

First, it's important to understand the difference between spraying and indiscriminate elimination. If a cat urinates outside of the litter box it doesn't necessarily mean he's spraying. These are two behaviors and can have very different causes. Indiscriminate urination usually occurs on horizontal surfaces such as floors, carpets, bedding, etc. Spraying is usually done vertically. When a cat indiscriminately urinates it may be because there's a medical problem or the litter box conditions may be unacceptable or there's something stressful going on in the household. When a cat sprays, it's a form of communication.

Spraying can be performed by male and female cats. The pheromones in the sprayed urine contain lots of information about the cat. It's basically a calling card. A cat may spray-mark his territory to define its perimeter for other cats. He may also spray as a way to create a familiar scent in his territory. Some cats will spray an owner's belongings not as a way of territorial marking but rather, as a way of self-soothing by mixing scents. Since scent and familiarity play important roles in a cat's life, he may spray a new piece of furniture in the home.

Confident and non-confident cats can spray. A confident cat may spray as a victory display after a confrontation with another cat. A non-confident cat may spray as a way of safely issuing a warning to another cat without risking a confrontation. The non-confident cat sprays and then sees what kind of reaction he gets.

The information in the sprayed urine tells other cats everything they need to know about the "sprayer." Age, sex, sexual availability, status - those are all important facts for cats to know about each other, especially with intact cats in an outdoor setting. In an indoor setting with neutered and spayed cats, lots of information is exchanged through spray-marking as well.

Not all cats spray and if you ease your cat through changes in his life such as the introduction of a new spouse, new pet, new baby, new house, etc., you'll greatly reduce the chances that he'll feel the need to spray.

For step-by-step information on how to handle spraying problems, check out the book Starting from Scratch.

Pam Johnson-Bennett is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and owner of Cat Behavior Associates, LLC.

NOTE: Behavior problems are case-specific and can have underlying medical problems. If your cat is experiencing a change in behavior, contact your veterinarian. The information in this blog should not be used as a diagnosis or as a substitute for appropriate veterinary care.