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In the wild, big cats leave clear signals to establish their territory and avoid conflict – which is important because they’re dependent on themselves to stay out of trouble.
Cats are adorable, intelligent, and expressive, making them one of the best pets to have at home. Although cats can often be mischievous and get into unlikely accidents such as scratching on furniture or dropping things from tables, it is important to understand that they never really mean intentional harm. Urine marking or male cats spraying, however, is an instinctive reaction in cats which allows them to mark their territories and attract mates.
Cats mostly rely on verbal sounds and body language as a form of communication with other cats, as well as their favourite humans. So, why do cats spray? Cat urine spraying is also an important form of communication within the feline community and can have several meanings that can be expressed. In the wild, cats spray to communicate to other cats about their territory and that behaviour has stayed on in the domestic cats as well.
Read on to find out the other reasons why do cats spray around the house, and how to get rid of the pungent smell of cat urine spray.
Within the household, indoor cats lead a considerably safer, secure life. However, being introverted and independent by their very nature, cats often require their personal space to thrive and feel comfortable. Therefore, indoor cats often use cat marking when they feel territorial about their personal space as a way of defending it from intruders. This household communicative behaviour can be more prominently felt in houses with multiple cats. Indoor cats also often spray to make their owners aware of litter box issues.
In the wild, outdoor cats use urine spraying as a major form of communication in the feline community. This can be more prominently observed in a cat’s hunting ground, where the strong urine smell can ward off predators, as well as other feline competitors. Urine spraying allows cats to make their claim over the territory felt by outsiders. While outdoor cats use the urine cat marking technique to defend their area against intrusions, the urine spraying nature in housecats is almost a natural instinct to establish territories.
If you have been a cat parent, you must be aware that these fluffy furballs do not do well with environmental changes and can be left feeling stressed in a new environment. So, if you are wondering why do cats spray, stress-induced cat spraying is common in cats feeling anxious, as the strong scent of urine can help establish a feeling of territory, as well as throw off any perceived threat.
While cat peeing is an involuntary action that involves your furry munchkin relieving itself in the litter box or a designated peeing area, cat spraying is an intentional action, and is considered a crucial form of communication in the feline community, which can have several meanings. Additionally, cats spray to mark their territory, so most cats spray outside the litter box. However, if your cat is urinating outside the litter box for some time, it can express discontent with the litter box or even underlying health concerns it wants to draw your attention to. Kittens that have not been litter-trained may also pee outside the litter box, making it important to know how to help a kitten pee.
While cat spraying is harmless, it leaves a strong, pungent odour due to its high ammonia content. Additionally, spray cat markings can leave stubborn stains on walls and furniture, so it is important to know how to get a cat to stop spraying:
Cat pee spray has a distinct pungent smell that can aggravate if left unattended. So, it is important to know how to get rid of the cat spray smell before it worsens:
While cats can be adorable goofballs most of the time, urine spraying, especially when done by an indoor cat, can have an adverse effect within the household. Not only are cat spray stains stubborn and difficult to remove, but cat pee spray also has a pungent smell that can get worse if left unattended. Additionally, it also contains a high percentage of ammonia, which can make breathing uncomfortable. But as annoying it is, it is also important to understand that cat spraying is a natural process and is not done with a bad intention. So, before you train your cat to avoid spraying, it is important to understand why is my cat spraying and which cats are more likely to urine spray.
Now that you know that spraying in cats is a natural, instinctive behaviour, mentioned below are some ways that can help you treat spraying or cat marking issues in cats without punishing them:
If your cat is frequently urine spraying, your veterinarian may recommend over-the-counter medications such as Fluoxetine or Clomipramine, known to have over 90% effectiveness in cats who urine spray.
Cats are known to spray for several reasons, such as cat marking their territories, warding away predators, or attracting potential mates when they are in heat. Cats under stress and anxiety are known to urine spray as well.
Cat parents often wonder, why do cats spray? Contrary to popular belief, cat peeing and spraying are not the same. While cat pee involves your furry relieving itself, cat spray is more intentional to communicate certain things like marking territories.
Since male cats spraying is mostly associated with non-neutered cats looking for a mate in heat, getting your cat spayed or neutered is a possible long-term solution. Additionally, veterinarians may recommend medications like Fluoxetine or Clomipramine with a high success rate.
While spraying can have several connotations, it does not generally indicate happiness in cats. Cat urine spraying is usually used for urine marking in cats to indicate territories, warding off predators, and attracting potential mates when in heat.
Male cats spraying is considered a vital part of feline communication. While most outdoor cats spray to mark territories, spraying in household cats is more instinctive. Female cat spraying and urine marking in cats are also for attracting mates.