5 Ways to Stop Territorial Cat Spraying

Cats are very clean animals by nature – they bathe themselves daily and do their business in the litter box. Some cats, however, develop a habit of spraying urine outside the litter box. When this happens, it is generally related to territorial behavior. Both males and females have the capacity to develop this behavior and it can quickly become a nuisance. In this article, you will learn the basics of why cats develop urine-spraying behavior and what you can do to stop it.

What is Territorial Urine Spraying?

Do not confuse territorial urine spraying with urinating – they may look similar but the motivation for these two behaviors is very different. If your cat starts urinating outside the litter box, it could be due to a medical problem like a urinary tract infection and you should seek veterinary care. Urine spraying, on the other hand, is a territorial behavior that cats exhibit when they feel their territory is being threatened. Both male and female cats will spray urine on objects to mark their territory and to cover the scent of other cats. This behavior is most common in multi-cat households and it is often exhibited by non-neutered male cats.

5 Tips to Stop Urine Spraying

Urine spraying is a normal behavior, as annoying as it may be, and there are several things you can try to stop it. Below you will find a list of the top five tips for stopping urine-spraying behavior:

1. Have your cat spayed/neutered. Having your cat spayed or neutered before he or she is six months old will help to curb urine spraying behavior. Up to 90% of cats do not develop this behavior if they are spayed/neutered before they start.
2. Maintain a positive relationship between your cats. If you have multiple cats in the household, maintaining a positive relationship among them can help prevent urine spraying. Try to treat your cats equally by playing with them and feeding them together.
3. Restrict your cat’s view of the outside. If your cat sees another cat outside, he or she may become territorial and will start urine spraying. Try to keep your cat out of the window by moving furniture away from it and use drapes or blinds to cover the window.
4. Maintain a predictable routine. When your cat is stressed, he is more likely to develop urine-marking behavior. Maintaining a predictable routine for feeding, sleeping, and playtime will help to reduce your cat’s level of stress. You can also try using a pheromone spray like Feliway Spray or Comfort Zone spray to help keep your cats calm.
5. Spray your furniture and house plants with repellent. Cats favor furniture and houseplants for urine marking, so by spraying a repellent on these items, you can keep your cat away and disrupt the urine-marking pattern.

The best way to prevent urine-marking behavior is to stop it before it starts. To do this, you should make sure your cats are spayed/neutered and you should take steps to ensure that all of your cats get along. These simple things can help to maintain peace and harmony in your multi-cat home, and can help to prevent urine spraying.

Article reviewed by a veterinarian

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