Stopping Your Cat From Spraying
Spraying is a behavior in cats, mainly males, which many owners confuse with urinating outside the litter box. The difference between the two is that a cat will urinate on a flat horizontal surface. Spraying is most often done on a vertical surface. Female cats will spray on horizontal surfaces, but it is rare.
The primary reason a cat sprays is because felines are very territorial animals and like to mark their turf by spraying urine to let other cats know who owns that little piece of the world. If you notice things being marked near windows or screen doors where your cat can see outside it's a pretty good chance there is a cat hanging around your house or passing by frequently.
Many times a cat will spray because of psychological problems such as anxiety, stress or a feeling of being threatened by something or someone. If personal items are being sprayed it is usually a sign that your cat has some issues with the person. The addition of a new cat or even having too many cats for the size of your house can cause spraying problems.
If the cat is put into a stressful situation like someone new moving in (a new baby) or being introduced into a new living environment they might feel the need to spray.
By taking time to examine the events going on in your cat's life, you may be able to eliminate this behavior. There are products sold at pet stores that contain odors only your cat can smell. These are designed to comfort your cat. Another thing that often eliminates spraying behavior is to have your cat neutered. In most cases, this is the most effective method as it alleviates the territorial instinct in your cat. This is yet one more argument for neutering.
Cat Health Care
Urinary Tract Infection In Your Cat
The Case Against Declawing Your Cat
Helping Your Cat Survive Your Move
Is My Cat's Aggression Normal?
Cat Health Care
... like a human allergy sufferer. Respiratory signs may be slow and deliberate (more abdominal breathing), to fast and labored. True asthma, as opposed to bronchitis, normally responds quickly to a combination of bronchodilators, oxygen therapy, and fast acting steroids. Diagnosis is usually confirmed with ...
Does Your Cat Have An Allergy?
... foods, things inhaled, or something they have come in contact with are the most likely allergies in cats. Contact allergies generally result in a fairly localized reaction on the skin. The cat may scratch a lot or there may be an indication of irritation at the place of contact. Most common causes of ...
Why Your Cat Won't Use His Litter Box
... for possible urinary track infection could be in order. A cat with this infection may feel pain upon elimination and associate that pain with the litter box. Keeping in mind that most cats will not stop using a litter box once trained should make it easier for you to understand. Find the cause by eliminating ...
Urinary Tract Infection In Your Cat
... significant pain, time and time again, that she stops using her litter box because she associates her urinary pain with the cat litter box. However, there are a few signs you should be on the lookout for. While none of us really want to watch our kitty use the litter box, it's a good idea to observe her ...
... anti-emetics and diet management. When preparing a diet plan for a cat with liver disease, note that he needs a high-quality protein diet in moderate amount, with most of the cat's caloric intake coming from non-protein sources. If you are preparing your own food, it is recommended that the diet be based ...