Everything you need to know about cat spraying

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What is cat spray?

Cat spraying is performed more typically by intact males and implies spraying a current of urine horizontally against a vertical surface. Stephan quandtA feline coach and a behavior specialist says: “Often, the cat goes back to the surface that they are going to spray with a high tail that is often seen shaking, and they do not put on squats, they simply stop and spray. In addition, they generally spray a small amount of urine because they do not try to completely cancel their reeds, since it is not the purpose.”

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It is important to keep in mind that spray is not the only cause of urinating in the house. Dr. Vanessa SpanoA veterinary behavior certified by the Board says: “As behavior is a diagnosis of exclusion, it is important to ensure that nothing is underlying anything is lost. If there is a medical component that is not addressed, it is likely that the behavior of ‘spray’ does not improve. “Several medical problems can make cats spray.

Medical problems that can make cats sprinkle

• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Bladder inflammation
• Urinary tract stones
• Neurological disease
• Nephropathy

Why the cats spray?

“Cats communicate with the smell, and the spray is transmitting information to other cats that this cat has been here and is claiming the territory, or is sexually available, “says Quandt. TOmetroYour CaronA certified cat behavior consultant and a certified professional coach without fear, says that cats can also sprinkle due to stress due to changes in the environment or routine. A frequent cause can be the presence of outdoor cats in its area.

The female cats spray?

Caron says that females can participate in spray behaviors, although this behavior is most commonly seen in men. Uncreated females are more likely to spray when they are in heat to try to attract a couple.

Sterilized cats spray?

Sterilized female cats can sprinkle, but behavior is less common in sterilized cats. About 5% of sterilized cats spray.

The castrated cats spray?

While spray behavior is more common in inequalible males, castrated males can also sprinkle. Quandt says that up to 10% of male cats that are actually castrated.

When do you start spraying male cats?

Male cats usually begin to sprink when they become sexually ripe, which is around 6 to 9 months of age. “Male cats can start spraying before being castrated, and although castration often reduces this behavior, some cats continue to spray even later,” says Caron.

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How to make a cat stop spraying

Cat spraying can be deeply rooted and complex behavior. It is important to understand the causes of why your cat is spraying and taking measures to modify this behavior.

1. Manage any home change. Dr. Spano emphasizes that, after ruling out medical problems, the next step is to see if the spray behavior is connected to changes in the home or the environment. Because one of the reasons why Cats Spray is to mark its territory, block your cat’s access to see other cats through the window can be useful. Has family dynamics change? “If there is a new member of the human family in the home, make them make positive associations with their cat gently throwing them the treats and avoiding too much overwhelming practical interaction: the value they practice the consent and do not touch their cat if their cat does not consent or ask for it,” says Dr. Spano.
2. Help your cat reduce stress. Other common causes of stress in cats include changes in their routine, strong noises, limited resources in households in various caps and boredom. Caron says that there are several ways to reduce the impact of stress on his cat, including “giving space to the cat of what is stressing them, offering time one by one with toys or sweets, or simply helping them stressful situations.”
3. Strengthen alternative behaviors. Instead of punishing your cat for spraying, it is important to strengthen alternative behaviors such as smelling and moving away, using the sand box instead of marking a wall, playing with a kicking toy or scratching on a proper surface. “When you notice that your cat takes one of these positive choices, be sure to inform them: recognize a good behavior is as important as addressing undesirable behavior. Use a warm voice with encouraging words, a soft scratch from the chin or a small tasty pleasure to reward alternative behavior,” says Caron.
4. Sand cash management. Dr. Spano says that, in her experience, the main reason why cats urinate outside the sand box is poor hygiene. She points out that commercial sandboxes are often too small, since they must be 1.5 times the length of the cat from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail (use plastic clothing containers under the bed for their own cats!). Garbage boxes should be completely cleaned at least once a week with warm water and a soft soap, since phenols like Lysol can be too much for their cat’s sensitive olfactory system.
   

   A main reason why cats urinate outside the sand box is poor hygiene.

5. See cat behavior. For deeply rooted behaviors such as spray, it is often recommended to see behavior. Caron explains that a behavioral will ask about the environment, health, history, relationships and the daily routine of his cat. This helps them understand what their cat is showing through their actions. They will help you understand your cat’s behavior and create a specific plan to improve behavior through science -based methods that support your cat’s well -being. Often, the behavior, the veterinarian and the family work together to achieve the best result. While each case is unique, significant progress can occur in just a few months.

What does the cat spray smell like?

Due to the concentration of pheromones, cat aerosol has a strong smell. Sometimes it is described as an aroma of ammonia with a smell of musk. Quandt has joked that it is better than pepper spray to repel an assailant.

The cat’s urine smells so badly due to the presence of pheromones, fatty acids and other compounds in the urine. Cat spray It smells more bad because urine is more concentrated during spray than in normal urination. And the cat’s pipí smells at the worst as time passes: the breakdown of these compounds by ammonia releases and mercaptans, contributing even more to the spicy and durable smell.

• Pheromones and fatty acids: The cat aerosol, also known as the marking of the smell, implies the release of urine that contains a greater concentration of pheromones (chemical signals used for communication) and fatty acids compared to regular urine. These compounds have strong and distinctive odors, which makes the spoon more spicy.

• Bacterial decomposition: After depositing urine, bacteria begin to break up urea (a waste product in the urine). This process releases ammonia, which is a key component of the characteristic smell of cat urine.

• Mercaptans: As the urine decomposes even more, mercaptans occur. These are compounds that contain sulfur that are also found in the mofas spray, known for their intense and unpleasant smell.

• Concentration: Cats, being desert animals, have evolved to preserve water, resulting in highly concentrated urine. This concentrated urine, with its high levels of waste products and pheromones, contributes to the strong and persistent smell.

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How to get rid of the smell of cat spray (and why it is essential to get rid of the smell)

Due to the pheromones that are released when a cat sprinkles, it can encourage them to sprinkle in the same place. If you notice this, Dr. Spano recommends cleaning the area twice a day for at least a month. She recommends using an enzymatic cleaner, such as poop or urine to eliminate pheromones. It is important to let this cleaner be repeated for 5 minutes before cleaning it. Here are detailed instructions on how to eliminate the smell of cat pipí from clothes and bedding.

DISUNICATION FOR CATS

Dr. Spano says that a relaxing feromone feline, such as Feliway, can be applied to the area so that his cat is less likely to spray there. She recommends applying this after the enzymatic cleaner has been cleaned. Another option if your cat is spraying in the same location is to change the space function. “Cats are less likely to sprinkle where they eat, drink, sleep and play,” says Dr. Spano.

What to do if you catch your cat sprinkling

If you catch your cat spraying, it is important to avoid punishing them. “The punishment can reduce the probability of undesirable behavior, but it does not teach the cat what to do: coping mechanisms are not learned. Therefore, without addressing the root of the problem and providing its cat alternatives, the cat will find another place when hiding to sprinkle and/or eventually resort to the behavior they know in stressful situations: sprinkle,” says Dr. Spano.

Interested in cat’s behavior? Look more from our articles here.