Cats And Spraying - Help & Advice On Cat Care - Cats Protection

×

• Shop
• Find us

• Donate
• Sponsor

• Adopt a cat +
  • Find a cat
  • Advice on getting a cat +
    • Adopting a cat
    • Preparing for a cat
    • Your responsibilities as a cat owner
  • Adopt a cat FAQs
  • What is our adoption fee?

  • Adopt a cat

    Fluffy cats, scruffy cats, tiny cats, mighty cats. We've got all kinds of cats! If you're thinking about adopting a cat or kitten, you're in the right place.

    Visit the Adopt a cat page
• About Cats Protection +
  • What we do
  • Campaigning +
    • Where we stand
    • The Cat Manifesto
    • Cat-friendly rentals
  • Neutering +
    • How we support neutering
    • Regional neutering campaigns
    • Financial assistance
    • Working with other organisations
  • Cat Guardians +
    • How does the Cat Guardians service work?
    • How to register with Cat Guardians
    • Register to the Cat Guardians service
    • Cat Guardians FAQs
  • Lifeline +
    • Access Lifeline
    • Referring a client to Lifeline
    • Lifeline FAQs
    • Volunteer as a Lifeline fosterer
  • Education
  • Grief and loss +
    • Grief resources and support
    • Paws to Listen: grief support service
    • Memory wall
    • Bereavement stories
  • Our vision
  • Structure, governance and management +
    • Meet the Trustees
    • Annual Review
    • CATS Report
  • Corporate partners

  • About Cats Protection

    Find out more about Cats Protection, how our organisation works and the services we provide for cats and their owners.

    Visit the About Cats Protection page
• Help and advice +
  • Getting a cat
  • Lost, found and feral cats
  • Cat behaviour
  • Neutering, vaccinations and microchipping
  • Home and environment
  • Health

  • Help and advice

    Looking for cat advice? Our vet-approved guides focus on everything from how to care for a kitten to what to do if you've lost your cat.

    Visit the Help and advice page
• Support us +
  • Donate
  • Sponsor a cat
  • Events +
    • Challenge events
    • DIY fundraising
    • Craft for Cats
    • Stream for Cats
    • Request a fundraising pack
  • Lottery and raffle
  • Volunteering +
    • Volunteer opportunities
    • Volunteer with cats
    • Volunteer as a fundraiser
    • Volunteer at a charity shop
    • Duke of Edinburgh
    • Other ways to volunteer
  • Gifts in Wills +
    • Why gifts in Wills matter
    • How to leave a gift in your Will
    • Gifts in Wills pledge form
    • Request our gifts in Wills information pack
    • Free Will writing offer
  • Giving in memory +
    • Giving in memory of a cat
    • Giving in memory of a person
  • Become a member +
    • The Cat magazine
  • Corporate partnerships +
    • Ways to partner with Cats Protection
  • Philanthropy

  • Support us

    Find out about how you can help us continue our vital work for cats.

    Visit the Support us page

• Help and advice
• Cat behaviour
• Spraying

URL copied to clipboard!

Understanding spraying

Spraying pee is a normal territory-marking behaviour. Never punish a cat for spraying as this never helps but may lead to more spraying. Try to understand the causes of your cat's behaviour instead.

Cats sometimes spray pee on vertical surfaces outside to mark their territory and leave information for themselves and other cats to 'read'.

If your cat sprays inside, it's usually a sign that something is wrong.

While pee spraying is normal behaviour that can be performed by any cat, male or female, neutered or not, spraying indoors may be a sign that your cat does not feel secure in their home.

What is urine spraying?

Urine (or pee) spraying is completely different from normal toileting. Cats usually pee from a squatting position and produce a large puddle of pee in a secluded spot. In contrast, cats spray pee to leave a scent message for themselves and other cats. Cats spray by backing up to a vertical surface in an open location and squirt a spray of pee from a standing position, sometimes while paddling with their back legs and quivering their tail.

Why does my cat spray urine?

Urine (pee) spraying is a normal part of scent marking behaviour. Cats use different scents to create a scent map of their environment.

Cats tend to rub their cheeks in the core part of their territory where they feel safe and relaxed. They use pee spray to mark the areas of their territory where they feel threatened. Cats may do this as a reminder to themselves to be wary in that part of their territory. When the smell fades, the cat will spray again to top-up the scent.

Cat behaviour: Spraying video guide

Cats spraying in your house can be frustrating. Watch our video guide below to explain the possible reasons for your cat spraying inside your home and for tips on how to stop a cat from spraying.

How to discourage your cat from spraying indoors

Has your cat started spraying indoors? Your first step should be to visit your vet to make sure there are no medical causes for your cat's behaviour.

The next step is to work out what makes your cat feel threatened and then take action to eliminate the threat. This process can be complicated because there may be many factors involved. It is best to ask your vet to refer you to a qualified cat behaviourist.

Spraying is often connected to a change in the cat's environment, such as a new cat.

The location of your cat's spraying may provide clues about their perceived threat. If your cat sprays on internal doorways and in hallways it may be because this is where they come into contact with other cats. To overcome this, you can help reduce conflict and create a sense of security by providing extra litter trays, bowls and places for your cats to sleep, play and scratch, reducing the need for competition.

What to do if your cat sprays on doors and windows

If your cat is spraying on the cat flap or external doors or windows, then they may be threatened by something outside, such as another cat.

You can help your cat feel safe by making your home feel more secure. Covering windows with a semi-transparent material may help to restrict their view of other cats. If other cats are entering your home through the cat flap, you can fit a microchip-activated cat flap that will only admit your cats.

You can also try to discourage neighbouring cats from entering your garden. See Keeping cats out of your garden for suggestions.

Pheromone therapy may also help to reduce your cat's anxiety levels.

Download: Managing your cat's behaviour guide

Related topics

Pheromone therapy 

Managing your cat's behaviour 

Toileting 

Keeping cats out of your garden 

Banner image - Evan Qu - unsplash.com

Save Cancel Find a Cat Donate About us