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To understand cat spraying it is first important to understand the difference between spraying (urine-marking) and indiscriminate urination. A cat who is not using the litterbox, who is urinating outside of the box, is usually motivated by a different set of circumstances. Urination of this kind is found in the form of a puddle on a horizontal surface. A cat who is spraying will usually urine-mark a vertical surface. This cat's urine will be running down a door or the side of a chair. There are many reasons why cats spray.
Cats are very territorial and if they believe that their territory is being threatened they will mark it as a warning to others. Unaltered cats tend to display this behavior more than neutered cats, but neutered cats, whether male or female, can territorially mark as well.
If cat spraying has become a problem with your cat, it's first recommended that you check with your veterinarian to rule out any medical problems. Ask your vet to do a urine test to look for the disease known as FLUTD, which is treatable.
Once you've ruled out any medical problems, the next step is to make sure that you are cleaning up the urine in the correct way. Do not use any agent containing a scent and make sure not to use any cleaning agent containing ammonia. Vinegar is another product to avoid. The scent of the cleaning agent may be perceived by your cat as the scent of another cat, making him over-mark this area. Instead, clean the area with an enzymatic cleaning agent. The laundry detergents Bio Zet and Drive contain enzymes that may do the job. Odor neutralizers, such as Mensa X-Tract Odor Remover are also very good for this purpose. You can find many products for just this purpose at pet stores. Once you've deodorized the area, a product known as Feliway can be used. Feliway is a synthetic analogue of the substances called Feline Facial Pheromones. The Feliway plug-in diffuser delivers the calming pheromones directly into the animal's environment, and is available from your veterinarian.
If your cat is being influenced by neighborhood cats, there are several strategies you can use to persuade those cats to go elsewhere. Some people find that spraying Citronella around the garden will keep cats away, but if your cat is an outdoor cat it may affect him as well. Others try using water balloons.
There are also medications that can be used to help control spraying in cats. Although hormones are often used, these are being replaced by other medications that are safer and much more effective. For more details contact your veterinarian.
Finally, one of the best methods to prevent spraying is to have your kitten neutered by the age of six months.
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