Do female cat spray?

(August 13, 2010)

Cats spray in order to mark their territories. They do this by staining a particular area with a small amount of their urine. This is meant to be a signal for other cats. The cats that are most likely to spray are unneutered male cats. There is an unmistakable, strong odor that emanates from the urine of male cats. A question often asked by those who would like to own a cat is, do female cats spray? Yes, unsprayed female cats are likely to use urine marking as a way to attract mates. When cats want to spray, they usually sniff the area in question, bend their limbs and then urinate on a vertical surface. Some may also crouch down to spray. Just about 5 percent of female cats are known to exhibit urine marking indoors. The problem may however be difficult to treat.

Female cat spraying may begin as an instinctive behavior when indoors. The behavior may then be reinforced and could become a habit. Certain environmental conditions are also known to lead to cat spraying. Cat stress is likely to be one such factor. A cat can become stressed due to various factors such as change in routine, new surroundings, new people in the house, punishment or lack of attention. The odor of female cat urine is not as strong as that of an unneutered male cat. However, it could still be bothersome for those living in the house. There are certain steps that should be taken in correcting this behavior.

The most important step in correcting the problem of urine marking is identifying the source of the problem. Once the stressors are identified and removed, the behavior is likely to reduce. The stained areas must be cleaned with cleaners that do not have ammonia in them. The odor of ammonia attracts felines since it is similar to cat urine. You may also use a commercial cleaning product. You could use a solution of vinegar and water to clean the soiled areas. Cat spraying treatment may also involve behavioral methods in some cases. One such method is to place the cat’s water and food in the area where the cat usually marks. Cats do not mark around their food and hence the behavior is likely to reduce. You can also place some aluminum foil just on and below the marking site. The cat will not like the sound and will therefore stay away from the area. It will also prevent the cat from smelling the site.