How To Stop Your Cat Spraying
- By Marc De Jong
The cat backs up to the door, lifts the tail and
releases a fine spray of urine. Yes, your cat is
spraying. You have a problem. But one you can solve.
Figures from the British Association of Pet Behaviour
Counsellors say that aggression in dogs and marking
behavior in cats are the biggest behavior problems in
the UK pet population.
Spraying is marking behavior, not a litter box
problem. Sprayed cat urine contains pheromones, a
substance that animals use to communicate.
Combinations of pheromones work like fingerprints:
they identify the cat.
A spraying cat marks his or her territory with cat
urine. It simply says: This is mine. You
may not like it, but getting angry doesnt help.
It may even have an opposite effect: more spraying.
Cats in heat are attracted by the odor of cat urine.
For them, spraying is something like an invitation to
love. The results may be there in 65 days: a nest of
cute little kittens.
Cats do not only spray during sexual encounters. Some
also do it during conflicts with other felines, or
when they are stressed.
For people the scent is far from pleasant. Thankfully
most cats spray outside. But what if you have a cat
spraying inside? Do something about it! And yes, that
is possible.
The most radical and effective thing you can do is
neutering or spaying your cat. Most castrated toms
stopped spraying from the day they were operated.
But maybe you have a reason not to neuter your cat.
In that case try to find out why your cat sprays.
Maybe it sprays only when it sees another cat.
Solution: block the view. Or it sprays because of a
conflict with another pet. Keep them separated and
problems might be over.
If you dont know why your cat sprays, discuss
it with your veterinarian. Chances are he will advice
you to spay or neuter. But your vet can also check if
there is a medical problem.
Anyway, do not leave this problem unsolved. Cat urine
odor and stains can make your home a very
uncomfortable place, and your cat will still remain a
cat even when it doesnt spray anymore.
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Journalist, site builder and cat lover Marc de Jong
is the editor and owner of http://www.cat-pregnancy-report.com, a website
about cat pregnancy, kitten care, cat health and
other cat related subjects.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_De_Jong
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