The Behavior Of Male Cats
As stated above having your male cat neutered helps limit or stop undesirable behaviors that are linked to testosterone . These changes could happen right after or several weeks following their procedure. The environment, age, or breed of your kitty generally doesn’t have any big effects on these changes.
Neutering doesn’t completely stop your cat from spraying, because cats can also do this when they are nervous, not just to mark territory, although the smell of this urine is less intense in neutered cats.
There are also a handful of misconceptions being spread about the behavioral effects neutering has on cats. Neutering won’t make your cat fat or lazy as long as you give them enough exercise and a healthy diet. But, you might have to reduce the number of calories you give them and provide them with extra playtime since they won’t be burning calories through activities such as roaming, mating, or fighting as often.
Any behaviors that aren’t related to hormonal influences will not be affected, including your cat’s ability to hunt.
Spraying Solution #: Help Your Pets Adjust To Each Other
Often, this is just a matter of time. But dont force the issue! Remember, dont make your cats share a litter box, and make sure each box is sized appropriately for each cat.
The ideal size for a litter box can be measured from the length from your cats nose to the tip of his tail, plus another fifty percent. And most cats prefer non-hooded boxes. This is the one I use for my cat, Olivia.
Make The Marked Spot A Happy Place
After the cleaner has done its work and dried, consider repurposing the space for play or for feeding your cat . If your cat marked an object, move it to a place thats harder to reach or even store it away for the short term. This action will help change your cats perception of the area and may help reduce the chances of re-marking.
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What Should I Do If My Cat Sprays Urine Indoors
The first thing you should do is contact your veterinarian. If your cat is young and has not yet been neutered then the most likely cause would be that your cat is becoming sexually mature. Neutering at this time would probably prevent the spraying from recurring and would avoid roaming, fighting and unwanted pregnancies your vet will advise.
Caution should be taken in presuming all urine spraying has a primary behavioural motivation as diseases causing localised pain or discomfort may result in a cat adopting a spraying posture to urinate. Research indicates that up to 30% of cats that present for spraying may have an underlying medical problem, for example, cystitis, also referred to as feline lower urinary tract disease. Your vet may, therefore, recommend analysis of your cats urine or other tests to rule out disease.
Once medical causes have been ruled out your vet will refer you to a behaviour specialist.
Cat Spraying Vs Peeing Outside The Litter Box
When a cat urinates outside the litter box, there tends to be more urine, and youll usually find the pee on horizontal surfaces like a rug or bed. Inappropriate urination is often associated with lower urinary tract disease or litter texture aversion. Cat spraying is more likely caused by underlying stress or anxiety.
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How To Clean Up Cat Pee And Get Rid Of The Smell
Cat pee is pungent! And its notoriously difficult to get rid of. I couldnt use my oven or stove for months after Max began spraying on it.
That was before I learned about the right way to clean up cat pee and get rid of the smell for good.
Once youve identified the reasons for your cats indoor spraying and found the appropriate solution, youll need to revisit the scene of his crime and clean it properly.
Certain enzymatic cleaners, like this onefrom Angry Orange, are designed not to just clean the mess, but actually eat up the bacteria that cause the odors. Once the odor is gone, your cat is far less likely to spray there again.
Heres the step-by-step process to effectively clean up cat urine.
Tools:
- An enzyme cleaner like this one
- A heavy object
Step 1: Saturate the surface with an enzyme cleaner. Be sure to test a small spot to ensure there is no discoloration.
Step 2: Agitate the surface with a clean terrycloth rag. If the surface is soft, rather than hard, youll want to do this for at least 60-90 seconds.
Step 3 : Lightly respray the surface with cleaner, lay a new clean cloth over it, and then place a heavy object on top to weigh it down. Let it sit for at least 12 hours.
Step 4: Using a clean cloth, blot the spot dry.
If the stain is deep or has been there a long time, you may need to repeat this process. However, once the odor is gone, and youve gotten to the root of your cats spraying behavior, your house should once again become pee-free!
How To Stop A Neutered Cat From Spraying
Has your purrfect pal started to spray and urine mark around your home? While cats of all types, males and female can spray, neutering and spaying tends to greatly reduce this practice.
So, if your neutered or spayed kitty has started to spray and mark around the house, it is worth considering why.
To stop your cat spraying, its important to think about the causes. Spraying is commonly used as a territory marker or as a signal to potential mates however spraying may also be due to stress, illness, or if your kitty is unhappy with their environment.
Following the tips below will help you eliminate the causes of spraying and ensure your kitty is happy and relaxed!
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Other Reasons For House Soiling
It is important to remember that not all house soiling incidents are urine spraying. Cats may also soil in the house for other reasons, including:
- Stress or anxiety
- Feline Idiopathic Cystitis inflammation in the bladder that can be caused by stress
- Other illnesses
- Issues with the litter box
In these cases, the urine is not sprayed onto an upright surface or object but rather deposited onto a flat surface such as the floor or a table. Cats will also squat, rather than stand, when passing the urine.
Which Cats Are More Likely To Urine Mark
Both male and female cats can mark with urine. Urine marking is most common in intact male cats. When an intact male sprays urine, it will have the characteristic tom cat odor that is strong and pungent. Castration or neutering will change the odor, and may reduce the cats motivation for spraying, but approximately 10% of neutered males and 5% of spayed females will continue to spray. While cats in multiple cat households are often involved in spraying behaviors, cats that are housed singly may spray as well.
“Neutering will decrease the odor of tomcat urine.”
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Fixing Stress Related Issues
My Cat Doesnt Look Stressed
The domestic cat is a self-reliant species and it doesnt readily show emotion as this may make it vulnerable to attack. This means that cats are excellent at hiding signs of illness, pain or stress. The signs are there however but are very subtle often stress can only be established by looking for changes in patterns of behaviour. Urine spraying would certainly indicate that all was not right with your cats world.
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How Do You Stop A Neutered Cat From Spraying
The spraying of cats is commonly used as a territory marker or as a signal to potential mates however, spraying may also be due to stress, illness, or if your cat is unhappy with its surroundings. Here are some tips to help you eliminate the causes of spraying and make sure your cat is happy and relaxed.
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Is There A Medical Cause Of Spraying
Its estimated that approximately 30% of cats will spray urine for medical reasons, rather than behavioural problems.
The most common medical cause of urine spraying is cystitis which is an inflammation of the bladder. This can be caused by bladder stones or infection but there is often no known cause in cats. Theres lots of evidence that cystitis is related to stress in cats, a syndrome known as feline lower urinary tract disease . If left untreated male cats are at risk of urinary blockage. This is where grit or stones obstruct the urethra, or inflammation causes it to go into spasm. If the urethra is blocked the cat cant pass urine, and will quickly become very sick. This is an emergency and needs immediate veterinary intervention.
Some cats may adopt a more upright position to urinate, similar to spraying, due to pain in the hips or spine. This can be due to a previous injury or osteoarthritis developing with age. Other signs may be present such as reduced willingness to jump, sleeping more, and grooming excessively around the affected areas. Joint pain can usually be identified on examination and successfully treated with pain killers.
All cats who suddenly start spraying should initially see a vet to check for an underlying cause.
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Give Your Cat More Attention
For cats that spray for attention, devoting a little more time for playing and interacting may be all thats needed to solve the problem.
Grooming your cat, playing with toys, and rewarding good behavior with treats are great ways to interact positively with your cat. You can also try Nutro.coms list of simple, 10-minute games to play with your cat.
Stop Your Cat Spraying With 1 Simple Trick
Cat spraying sucks. Especially when it seems no matter what you do your cat wonât stop. Not only does it leave your house smelling horrible, but it costs you money, wastes your time and causes you stress.
Hoping your cat will just stop spraying on their own is a bad idea. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life scrubbing walls and living in a smelly dump? Using our unique Touch Taste Smell method, you can stop your cat from spraying in just 7 days.
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Correcting Neutered Cat Spraying
Correcting cat spraying takes time, so be patient. Try to increase playtime with your cat, reduce stress and enrich your catâs environment. In multi-cat households, provide high perches and cat trees to increase vertical space. Never punish your cat for spraying because that will only cause more stress and it could lead to even more spraying.
See your veterinarian and make sure that your catâs spraying is not related to a health issue. Neutered male cats are prone to bladder and urinary tract problems. Thatâs because the male cat has a longer, slimmer urethra than a female cat. Neutering a male cat can narrow the urethra, even more, making blockages more likely. If your veterinarian rules out a medical cause for your catâs spraying, ask for suggestions on how to better deal with the behavior. Your cat may need to be on an anti-anxiety medication.
Why Do Cats Pee In The Bed
From a cats point of view, a bed makes the perfect toilet because it is absorbent and clean however, a cat may be using your bed for several other reasons:
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: Its comforting for the cat to mix her scent with the humans scent if, for example, her parent has been gone for too long, she might be soothing herself.
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Confrontation: If a new significant other is sharing the bed, the cat might be sending a message.
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Stress: If the cat doesnt feel safe in the house because of renovation work, new people or another unexpected change, she may choose to stay in the bedroom for safety reasons.
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Unacceptable litter box: If the cats toilet is dirty or set at a new location, shell look for a new spot and the bed meets the requirements.
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Before & After Neutering Your Male Cat: Behavior & Recovery
Neutering is a common procedure for male cats that is safe and effective. It prevents a range of health issues, undesirable behaviors, and the birth of unwanted kittens. In this blog, our Danbury vets share the details of neutering you should know, including what to expect after your male cat’s procedure, such as recovery and behaviors.
Why Do Cats Spray Urine
Urine spraying is normal, natural behavior for cats the issue comes when they try to do it in the wrong place!
In the wild, cats usually live alone, and they have their own territories. Urine spraying is used as a way of marking this territory. It may be used to warn off trespassers, or to attract potential mates.
Domestic cats will spray urine for the same reasons. Un-neutered cats are far more likely to spray urine, as its something they do to try and attract a suitable mate.
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Is The Cat Neutered
Spraying urine is significantly more common in un-neutered cats, both male and female. If your cat has started spraying and is entire, you should speak to your vet about neutering. Spraying often starts around six months of age as cats reach sexual maturity. Spaying females and castrating males will reduce or stop spraying behaviour in up to 95% of cats!
As a Healthy Pet Club member, your cat can benefit from 20% off neutering!
How Do I Get Rid Of Cat Spray Smell
6 TIPS TO GET RID OF CAT SPRAY SMELL Clean it quickly. If you catch your cat in action, act fast. Try non-toxic, natural cleaners. If soapy water alone does not work, you can try using baking soda, which is a natural cleaning agent. Use an enzyme-neutralizing cleaner. Clean and repeat. Air the room. Things to Avoid.
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The Reasons Behind Cat Spraying
Urine is a powerful communication tool cats can tell a great deal about each other from it including age, sex, status and sexual availability. Although adult cats of both genders, whole as well as fixed, might spray under specific circumstances, intact ones are most often guilty of the smelly behavior.
Whole males, as a rule, are prone to cat spraying behaviors. Pheromones, released into the urine, advertise theyre ready, willing and on the alert for girlfriends. Additionally, cat spraying broadcasts clear messages to other male cats to stay away. Intact female cats spray, too the chemicals in their urine indicate where they are in their cycle.
Spray from intact cats is more pungent than from those who are fixed. The unpleasant smell is easier to detect from a distance important for advertising for a special friend.
Prevent Boredom With Lots Of Different Toys
Cats are intelligent and curious animals, so they need a lot of varied mental stimulation. Rotate old toys out for new ones to maintain their interest in playtime.
Also use different types of toys that encourage stalking, catching, and chasing, which are all behaviors that a cat would engage happily in out in the wild.
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Why Cats Mark By Urinating
Cleaning and smelling cat urine spray around your home can be an unpleasant experience. In 90 percent of cases, neutering eliminates this unwanted behavior in male cats, according to VetInfo. If your furbaby continues to spray urine after being neutered, another issue may be to blame, including a medical problem.
Cats Spray When They Are Stressed
Changes in a cats routine or environment can contribute to stress. Some stressed cats may urinate outside the litter box, while others will spray urine on vertical surfaces in the house. Stress may be caused by any changes in daily routine, new pets or people in the home, or things like remodeling or construction.
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