Why Do Cats Spray?  

Why is my cat spraying everything in the house is a question that many cat owners will ask at one time or another especially if they own multiple cats. There are many reasons why a cat will spray around the house. First of all you have to determine if your cat is spraying or urinating. A cat is urinating when it squats and the urine goes straight down, and this is a different problem. When a cat is spraying it backs up against an object (chair, sofa, etc) and lifts its tail up and shoots a stream of urine against the object and the tail quivers violently. 

Cats, like other animals are territorial, they mark what they perceive to be their territory, and spraying is probably the most common method when it comes to cats. 

It's a normal function for a male cat that is not neutered to spray and mark its territory. This characteristic starts when the male reaches sexual maturity and if allowed to continue for any length of time it will become a habit. 

The female also sprays but usually occurs when she is in heat, depositing her scent in different places alerting the male cats in the area that she is ready to mate. Altered male and female cats will also spray around the house. Some cat owners feel that their cats should at least reach sexual maturity before they are neutered. By that time, spraying has become second nature and is now a fixed habit. 

The very first thing you do when you start the process of elimination is to take your cat to a veterinarian to make sure it's not a medical problem. If your cat is not neutered, have it done as soon as possible. The longer you wait the better the chance of spraying will become a habit as I pointed out earlier. 

If you cat has been altered there is still a chance it will spray. If you have introduced a new cat or dog to your house your cat may perceive the new occupant as a threat. Your cat may even spot a stray through a window and start marking territory. 

Never punish your cat for spraying. Don't try rubbing their face in the urine, your cat won't understand why you punished it and may even grow to resent you. I have even seen some cases where the cat retaliates, and it's not pretty.   

If there is urine odor from another cat make sure that you purchase an odor 

neutralizer and eliminate the smell. If your cat smells spray from another cat, it will think it's alright to spray around the house. If the methods above don't work, ask your veterinarian for the number of a good cat behaviorist. The problem will only get worse if you don't take action right away.