Have you seen this happen? Your cat backs up to an area in your home (the couch, the wall, a chair, etc.
), lifts his or her tail, and shoots out a small stream of urine.
This stream hits the area about one to two feet up from the floor.
The spraying is sometimes coupled with a quick snap of the tail, sometimes treading, and always a look of serious focus on your cat's face.
This process usually leaves you shocked and asking yourself: Why do cats spray? Spraying is not a health or potty training issue.
It is a behavioral issue that is part of the way in which cats communicate with each other.
This process establishes clear boundaries amongst the cat population and unmistakably marks whose territory belongs to whom.
In addition to simply marking territory, the answer to the question of "why do cats spray" has to do with the spreading of pheromones.
Pheromones are chemical substances that are produced and secreted in many different areas of the body.
Cats spread these to communicate many different feelings and emotions such warnings, love, and other broad-spectrum messages.
If your cat is spraying in your home, there are several things you can do.
You should always have your pet checked by a veterinarian to make sure there are no medical issues.
If your cat checks out healthy, consider having him neutered; this tends to solve the problem quickly.
Always clean urine markings thoroughly in a manner that will neutralize the odor.
Avoid ammonia-based products, which tend to mimic the smell of urine.
The smell of urine (or ammonia) only encourages the cat to spray again.
My wife and I have had several cats over the years and a couple of them have been prone to spraying.