Spraying is a very bad habit in felines and more so because
it pollutes the environment in the house and there is an utmost need to clean
the house again and again resulting in drudgery for the cat owners. Although
this is a common problem faced by cat owners a majority of them are still not
aware of the exact reasons for cats to conduct this behavior.
So, let us explore the possible reasons for cats to spray in
the house.
To mark their territory
Cats are territorial creatures and so they have the habit of
marking their territory through spraying. When an outside cat does this thing
it means that she considers the area to be hers. While an indoor cat will
urinate in areas where she thinks that part of the house is hers.
When felines are in heat
Cats are generally very good at smelling things. They get
easily attracted to the odor of the spray. Cats in heat spray to divert the
attention of male cats towards them for mating. The only way to resolve this
situation is to get the cat spayed.
Due to sickness
If your kitty is sick, she will spray in the house
signifying change in toilet habits along with throwing up after eating, not
eating at all or behaving abnormally. If you find anything unusual with your
feline take her to the veterinarian immediately for a check-up.
Presence of another cat in the household
If you have just adopted another kitty there would be a
sense of competition amongst the felines which would make the feline spray
outside the litter box to show her discomfort towards the new family member.
Moving or changing the litter box
If you have moved or changed the litter box it is time to
let the feline know about the change by putting them on the litter box a number
of times so that they get habituated with the change and do not spray in the
house.
Shifted to a new house
If you have moved to a new house the feline will not be
aware of the litter box position and the new surroundings hence, she will spray
in the house. Hence, take the cat to the new house a couple of times before the
actual move, so that she becomes aware of the litter box position.
Old age
Once a cat is more than 9 years of age her joints can become
stiff and painful with cloudy eyesight. She could lose control over her bladder
and bowels. This is the first thing to note when your feline is old and sprays
outside the litter box.
Cats are wonderful pets that love to keep themselves clean.
Hence, when your feline is spraying in the house, it is important to
contemplate on the reasons for this odd behavior because cats normally do not
urinate outside litter boxes unless it is a genuine cause for concern.