Sometimes there is some confusion about spraying or peeing in the house. Peeing is done while sitting. If your cat is spraying, it will do this while standing. You can recognize this when your cat moves with his feet a few times and squirts the urine straight back. (For example, against the couch, the wall or a table leg). Usually, it are male cats who spray, but sometimes a female cat also sprays.

How to prevent spraying

If a male is neutered before the age of six months, the chance of spraying is a lot smaller. So it is good to be here on time and to prevent spraying because once a cat has started spraying it is more difficult to unlearn.

Find out the cause of the spraying.

When a male or female has not yet been neutered, the animal sprays to mark the territory and find a partner. If the cat is spraying after it has been neutered, there is usually something more serious going on. You can assume that your cat is in pain or experiencing a lot of stress. Do not punish him for spraying, but try to find the cause together with the vet. The veterinarian can do a urine test to see if your cat suffers from, for example, urinary problems. If this is not the case, other possible causes can be investigated.

Stress can be a cause of spraying a cat.

If all possible medical causes are excluded, you can find out the source of stress. Big changes in your cats life can cause stress, such as moving to another home, other cats in the environment, a change in the family situation (for example a baby or a new pet). Create a safe environment for your cat, never stop giving your cat enough attention and try to reduce the stress for him.

How do you clean your cat’s spray spots?

If you do this with chlorine, vinegar or bleach, this is a trigger for your cat to spray again. Also do not use scented cleaning agents. The best way to clean spray spots is to use biotex or soda for this.