You should start to look for signs of spraying when your kitten reaches maturity. For most cats, spraying tends to start when they are 6 to 7 months old, although male cats can reach maturity between 4 to 5 months.
A cat that's spraying will have their tail straight up in the air and project their rear toward the target. The tail may shake or quiver. A cat that's spraying will usually only mark with urine and will still use the litter box regularly. It's rare for a cat to mark with stool.
A: The vast majority of cats do not spray. Males are more likely than females to spray, but if a cat is neutered before 6 months, he will almost never spray. If an intact male cat does begin to spray, neutering him will solve the problem in about 95 percent of the cases.
Cats will mark their territory to signal “ownership” and to advertise sexual receptivity and availability. Marking can occur due to the presence of other cats in the vicinity, either outdoors or among cats that live in the same household. Cats will also mark their territory when they feel threatened or stressed.
Thoroughly clean the area by wiping it down with warm soapy water, or a mixture of alcohol and water. Use a clean towel to blot it dry, let it dry naturally or use a vacuum. Do this a few times if necessary until there's no trace of the smell.
Cats urinate by squatting onto a horizontal surface; spraying occurs standing up. The cat makes a treading motion with her back feet and quivers her tail, leaving her scent mark on a vertical surface. If your cat has begun urinating outside of her litter box, be sure that the box is regularly cleaned.
Cleaning the area thoroughly with vinegar first and then applying an enzyme treatment will break down and evaporate the uric acid and your home will be free of cat odors. Vinegar and enzyme cleaners work on all surfaces: hardwood floors, carpets, mattresses.
Spraying is not the same as peeing outside the litter box. When spraying, a cat's tail will stand up straight. The tail may vibrate a little. By spraying, they deposit small amounts of urine on vertical surfaces: especially doors, walls and windows are likely victims.
Cats can also spray horizontal surfaces, although it's less common. Thanks to additional pheromones, sprayed urine is usually more pungent than urine in the litter box.
Neutered cats can spray as well. Ten percent of male cats neutered before 10 months of age will still spray as adults. In households with numerous cats, at least one cat will likely spray, even if all the cats are neutered.
Spraying Outside the Litter box
Spraying is more often on vertical surfaces. You'll usually see a line of urine down the vertical surface that may puddle a bit on the floor. But cats can also mark horizontally while squatting.
Is it a common problem? In the neutered population it is estimated that 10% of males and 5% of females engage in urine spraying. The incidence of urine spraying in a household is directly related to the density of the cat population.
Spraying often starts around six months of age as cats reach sexual maturity.
You can buy a blacklight flashlight from internet retailers such as Amazon and Ebay. The there is a compound in dried cat pee that will glow a green color under a blacklight. Shine it everywhere, including on walls where cat pee may be sprayed or splattered so thin that you wouldn't have otherwise noticed it.
Spraying is usually caused because your cat feels threatened or stressed. Marking their territory makes them feel more secure. Common causes include: new cats in the home or neighbourhood.
Applying odor neutralizers anywhere your cat has sprayed may prevent him from spraying there again. Feliway, a synthetic pheromone that, when applied to household surfaces, mimics the scent of cat cheek gland secretions., and this may reduce spraying.
FELIWAY Optimum is clinically proven to help reduce unwanted cat spraying. The “happy messages” will help your cat feel relaxed and comfortable in it's environment and help to reduce unwanted cat spraying. Continuous use of a FELIWAY Optimum will help prevent any relapse of cat spraying in the house.
As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. They can't stand citrus and as much as you might love the smell of fresh herbs, cats hate rosemary and thyme. Banana and mustard are a big no-no too, as well as lavender and eucalyptus.
There is an unmistaken odour that comes with having an intact or un-neutered male cat. This pungent, ammonia-like smell is him signalling to all the ladies that he is available and ready to go. It is coming from his skin, urine and any spraying that he may do as well.
Urine from male cats also tends to smell worse than female urine, due to the presence of certain steroids.
Cat spray looks and smells like urine, to a point. A well-hydrated kitty produces light yellow urine with its typical acidic odor. But because of pheromones in cat spray, it's often darker yellow and smells particularly more pungent.
If your neutered cat is spraying this is called “reactional spraying”. This kind of spraying occurs when there has been a change in your cat's environment, either physically, or with the addition of new cats or people.
What does cat spray smell like? Cats spray smells potent, with a strong and distinctly unpleasant odor. It is often described as a mix of musk, ammonia and a hint of sulfur or skunk-like scent.