Why Do Cats Urine Spray in the House and How to Stop It?
- Rachel
- Dec 31, 2024
- 11 min read
Updated: Mar 18
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In this article:
What Is Urine Spraying?
Urine spraying, for the most part, is natural behaviour performed by adult cats. It's predominantly used for territorial marking and avoiding aggressive encounters with other cats, although there's limited evidence to show that an investigating cat will retreat from an area that's been marked or "claimed" by another.
Urine contains pheromones and communicates information about a cat's age, sex and mating availability, amongst other things. It's common to see cats spraying against trees, bushes, fences and other areas where there may be competition with other cats. In a domestic setting, this behaviour might indicate an underlying problem.
Cats use many different scents to map out their environment. When they rub their cheeks against objects, they're using facial pheromones to mark areas where they feel safe and comfortable. A cat that urine sprays in the house is likely responding to stress, as surrounding themselves with their own scent helps to boost security and confidence.
Feliway Optimum plug-in diffuser contains a new pheromone complex for enhanced serenity. It helps to solve common signs of stress including spraying, scratching, fear and conflict. Recommended by vets and behaviourists.
It's also important to recognise the difference between spraying and urinating outside the litterbox, which is more identifiable as a puddle on the floor. Reasons for this can vary from urinary tract infections and other painful conditions to external stressors, such as bullying from other cats or disliking the type of litter being used.
Spraying, on the other hand, is not a litterbox problem and something that cats do separately from normal toileting. Cats will typically aim at vertical surfaces and release short bursts of urine, rather than squatting close to the ground. Their tail will be straight up in the air with a raised butt, and they sometimes make a treading motion with their back legs. You may also see the tail quivering.
It's possible that cats will spray on horizontal surfaces such as an object on the floor, other cats' bedding or even clothing that smells of another cat. Spray is usually darker than normal urine but the smaller splatters can be hard to spot. Luckily for us, the pungent odour will be a dead giveaway!
Why Is My Cat Spraying in the House?
Health
As mentioned, certain conditions can cause cats to start urinating outside the litterbox as they generally don't cope well with pain or stress. Spraying often has other triggers which we'll delve into below, but you should always take cats for a health check-up at the first sign of abnormal behaviour to rule out medical issues.
Hormones
If you're wondering if both male and female cats spray, the answer is yes! Unneutered males are more likely to exhibit territorial behaviour due to high levels of testosterone, and females could be spraying to attract a mate. Spray has a much stronger odour than normal urine.
While neutering doesn't eliminate the ability to spray, it significantly lowers the chances. Therefore, sterilisation is a good option for bringing harmony back to the home - as well as having many other health benefits.
Environment
If health is all clear then you have to rule out external factors that might be causing a cat to feel threatened, as they could be urine spraying to remind themselves to be cautions in that part of their territory. Take note of any changes that could trigger behaviour that's out of character, particularly concerning their environment.
Such changes might include:
Renovations or building work.
Moving home.
New pets, people or babies.
Other cats.
To emphasise the importance of scent to a cat, they have a secondary method of detecting smells in the roof of their mouth. The vomeronasal organ (aka Jacobsen's organ) consists of two ducts that connect to the nasal cavity. If you've ever seen a cat sniffing with its mouth open, it's not just pulling a funny face; it's drawing air into the ducts to "taste" scents. Some of these scents include pheromones from other cats.
For anyone that hasn't seen Jackson Galaxy's My Cat from Hell show on TV, it's a great resource for those who want to understand territorial or aggressive behaviour; and more importantly, strategies and techniques for managing it. One particular episode features a kitty that keeps spraying over the same area multiple times a day, to the point that the owners had to cover the furniture in puppy training pads.
The culprit? A small hole in the wall that was allowing smells from outside to seep into the room. Whatever those smells were - animal, human or something else entirely - we'll never know. Once the hole was boarded up, kitty never sprayed again, which is a prime example of how foreign smells can drive a cat nuts.
Territory
Cats are fiercely independent creatures, a trait inherited from their wild ancestors who had to defend their territory in order to survive. Just because cats are able to share a home doesn't mean they have to like each other! This may go unnoticed by guardians right up until breaking point, as signs of aggression can be very subtle.
When you see your cat sprawling itself lazily across a doorway, it looks cute and innocent. Another, more submissive cat might see it as blocking access to important resources, forcing them to go elsewhere. These avoidance tactics reduce the risk of confrontation, as cats know better than to put themselves in danger. Whatever might be going on inside those kitty brains, vigilance is key to understanding feline behaviour and psychology.
Territorial disputes are common in multi-cat homes, as well as with other neighbourhood cats and strays - which I like to call intruders because, in the eyes of your resident cat, that's exactly what they're doing. As a guardian, you can rest assured that any strays aren't getting into the house - but how's your kitty supposed to know this?
Location of the spraying will give a major clue as to what might be upsetting your cat. If it's around an external door, cat flap or window then there's a high chance that you have an intruding party and kitty is simply trying to warn them off.
If other cats have been using your garden as a toilet then, naturally, this is going to trigger your resident furry - which is precisely the problem I had. Thankfully, my boys didn't start urine spraying in the house but it did lead to a long-standing case of redirected aggression.
So too, you might be thrilled with your new £800 sofa with its abundance of foreign smells. A confident kitty may use their facial pheromones to mark it as safe before going about their day, whereas others might be triggered to ramp up the scent marking to quickly eliminate this new threat.
New furniture, new partner, new pets: whatever the case may be, a gradual introduction with plenty of positive associations is more likely to go smoothly for everyone.
Other cats
Multiple cats sharing a household is just another reason for territorial behaviour and can present in many ways, some of which we've already discussed. While strays can pose a problem outside of the home, it's also possible for bonded cats to turn on each other if there aren't enough resources to satisfy each particular kitty's requirements.
Internal doorways can be problematic in multi-cat homes, or any narrow spaces where cats come into contact with each other, in particular hallways and staircases. This could apply to the litterbox itself if it's the hooded or lidded type where cats must use a doorway to enter, hence why it's important to establish if a cat is spraying or simply being denied bathroom access.
Our feline friends are known to block entry/exit points to resources in an effort to intimidate and, eventually, drive the other cat out of its territory. Thus, open litter trays are preferable in many cases - sometimes the problem is also the solution!
How to Stop Cats Urine Spraying
The domestication of cats is estimated to have begun as little as 10,000 years ago, which is approximately 20,000 years later than dogs. That's a lot of catching up to do, and the psychology of our feline friends isn't entirely understood. Humans categorise urine spraying as "problem behaviour" but there are a lot of questions as to whether it is, in fact, abnormal at all.
That being said, you should never punish a cat for spraying as they won't understand what they're doing wrong. It can also increase stress and lead to further undesirable behaviour. A better solution is to try and figure out the root cause of the problem and eliminate it, so cats are left with no reason to spray.
Resources
Whether cats are displaying stress-related, aggressive or other destructive behaviours, the single most basic thing you can do is offer more resources to reduce competition - starting with one litter tray per cat, plus one extra in different areas of the home. If necessary, it may be an idea to separate cats to see if the spraying ceases. Each should have its own territory with food and water stations, toys and beds - including cat trees for those all-important safe spaces.
If behaviour returns to normal then you can rule out environmental factors and work on distinguishing who the offending cat is. As mentioned, the passive-aggressive nature of cats makes bullying difficult to spot but common behaviours include blocking, stalking, staring, chasing and ambushing.
Stainless Steel Litter Box has a smooth surface that prevents litter from sticking to the bottom and doesn't absorb smells. High anti-splash sides help to contain litter and are easily removed for cleaning.
Victims may appear withdrawn, quieter than usual or hide to avoid the other cat. Conversely, some cats will overreact with defensive aggression such as hissing and growling whenever they feel under threat. It's crucial to monitor your cat's weight in case the bully is blocking access to food bowls.
Scratch posts are great for providing another - and cleaner! - way of territory marking, as cats use the scent glands between the pads of their paws. Scratching also leaves visible markings to warn or alert other cats of their presence, as well as providing enrichment which in itself is a form of stress relief.
Amazon Basics Cat Scratching Post stands at 80cm and includes natural jute, a sturdy base and hanging pompom - everything your cat needs at a budget price.
New Additions
Any new pets or people brought into the household should go through the correct introduction, especially other cats and kittens. Considering what we know about the importance of scent, cats should be given the opportunity to smell each other way before allowing visual contact. This requires rotating cats around different areas or rooms of the home in the first instance, so they can familiarise themselves with any new scents. This provides a nice neutral setting for introductions.
A more in-depth look at this is covered in the separation and reintroduction process, whereby fighting cats must undergo a period of separation before being reacquainted using toys, treats and petting to create positive associations. This helps to encourage playful interactions and distract a kitty's attention away from the new stimuli.
The process can be adapted to completely new cats and, though it can be time-consuming and repetitive in nature, it becomes a lot more complicated if cats have already developed a negative first impression.
If you have a socially anxious kitty that takes a disliking to new humans then you can go by the same routine of leaving items of clothing in an area of the house for inspection. Be sure not to place anything on a cat's belongings such as beds or perches. How would you like to find someone's dirty socks on your pillow?
Outdoor Cats
If you suspect local or stray cats have invited themselves onto your property, it's worth investing in an effective cat deterrent. Close any curtains or blinds to block off views of outdoor cats or, alternatively, you can cover windows with paper, cardboard or self-adhesive privacy films. You only need to cover areas that cats can see through, such as lower glass panels.
If your cat is persistently spraying curtains then tie them up as a further deterrent - the curtain, not that cat! Do not encourage strays by leaving out food, trash bags or an overabundance of bird feeders.
Cleaning
Cleaning an area where cats have urine sprayed can be problematic if not done correctly, and there are a couple of reasons for this.
If the area hasn't been cleaned thoroughly and traces of scent remain, cats will sniff it out and respray the same patch as a top up of sorts. This is especially worse on carpets as urine can quickly soak through to the flooring beneath. Repetitive spraying over a long period of time may require further treatment, including removing sections of the carpet completely.
Many domestic cleaners contain ammonia which, annoyingly, is also found in cat urine. Breathing in ammonia can also irritate a cat's eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
Pet-safe and eco-friendly cleaning products, while free of harmful chemicals, may not be strong enough to completely remove the urine scent - at least, not to a cat's sensitive nose.
Cats Protection has extensive advice on dealing with and preventing urine spraying, as well as other stress-related behaviours. They recommend cleaning soiled sites thoroughly with a solution of warm water and 10% biological washing powder, then rinsing with clean water and allowing the area to dry. To finish off, surgical spirit can be used on suitable surfaces to remove any lingering traces of scent.
There are many other simple and effective home remedies for removing urine spray.
Enzymatic Cleaners
Enzymatic cleaning products contain enzymes that break down dirt molecules and odour-causing residue including urine, vomit and soiling. What's more, you can get products that are designed specifically for neutralising pet odours. These come highly recommended to tackle urine spraying, and you're getting the best of both worlds with a formula that's tough on stains but safe and gentle to use around pets and humans.
A popular choice, Simple Solution Extreme Pet Stain and Odour Remover uses a triple strength, pro-bacteria formula that's effective on urine, faeces and vomit.
Pheromone Products
Pheromone products, such as those offered by Feliway, contain a synthetic version of feline pheromones in spray or diffuser forms. These are used to target stress-related behaviours including urine spraying, scratching, hiding, overgrooming and conflict. There are some pros and cons to each.
Sprays can be used in problem zones to send calming messages to a kitty's brain, helping them to feel safe and relaxed. The effects can be seen within minutes but typically only last a few hours, so it's not a permanent solution.
Diffusers are plugged into an electrical socket for a slow and constant release. It can take 1-4 weeks to see the full effects.
Whichever version you use, pheromone products are not a cure; but a treatment to help cats alongside other changes and/or behavioural training.
Feliway Classic Spray contains pheromones that help to reduce common signs of stress. It can be used during major changes including renovations, travel and vet visits. Available in 20ml or 60ml bottles for use at home or on the go.
If you've eliminated all of the above and still can't find a reason why your cat is urine spraying, sometimes it can help to seek advice from a behaviour specialist. Remember, cats are creatures of routine with an inherent aversion to change. Change is scary and a scared cat is a stressed cat.
In some cases, urine spraying is an isolated incident and ceases once the trigger has been removed. For other cats, the problem might come and go depending on the stressor and the individual cat.
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Are you having problems with cats urine spraying? Let us know if this article helped or comment with any tips and advice of your own.
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