Many a cat owner is familiar with the dreaded small of cat urine lurking on their favorite sweatshirt, blanket, or their couch. Spraying is defined as inappropriate urination, usually on rugs, furniture, laundry, walls, etc. While the act of spraying is typically associated with male cats, female cats are also known to exhibit this same behavior when they feel insecure or stressed in their surroundings.
The 3 Reasons Female Cats Spray
If your female cat is spraying around your home, she is showing you that she is feeling some sort of stress in her life, and you are going to have to figure out what is making her feel insecure. Here are the most common 3 reasons female cats spray in the home.
1. Changes in her routine
Many cats like to have a predictable daily routine and disruptions in their routine can trigger stress responses. Cats can become upset about these sudden changes in their daily lives, so they spray out of anxiety. Give your cat some time to adjust to the new schedule or situation, and she will likely stop spraying as she relaxes.
2. Her commode is not to her liking
No one likes using a dirty toilet, and your cat doesn’t appreciate a filthy litter box either. Many cats spray because they don’t like something about their litter box or its placement within the home. Try adjusting where the litter box is located to see if a simple location change can solve the problem. Your cat may be shy and a public toilet could be causing her anxiety issues. If moving the litter box to another area doesn’t help, try replacing the litter and cleaning the box more often to see if that solves the issue. If you have more than one cat in the home, the issue may be that she doesn’t want to share a litter box with her fellow cat(s), so try purchasing an additional box so she has her own commode.
3. Other cats in her domain
Cats are known for being territorial about their space. If you have recently brought home a new cat, your female could be feeling stressed about the addition of a new resident. To help ease this stressor, make sure there are enough resources for each cat in your household. This could mean adding additional water and food bowls, litter boxes, cat trees, or sleeping pads and beds. You may need to also use a pheromone spray to help calm the cats as they become used to each other.
Other cats in her domain may also include outdoor cats that might be venturing onto your property. If your female cat can see these cats through the window, she will likely spray as she is startled or upset at the presence of other cats in her neighborhood. The easiest solution for this stressor is to close the blinds and curtains on the windows so your cat no longer sees these strangers in her space.
Spray Cleanup
If your cat has sprayed in your home, scrub the area where she urinated with an enzymatic deodorizer spray to remove the scent of urine. Some cats will continue to spray in the same spot because the smell is appealing to them, so removing the scent may help prevent reoccurrence.
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Final Thoughts
Female cats spray for a variety of reasons, but the most common are a change in routine, a toilet area not to her liking, or other cats in her domain. If you have removed or helped her adjust to these stressors and she continues to spray, it might be time to make a vet appointment. Your vet might have some suggestions specific to your cat to help your address the issue, such as a bladder infection, or they may want to try an anti-anxiety medication to help calm your cat. Hopefully addressing these common reasons for spraying on this list will help you figure out why your female is spraying before it becomes a larger problem in your home.
See also: Do All Cats Spray? Is It Normal? What You Need to Know!
Featured Image Credit: Sergey Zaykov, Shutterstock
