Cat Education | Why Do Cats Spray?

Why Is My Cat Peeing Everywhere?

Cats are cute. Who can deny it? With their big glossy eyes, furry little (sometimes big) ears, cute heart-shaped noses, and affectionate purring, there’s not much about kitties not to love. But unfortunately, there are times when their cuteness quickly disappears from your eyes. Including those times when you find that the living room smells unpleasantly similar to cat urine.

Yep. It’s quite the theft of your cat’s charm. To make it even worse, your feline seems to be peeing more than most.

Why is my cat peeing everywhere, you ask?

Here are some possible causes for you to consider, and hopefully you’ll be able to retain the adoration you have for your animal friend.

Medical Issue

It’s possible that it’s not necessarily something that your poor kitty is able to control, such as some sort of medical condition or sickness. It could be a urinary tract infection, kidney failure, or a number of other things that only a veterinarian can officially identify and help you solve. For this reason, take the little guy to the vet for a checkup before looking into other possible causes.

Litter Box Discontentment

Now it may seem like a simple issue at first glance, but it’s really quite complex. Your kitty cat is much pickier than you’d expect, which means you’ve got more possible problems with your litter box than you might’ve anticipated.

First of all, it could be the type of litter box itself. Got one of those boxes that have a cover on top? You can bet your cat’s not cool with it. Why? Think about it. Do you really enjoy port-a-potties? Didn’t think so. In fact, you probably hold it as long as necessary just to avoid that stink-house. Your cat feels the same way about that covered litter box, as it traps all the smell within it and makes it difficult for the soiled litter to dry.

Simple fix: get a box that’s uncovered (and longer than the length of your cat). It’ll work wonders.

Clean the Box Frequently

In addition, you definitely want to ask yourself how often you clean your cat’s litter box. Every other day just doesn’t cut it. If someone in your household decided they didn’t want to flush the toilet for a couple of days and you were powerless to flush it yourself, you might consider another spot, too. Make sure to scoop out the dirty bits every day, and give the litter box a deep clean with water and unscented soap every one or two weeks. If this is the problem, you’ll see a difference in no time.

Mix Up the Litter

Another possible cause is that your kitty isn’t so fond of the type of litter in his box. If it doesn’t feel good on his paws, he’s not a happy camper. Cats generally seem to like clumping or clay litter the most, so that’s the way to go if you haven’t already. Also keep in mind that their sense of smell is much more sensitive than yours. You might love that pine-scented litter, but your kitten is probably avoiding that litter box because of it. Keep it simple and unscented if you don’t want your cat peeing in house.

Lastly, it’s crucial that you have at least one more litter box than the number of cats you have in your home, and to place them in different areas (and on different floors) of the house. This way your kitty’s got some options, and he’ll never have to go too far out of the way to relieve himself.

Why Is My Cat Peeing Everywhere?

Figuring out exactly why your cat is peeing everywhere takes a bit of investigation and trial and error, but it’s a win-win when you do it. Save yourself from a chronicle of unpleasant odors and restore your cat’s cuteness by resolving this problem for good.

Do Male Cats Spray?

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When you first got your kitten, you probably thought he was just an adorable little ball of fur that loved to play, cuddle, and eat. These are true without a doubt, but he’s got a little more intelligence than you thought. In fact, he’s a pro at communication—well, at attempting to communicate. Unfortunately, it’s often in a not-so-pleasant way for you, and it’s definitely not immediately clear to you either. Do male cats spray? Why yes, they do.

Besides meowing, spraying is an incredibly common way that male cats communicate, which means you’ve got some pretty awful odors, cleaning, and investigating to endure. Here are some important tidbits on the subject that are crucial for you to know.

Spraying vs. Inappropriate Urination

Spraying is different in quite a few ways from your cat simply peeing outside of the box. While inappropriate urination can result from some of the same factors as spraying, it’s very different in that it’s usually a spot containing much more urine.

A spraying incident (aka urine marking) is more like a splatter, and you’ll find it on vertical surfaces, not horizontal, such as the side of a piece of furniture or the walls.

With inappropriate urination, this will be on a horizontal surface, such as the floor or the cushion of a piece of furniture. From there, you’ll have a better idea of how to narrow down the cause and solution.

Causes & Solutions for Male Cat Spraying

One possible cause of your little guy spraying is simply that he’s unneutered. Like a young boy, his hormones are going a little wacko, causing him to instinctively spray without hesitation in different circumstances.

One circumstance is that he sees a cute female kitty through the window, or maybe there’s one in the house that he’s attracted to, and he’s trying to attract them as a mate. There’s that communication we’re talking about! The solution is pretty simple: get him neutered.

If you do this by the time he’s at least six months old, there’s a solid chance this will completely end his urine marking habit.

If your kitty sees a neighborhood cat strolling around outside, he might become protective and spray right there, marking his territory as instinct. Simply close the blinds or curtains so that he can’t see these cats when they come around.

Sibling Rivalry?

Another possibility is that he’s not the only cat in the house, and he doesn’t get along with them so well. When cats feel threatened by or dislike each other, they all spray to mark their territory and let others know that this is their part of the house.

If your felines don’t seem to get along, work to create a positive relationship between them by playing with them. Positive experiences make for positive memories and good friends, right? The better their relationship with one another, the less likely they’ll to desire to mark their territory. No more spraying in this house!

Lastly, cats can become stressed when there’s a significant change within the household, even if it’s just a new piece of furniture! In this case, create positive experiences in those changed areas so that they feel more secure and at ease in them. If the change has to do with your schedule and you’re away from home longer than usual, provide more outlets for him to have fun while you’re gone, and make that time with him count! If it’s because someone new has moved in, foster a good relationship between the new house member and your kitty cat.

Do Male Cats Spray?

So you’re right—your cat is definitely a wondrous little pet that brings you much joy and entertainment, but he’s more intelligent than you thought. Do male cats spray? Yes, for a number of for various reasons, and it’s their way of trying to communicate with you or with other kitties. Be on the lookout for different possible causes, and you’ll be sure to reduce his urine marking!

Do Female Cats Spray?

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So, there’s a new family member in the house: your cute new girl kitty, Princess, who you recently brought home for your daughter’s ten-year-old birthday. She’s got a delicate pink nose, kiwi-green eyes, a dark grey coating, and adorably large ears for her size. She really couldn’t be more precious. But there’s one thing: you keep finding splatters of pee around the house, and they smell abnormally bad. What in the world is going on? How could such a precious little face do such a smelly thing? Do female cats spray?

Here’s the thing: female cats do indeed spray, despite what you’ve heard (or would like to believe).

What Is Urine Marking?

That spot of pee that you found smells horrid because it’s a urine marking, not just inappropriate urination. The urine that a cat releases when spraying (also called urine marking) contains chemicals that give it an extra poignant smell. It’s true—male cats are generally the culprit when it comes to spraying, but there’s a small percentage of girl cats who share in the nasty habit.

You can also be sure that it’s an act of spraying and not simply inappropriate urination if the spot is found on a vertical object.

Why Is My Female Cat Spraying?

There are plenty of reasons as to why precious little Princess may be spraying, and knowing the possible reasons can help lead you to the solution. If you have multiple cats living in your home and she’s not too fond of them, or even if you’ve got a new piece of furniture in the living room, she’s probably trying to mark her territory. It’s her way of letting the rest of the felines in the humble abode know that she’s the owner of that area, and they better not trespass.

Another possibility is that she’s attempting to let her a male kitty know that she’s ready for some reproduction. Male cats are known to do this more often, but even sweet Princess might partake in this, too. Consider it her pick-up line, but with something that unfortunately smells awful to you but normal to her.

Some other causes of your girl cat spraying could also be that she’s stressed out. Maybe you’ve recently moved to a new house, or maybe you’ve been gone for longer time than usual due to a change in your schedule. Little Princess is definitely feeling it, and she’s taking it out on your walls, plants, and stools. It’s her trying to establish some sense of security by marking more of her territory. Yikes.

Another possibility is that she’s perched on the window sill and sees another cat waltzing around outside. Her instinct is to become protective over her house, and again, mark her territory.

How to Stop Female Cats from Spraying

So what are some ways to stop this chaotic behavior? One option is to get your girl cat spayed. It may seem a little harsh (and pricey), but this is a step that’s been consistently proven to be effective. Make sure, though, that this is done by the time she’s about six months old, because it will be hard to conquer her habit if you do it any later!

Another way is to cover the windows so that she’s not triggered to mark her territory when she sees a stranger-kitty through the window. If you suspect that the problem is a result of inter-kitten conflict, then be intentional about creating a positive relationship between them by playing with them together, investing in more litter boxes, and giving them all an equal amount of attention. No room for favoritism here!

Do Female Cats Spray?

Now that you know that female cats spray too, you’ve got some serious work to do, because there’s no turning back. Your daughter’s fallen in love with little Princess, and you’ve grown a bit attached, too. Do female cats spray? Yes, they can, but don’t let her spraying be a damper on her cuteness, and get to solving the issue!

Cat Peeing on Bed – How to Stop It

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Being a cat owner comes with many joys. These furry little companions serve as loyal cuddle partners, constant sources of laughter, and adorable faces to gaze at throughout the day. Despite all of these benefits, there is one aspect of the cat life that can be a drag: your cat peeing on bed. Yes. That moment when you’re finally settling down after a tough day on the job and you dive into your cloud of a bed, only to feel something wet under your thigh—and it’s quite smelly, too.

It’s the worst, and we’re pretty confident you agree. That being said, here are some ways you can try to put an end to this struggle.

Schedule a Veterinarian Visit

This should always be the first step in trying to fix the problem, because your kitty could have a medical problem that’s causing the inappropriate urination. It could be a UTI, kidney issues, or something else that only a vet can accurately identify and fix.

If it is a medical issue, then you’ll need to follow the instructions given to you by the veterinarian. If not, we can move on to less expensive and less (possibly) scary things.

Clean the Spot

You better get to scrubbing as soon as you find that unpleasant spot. Why? The longer it sits there, the harder it is to clean up, and if your cat can still smell it, he or she will most likely return for seconds (which we assume you don’t want). So make sure to clean the area thoroughly to reduce the possibility of your kitty cat repeating the act.

Discipline the Cat

When you catch that little nugget in the act of peeing on your bed, you’ll want to scream your tonsils off out of a mixture of anger and shock—but don’t. It’s a natural reaction for us human beings, but all it will do is scare the cat.

Some cats respond well to the spray bottle method, where you simply spray the cat as soon as possible after catching them doing their business. The problem with this is that some cats won’t understand that it’s an attempt to discourage the behavior because of the time passed between the disciplinary act and the bad behavior.

A better idea is to remove the kitty from the situation immediately (if it hasn’t fled already), and speaking to it in a stern voice (but not a yell).

Address Big Changes

Your cat peeing on the bed could also be a result of stress or anxiety due to big change within the home. Maybe you’ve got a new man or woman in your life who’s moved in with you, and your cat’s having trouble connecting with them. In that case, be intentional about creating situations for your new lover to play with or feed your cat. Maybe there’s been a huge adjustment in your schedule and you’ve left your kitty at home longer than usual, or you’ve just moved to a whole new place.

Make sure that the time you do have at home you give your cat some attention, and ensure that while you’re away, it has plenty of outlets for fun on its own.

Change Your Comforter

It could be that your cat simply loves the texture of your comforter—maybe even more than you do. In that case, it’s time for a new one. Or if you’re really attached to your comforter, put something plastic over your bed (like a shower liner), or simply keep the door shut.

Put Toys on the Bed

Last (but not least), placing your kitty’s toys on the bed could prove very effective. Cats value cleanliness, so you better believe they won’t be urinating on their very own play things!

Cat Peeing on Bed – Wrapping Up

Cats make life better with all of the fun and laughter they bring into the home, and there’s no way around it. Don’t let your cat peeing on bed kill the delight of having one of these little fluffy cuties, and consider your lesson learned.