Why does a cat spray indoors? What can you do about it? There are many different causes, reasons, possible solutions, and ways to deal with this.

Both female and male cats can spray. Both neutered and unneutered cats can spray.

Spraying is perfectly normal behavior if it occurs in the right location and with the right frequency. For example, it is normal for a cat to spray in the garden, in gardens surrounding its own garden, and at the entrances and exits of the house. However, it is not desirable for them to do this indoors, or 20 times a day!

Initially, spraying is a sexual signal to find a potential mate. In our household, we can move on to the next reasons why cats spray, namely as a communication signal to other cats and to themselves, and also as a form of stress relief. As a result, cats can spray in places where they experience stress, as well as in places where they relax.

Regardless, the key to spraying is to understand and resolve it, to realize that we should not focus on the spraying problem or the spraying spots but on general stress reduction in the home. We see that cats that are ill, feel threatened, have insufficient control over their environment, and have insufficient choices to do important things such as eating, using the litter box, drinking, and playing alone.

Unfortunately, spraying is also not an issue you can simply 'turn off'; it's a normal and healthy way of communicating, and understanding that is very important.

First, try to delve deeper into spraying behavior by, for example, attending our free information session, an online training on house-soiling and spraying, and reading the chapter on spraying in the Happy Cats Revolution book. That will already help you a great deal.

First, take your cat to the vet and have blood and urine tested. Spraying can be the result of numerous illnesses, pain, irritation, and allergies. A preventive painkiller can also help to see if it causes a behavioural change. In any case, do not let them send you home without blood and urine being taken and checked in the lab. This does not necessarily have to be a bladder problem, but could be any form of pain or illness that causes cats to spray.

You can also consult a certified behavioural therapist who can help and guide you with a spraying problem, especially if it occurs along with other issues such as house-soiling and aggression.

Good luck! Anneleen

In this free help session, I will explain all the reasons and causes for inappropriate urination, spraying, and unwanted elimination.

This book consists of three chapters. The Cat Wheel discusses all reasons and causes of undesirable behavior. The Cat Matrix covers a generic therapy plan that you can apply (especially for inappropriate urination). The third chapter delves deeper into behavioral problems, including spraying. Follow the therapy plan to the letter and you will see that inappropriate urination can quickly be brought under control.