Spraying cats can be a burden for any pet owner that chose felines because they are clean, loving and do not require a lot of maintenance. Sometime in their first year of life, cats are likely to start causing problems related to their sexual maturity and attraction to the other felines around. If your cat has started spraying, here are the first five things you should check off the list before considering other causes:
1. Have your cat neutered. Sexual maturity is the number one cause for spraying. Spraying is in fact a communication medium used by felines in order to advertise their availability, by eliminating pheromones to attract a companion. The only way to stop this behavior is to take the cat over to a vet and have it neutered, especially if you are a tomcat owner.
2. Some cats continue spraying even if they are neutered. Spraying can turn into a purely behavioral issue after castration or spaying and it is good to remember that it can be stopped. In other cases, cats spray because they have a medical issue related to the urinary tract - it can be an infection or other minor problem, but the important thing is to take it back to the vet in order to rule out the possibility of a disease.
3. If your cat is neutered and you are sure it is also perfectly healthy, it's time to look at external causes. Sometimes tomcats continue spraying even after castration because they are still aroused by neighboring cats. Check your home environment to see if your cat ever comes in contact with other felines. Does your neighbor have a female cat? Are there other cats in your area that tend to enter your garden or house? Does your own cat ever pay visits in the neighborhood?
4. In other cases, neutered cats still pursue their habit because the urine and pheromone smell hasn't been completely removed from your home. If it has developed the habit to spray the same places over and over again, it is probably because it is attracted to its own urine smell. Make sure you thoroughly clean the area where the mischief happens.
5. Finally, if none of the above is the case, it is time to look at ways to improve your own behavior in order to help your cat. Spraying and inappropriate urination can be caused by a number of external factors that your cat cannot control, but you can. Are you cleaning the litter box as often as possible? Do you still have time to play every day? Have you moved recently? Has the cat shown signs of aggression lately, or are there any changes in its regular mood and behavior?
All these are questions you should ask yourself in order to find out the real cause for your cat's spraying problem. If you find the cause, then the solution will probably be easier than you thought.
Want to learn more about spraying cats? Visit my website at www.sprayingcatssecrets.com for detailed information about feline urinary issues and spraying behavior.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amanda_A_Snow
