Urine Marking: Spraying
Affected Animals: Any cat that is at least six months old, the age at
which most cats reach sexual maturity. Unneutered males are most likely to spray. Neutered males,
unneutered females, and neutered females also may exhibit this behavior.
Information and Overview:
A very common behavioral problem of cats, urine marking accounts for 40 percent of the feline
cases brought to veterinary behavioral specialists, according to a recent study. Cats "spray," or
conduct in urine marking, when they deposit their urine on prominent objects in order to communicate
with other cats. Characteristically, while urine marking, the cat assumes a standing posture and
squirts a horizontal stream of urine onto a vertical surface; thus the term "spraying." This behavior,
which is normal, is considered problematic to owners when the cat marks indoors, since urine ruins walls,
furniture, carpets, and floors; outdoor urine marking, however, is an expected behavior. Male cats
that have not been neutered are most likely to urine mark, and unfortunately, the urine of a male
cat is especially pungent and resistant to odor removers.
Clinical Signs and Symptoms:
Owners may observe their cat "spraying," notice a urine odor, or find evidence of urine on
vertical surfaces. Sometimes the urine may be found on horizontal surfaces, but in these instances
the urine usually has been deposited on such objects as shoes, clothing or new or unfamiliar items.
Further Description:
Urine marking is a normal social behavior of domestic cats which serves several communication
functions depending on the context in which the spraying occurs and the temperament and physiology
of the individual cat that is spraying. Contrary to popular belief, spraying does not function to
exclude other cats from the marking catīs territory; other cats approach rather than avoid sprayed sites.
One possible function of urine marking is to serve as an "advertisement" to a potential sexual partner
during the mating season, as the urine gives information about the catīs identity, age, and mating status.
|
