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Urine Spraying and Marking

 

Urine spraying constitutes 44% of all house soiling complaints; the frequency of spraying in single cat households is approximately 25% and near to 100% in multi-cat households with over ten cats. 
First, you have to decide: Is it normal urination outside of the litter box or is it spraying?
The History of the problem:
Which cat is doing it? Many times in multi-cat households the owners can't tell which cat is the culprit. This may be determined by isolating individual cats a few days at a time or administering an oral fluorescent dye and examining the urine marked areas with a black light. Fluorescing dye causes the urine to fluoresce under black light making it easy to identify the proper cat. 
Next how long has it been occurring? A one-time occurrence you will probably ignore. If it has been going on for five years it may be near to impossible to stop. Just because you bought a new carpet or home doesn't mean much to a Kitty who is not trained to use the litter box.
Lastly, you need to evaluate the "type" of urination that is occurring. Is the cat just avoiding or missing the litter box? This is not marking. Look at the image below of a cat in a normal urination position. Notice that the cat almost assumes a sitting position.    The rear legs are bowed out slightly and the tail is held rigidly - usually in a rearward position.  THIS IS NOT SPRAYING OR MARKING.  This is normal urination.

Normal Urination in Cat

Marking in Cat
On the other hand, when marking, short spurts of urine are forcefully ejected on vertical surfaces like chair or table legs, walls, windows and drapes as seen below. On occasion, specific items like pillows, a single persons dirty clothes or favorite chair is singled out. Look at the posture. The cat is standing and twitches the near vertical tail and sometimes paws at the floor with the back paws.  THIS IS URINE MARKING OR SPRAYING.
It also helps to determine where it is occurring.
Urine spraying occurs near doors or windows where cats can see outdoors, especially when strange cats are hanging around outside.
On other occasions, items belonging to a certain individual are singled out and sprayed. These objects are associated with a less than pleasurable experience for the cat.  Marking can be an expression of anger, stress or frustration!
Looking at this information, we should be able to tell whether the Kitty is simply urinating outside of the litter box or if it is truly marking~spraying.

Urine Spraying and Why do they do it?

Urine spraying constitutes 44% of all the house soiling complaints in cats.
It is quite normal behavior for the cat - it is just that we humans can't handle the smell and mess.
Most often it is sexually related - Tomcats spray during mating season or some queens do so to attract males during estrus.
Resident cats may scent mark or spray when:
bullet uncomfortable with the surroundings
bullet getting less than normal attention
bullet punishing someone
bullet there has been a change in routine
bullet there is overcrowding
bullet a new animal or human has been introduced

Remedies
Establishing a desirable relationship
bullet Vindictiveness is hard to prove but is very likely...  After scolding or the introduction of a new person/animal the cat may go jump up on your bed or favorite chair and urinate.  Often, cats spray a specific object indicating a less than desirable relationship with the object or person who's associated with the object. If it is associated with a person, many times the spraying can be stopped by having that person feed the cat twice a day with a desirable food while all others in the household stay clear.   This establishes a "desirable relationship with that person and alters the stimulus to spray.
Castration
bullet 87% of all tomcats stop spraying after castration
bullet 78% stop immediately
bullet 9% stop in a few months
bullet 13% keep right on spraying
bullet Males cats are more likely to spray if a female cat is in the house or neighborhood showing the sexually relationship of urine marking.
Drug Therapy
bullet Progestins such as Depo Provera or Ovaban work best  
bullet They work best in single cat households and males
bullet Can have serious side effects (liver toxicity, uterine infection, etc.)
bullet Anti-anxiety drugs such as Valium
bullet Work best in multi-cat households and females
bullet Drugs work best if used after removing the inciting factors.
Behavior Modification
bullet It is important that the cat be carefully observed - timing is very important for corrections - after the fact correction doesn't work!
bullet Water Pistol, Plant Sprayer, Loud Noise, Light Flash, Throw an Object (Can filled with dried beans)
bullet Aluminum foil hung on affected area causes a noise and reflects the urine spray back on the offender
bullet Often they play with the foil and forget about spraying.
bullet Sometimes if food bowls and litter boxes are moved near the affected areas they will stop (rarely, but it's worth a try).
bullet Isolation with food, water and a litter box sometimes reduces stress and brings them back into the habit of using the litter box.
Instructions for New Cat Introductions
bullet Isolate the new cat to a small room
bullet Allows the resident cat to get used to the new smells and noises.
bullet Allows the new cat to get in the habit of using the litter box before exploring larger, less secure territory.
Old Cat Moved to New Home
bullet Once again, confine to a small area
bullet A small area allows hair and dander to collect and mark the cats territory.
bullet Gradual access allows exploration in a non-stressful manner
Neurosurgical Methods
bullet Expensive and dangerous.
bullet Methods as drastic as frontal lobotomy, destruction of the sense of smell, severing urinary tract muscles have been tried usually with failure.   

Treatment

Feliway Pheromone Spray
I always try to save the best for last.   Hope you are still with me because this is a truly novel cure for urine marking in cats!
Feliway is a spray that mimics the facial pheromones of cats.
A pheromone is a chemical substance secreted by animals to confirm territory and communicate with external others.
Feline "facial pheromones" are produced by glands located in the cheeks of the cat. When the cat applies these pheromones to surfaces it makes those areas familiar and comforting.  Facial pheromones are happy - secure odors for cats!
Have you ever noticed a cat rubbing its' face on an object?  How about your pant legs?  He/she was marking you with contentment and happiness. Those so marked are loved and the cat has marked that they belong to them!

Uses of Feliway

To stop urine marking:
bullet Spray "one puff" on marked areas once a day until you start seeing your cat rub his/her face on objects in the area.  Renew once a week.  Continue for one month.   Spray prominent areas (areas likely to be marked) see diagram below.  Apply the spray with the bottle 4" from the object and 8" above the floor.

Arrows Indicate Prominent Objects - Areas to Spray With Feliway   
To stop sexually excited cats from marking ,spray the marked areas once a day during mating season.
Multi-cat households:
bullet Since the stimulus to mark is so intense (crowding, sexual, uncomfort, insecurity, stress) spray the marked areas 2 to 3 times a day and prominent objects once a day.
Elderly Cats:
bullet You may need to spray marked areas once daily for 45 days then renew once every two or three days.
NOTE: Never use bleach or ammonia for cleanup of urine  It can increase marking!  Use a mild detergent followed with a vinegar/water rinse.
Other Uses for Feliway
To comfort the cat in stressful environments:
bullet Get a new piece of furniture? Apply Feliway to help Kitty accept it.  Going to the veterinarian? Put one puff of Feliway in each corner of the carrier to ease the trip. 
Vacationing and have to board Kitty? 
bullet Have the boarding facility apply one puff to the cage once a day.  Moving to a new house? Apply Feliway to make Kitty feel secure and welcome.

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