How Can I Stop a Female Cat From Spraying?
Some people assume only male cats spray and are surprised when a female cat lifts her tail and marks a wall, the furniture, or other items. Although female cats sometimes don't spray as often as an un-neutered male cat, they can indeed spray. The odor is not nearly as strong as that of a male, but it is still unpleasant and will linger. You have several things you can do to help stop a female cat from doing this--however, if the habit has gone on for a long time, it may be difficult to break.
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Instructions
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Make an appointment for a spay surgery, if the female cat has not been spayed. Some female cats will spray when they are in heat, according to website Cats of Australia. Spaying the cat will impact her behavior, and may get her to stop spraying altogether. Even if the cat has been sprayed, you can contact the veterinarian to see if the cat may have a medical condition (such as a urinary tract infection) that could be leading her to spray.
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Clean the areas she commonly sprays. Use a pet mess enzymatic cleaner from a pet store. These use helpful bacteria to digest odor causing elements in pet waste or make your own odor eliminator, using vinegar and water. For the latter, just mix white vinegar and water--half and half--in a spray bottle. Saturate the area that has been sprayed with either the commercial cleaner or the homemade formula. If cats can smell where they previously sprayed, they will typically spray there again--it is important to eliminate the odor.
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Use a feline pheromone spray to help her remain more calm and less territorial. Even spayed female cats will spray if they feel stress--this stress can be caused by a new cat, a new family member (a baby, for example) or other changes in the environment. These sprays, which you'll find at pet stores, exude chemicals that have a calming effect on cats.
Marvistavet.com recommends you use the spray (on and around surfaces in areas the cat visits) twice daily at least until the behavior has improved. -
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Ask your veterinarian if your cat is a candidate for an anti-anxiety drug, if your cat continues to spray. The drugs clomipramine and fluoxetine are among medications that may prevent spraying.
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Keep litter boxes exceptionally clean if your female cat is spraying--some cats are very picky about the litter box and may develop bad habits, such as spraying, if it isn't kept clean. Website Marvistavet add that cats may avoid the litter box also if it is in a noisy area or some other undesirable area of the home.
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References
- Photo Credit calico cat enjoying the sunshine image by Scott Slattery from Fotolia.com
