Spraying
Spraying is perfectly natural cat behaviour and their way of marking somewhere with information about themselves. That said, it's not particularly desirable if done in your living room!
Before trying to solve a spraying problem, it's important to determine your kitten is actually spraying, not just urinating. The latter is performed squatting, whilst spraying is carried out standing up. Small jets of urine are pumped out on to vertical surfaces.
What to do
Take your kitten to the vet to rule out Lower Urinary Tract Disease. This treatable, but potentially very serious condition could cause your kitten to urinate outside her litter tray and thus be confused with spraying.
Spraying is often the behaviour of a stressed cat. Consider recent events that could have upset your kitten. These could be 'big' things like the arrival of a new baby, another pet, or a house move, or 'little' things like furniture having been moved around in your kitten's favourite room.
Tasty Tips
What can you do to make your kitten feel happy and secure again?
Never punish a kitten for spraying. Cats do not understand punishment and, since spraying is often a result of stress, it can actually make the problem worse.
Cleaning the area that's been sprayed thoroughly is vital. This is because any lingering smell will only encourage your kitten to go and 'top it up!'
Many popular household cleaning substances aren't suitable, because they contain ammonia and chlorine. Both of these are found in cat's urine so can make spraying in the area again more tempting.
Instead, give soiled areas a wash with as dilute solution of biological washing powder. Rinse and allow to dry. Then, after testing for colour-fastness, spray with surgical spirit. Allow the area to dry before letting your kitten back in the room.
Neutering
Castration of male cats can end spraying in 80% of cases, and in most cases this works immediately.
Persistent problems
In the vast majority of cases, spraying indoors can be quickly and successfully dealt with. However, if the problems do continue, seek the advice of your vet who may prescribe drugs or a visit to a behaviour counsellor.
Related products
Perfect Weight Adult Cat Food with Chicken
Hill's Science Plan Perfect Weight Adult Cat Food with Chicken is clinically proven nutrition to reach & maintain healthy weight.
Mature Adult Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Mature Adult Cat Food with Chicken is a complete pet food, specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology.
This food supports graceful aging in cats, providing a synergistic ingredient blend to help support energy & activity levels.
Oral Care Adult Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Oral Care Adult Cat Food with Chicken contains clinically proven kibble technology to reduce plaque & tartar build up.
Mature Adult 7+ Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Mature Adult Cat Food with Salmon is a complete pet food, specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology.
This food supports graceful aging in cats, providing a synergistic ingredient blend to help support energy & activity levels.
Related articles
Hill's Cat Foods: Nutritional Balance Just for Indoor Cats
Find the right Hill
Brushing & Food: Keys to Maintaining Your Cat's Oral Health
Did you know that brushing your cat's teeth is just as important as brushing your own? According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3. Brushing your cat's teeth is easier if you follow this step-by-step guide.
Cat Training: How to Train Your Cat the Easy Way
When learning how to train your cat, you'll start with very basic first steps that both reward good behavior and discourage the bad.
Common Health Concerns in an Overweight Cat
As a responsible pet owner you owe it to yourself and your cat to understand problems associated with overweight cats.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.