My cat sprays in my house

If your cat is spraying putside the litter box it's important to rule out any health problems first of all. Please consult your vet who will be able to check whether this has been brought on by any medical issues. This is especially important for older cats who are more at risk.

A potential reason for your cat spraying outside of their litterbox is to mark their territory. All cats, male or female, neutered or not, will mark out their territory in this way. Normally this is rare and discrete. However, when this natural behaviour happens in your house, this can be because your cat is scared or anxious.

Cat spraying in these situations can be a reaction to:

Recent changes at home such as:

• Moving to a new home
• New furniture
• Welcoming a new cat or new dog into your home
• A new family member, such as a new partner or baby.
• A cat spryaing outside the litterbox can also be the result of conflict with other cats, potentially brought on by: Competition for access to the litter box and other resources.
  For more reasons why a cat might be spraying or peeing outside the litterbox, read our full guide here.

Using FELIWAY Optimum continuously can help stop urine spraying indoors. This will help your cat feel calm and comfortable, especially if your cat seems emotional and sensitive to any changes at home.

The smell of cat pee can be very unpleasant, but it is possible to remove it with the right approach. To clean an area a cat has sprayed with pee, first remove as much of the urine as possible by blotting with paper towels if the area is still wet. Then, use warm, soapy water or a mixture of alcohol and water to eliiate both the stain and the odour.

Alternatively, you can also try baking soda or commercial enzymatic cleaners designed specificallly for cat pee. After applying an enzymatic cleaner, follow the product instructions for the best results, usually letting it sit before blotting dry.

Addressing the underlying reasons for your cat spraying, such as stress or social conflicts, can also help prevent future incidents.

For more information on removing the smell of cat pee, read our full guide.

When cats spray, they are releasing urine that contains additional pheromones and chemicals that carry specific messages. This behaviour is diffferent to normal peeing. Cat spraying indoors is most often done against vertical objects and is used to leave a future message for themselves (and others), marking that they feel insecure or are unsure about their safety in this area.

While spraying is a natural behaviour for cats, there are steps we can take to minimise this behaviour and help prevent your cat from feeling as though they need to mark their territory. First, identify and address any factors that may be causing your cat to feel insecure in certain areas. For example, this could be conflict with other pets, changes in the household, or outdoor cats near your home. It may be helpful to keep a record of when and where your cat is spraying to see if there is a pattern that can help you identify the cause. Next, aim to provide a stable environment with regular playtime, attention, and enough resources, including litter boxes and spots to eat and drink. The general rule for resources it to have one more than the number of cats in your home and to make sure they're spread out rather than just in one place.

FELIWAY® Optimum can also help calm your cat and reduce the urge to mark territory. If your cat’s spraying behaviour continues, consult a veterinarian or a feline behaviourist for further support.

Yes, neutered cats can still spray. Neutering will reduce spraying behaviour related to sharing reproductive information with other cats, but both neutered males and spayed females may also spray for other reasons. For example, this can include stress and anxiety. If a cat is spraying, it’s important to look for underlying issues. FELIWAY® Optimum can be an effective solution for providing social and environmental support and for enhancing your cat’s serenity, helping them to feel more comfortable and secure in the home.

Cat spray can be quite hard to spot as cats tend to only spray a very small amount. It is essentially a concentrated amount of urine (with a complex pheromone added in), so you’re far more likely to be aware of the smell than you are of its appearance.

Rather than identifying what the spray looks like, it can be more helpful to recognise your cat’s behaviour when they’re spraying. Cats will often sniff an area first, then back up to it with their tail erect and quivering before spraying a small amount of urine on the surface. Their back legs may also ‘tread’ as this happens.

If not properly cleaned, the smell of cat spray can last for weeks or even months. Warm, soapy water will generally be enough to remove the smell, but it’s important to make sure you’ve cleaned it all. Carpet and floorboards can be tricky if it’s able to soak in or get into any gaps. Likewise, if your cat sprays on any curtains with a delicate fabric, it may be a good idea to seek professional cleaning advice!

Yes, FELIWAY® Optimum has been shown to reduce urine spraying frequency by 77%* by releasing “serenity messages”. These messages promote a sense of security and well-being in the environment for single or multi-cat households, making cats less likely to spray as a territorial or stress-related behaviour.
*De Jaeger et al (2021)