Cat spraying in house, why and how to stop

6 min

Sarah Endersby

Veterinarian

"While it’s normal for cats to mark their territory, if your cat is urine spraying in your home, it is distressing for you and a sign your cat is feeling stressed. Even small changes in your home or routine can result in your cat feeling unsure and spraying to cope."

Recommended by vets

Cats spray in the house mainly due to stress, territorial marking, mating behaviour or medical issues. Understanding why your cat is spraying in the house is the first step to stopping the behaviour effectively.

Our expert guide explains why cats spray and how to help your cat stop, including tips to reduce stress and how to get rid of a cat spray smell.

• Understanding cat stress and spraying causes
• Learn how to stop cats spraying indoors
• Cat spraying FAQs and expert advice

How To Stop a Cat from Spraying: Step-By-Step Guide

1

Clean all areas where your cat has urinated

Use warm water and soap or an alcohol based product and allow to dry.
Do not use bleach. Ammonia-based or bleach cleaners encourage cats to spray here again.

Learn more about how to get rid of cat spray smell with our 6 steps to clean cat spray.

Use warm water and soap or an alcohol based product and allow to dry.
Do not use bleach. Ammonia-based or bleach cleaners encourage cats to spray here again.

Learn more about how to get rid of cat spray smell with our 6 steps to clean cat spray.

Use warm water and soap or an alcohol based product and allow to dry.
Do not use bleach. Ammonia-based or bleach cleaners encourage cats to spray here again.

Learn more about how to get rid of cat spray smell with our 6 steps to clean cat spray.

2

Use FELIWAY Optimum to stop your cat urine spraying

FELIWAY Optimum the latest pheromone discovery, is scientifically proven to help reduce urine spraying.
Improvement can be seen within the first 7 days.
It is recommended to use continuously for at least 1 month.

For more information on FELIWAY, refer to our FAQs here.

FELIWAY Optimum the latest pheromone discovery, is scientifically proven to help reduce urine spraying.
Improvement can be seen within the first 7 days.
It is recommended to use continuously for at least 1 month.

For more information on FELIWAY, refer to our FAQs here.

FELIWAY Optimum the latest pheromone discovery, is scientifically proven to help reduce urine spraying.
Improvement can be seen within the first 7 days.
It is recommended to use continuously for at least 1 month.

For more information on FELIWAY, refer to our FAQs here.

3

Follow the litter tray “golden rules”

One litter tray per cat, plus one extra.
Place in easily accessible areas of the home, away from food and water bowls and in different areas.
Keep clean by scooping at least once daily, and thoroughly clean the litter tray once a week.

Read our 8 Cat Litter Tray Tips

One litter tray per cat, plus one extra.
Place in easily accessible areas of the home, away from food and water bowls and in different areas.
Keep clean by scooping at least once daily, and thoroughly clean the litter tray once a week.

Read our 8 Cat Litter Tray Tips

One litter tray per cat, plus one extra.
Place in easily accessible areas of the home, away from food and water bowls and in different areas.
Keep clean by scooping at least once daily, and thoroughly clean the litter tray once a week.

Read our 8 Cat Litter Tray Tips

4

Check your cat's health

It's always a good idea to rule out any underlying medical issues - urine spraying can be linked to some health problems.
Check with your vet if signs continue or have suddenly started.

It's always a good idea to rule out any underlying medical issues - urine spraying can be linked to some health problems.
Check with your vet if signs continue or have suddenly started.

It's always a good idea to rule out any underlying medical issues - urine spraying can be linked to some health problems.
Check with your vet if signs continue or have suddenly started.

WATCH: How to Stop Your Cat Spraying

Watch this video to learn more about how to get a cat to stop spraying:

We recommend

FELIWAY Optimum - Starter Kit

€29,60

~~€36,99~~ -20%

8 reviews

The most advanced FELIWAY solution to help solve the common signs of stress in cats, such as:

Urine spraying
Scratching
Tension and conflict between cats
Hiding
Reactions to changes
Up to 30 days of serenity

UNDERSTANDING CAT STRESS AND SPRAYING CAUSES

What is Cat Spray?

Cat spraying is a scent-marking behaviour where cats use urine to mark areas of their territory. While this can be frustrating, this is a normal behaviour that you shouldn’t punish your cat for.

Although this is a natural territory-marking behaviour, there may be an underlying reason why your cat sprays in the house. Learning why cats spray can help you understand how to prevent it, how to stop the cat spray smell and to keep your home clean.

WHY DO CATS SPRAY?

4 Reasons Cats Spray in the House

1

Stress or Insecurity

Cats are creatures of habit and like to feel in charge. If they're not feeling completely happy or are facing any stress, they can feel threatened which is why cats spray.

Changes in your cat’s routine or lifestyle, like a new home, furniture rearrangement, visitors, or loud noises can trigger stress and lead to spraying or urination.

Read more about cat stress and anxious behaviours.

2

Territory Marking

One of the most common reasons male cats spray is that they are unneutered, which makes them especially prone to territory marking.

But any cat can do it whether they are neutered or not, particularly in multi-cat homes, or when they sense other animals nearby.

Find out more about neutering for cat spraying.

3

Litter Box Preferences

Cats may start peeing outside of the litter tray if there are problems with their litter box.

Try to investigate whether this might be the cause behind your cat spraying or peeing outside the litter box, such as asking:

Is it clean enough?
Is it in a room that is always accessible to your cat?
Is it easy for your cat to get in and out of? Is it in a high-traffic spot?
Would they prefer a different type of litter?

Discover more kitty litter tray tips.

Cats may start peeing outside of the litter tray if there are problems with their litter box.

Try to investigate whether this might be the cause behind your cat spraying or peeing outside the litter box, such as asking:

Is it clean enough?
Is it in a room that is always accessible to your cat?
Is it easy for your cat to get in and out of? Is it in a high-traffic spot?
Would they prefer a different type of litter?

Discover more kitty litter tray tips.

4

Medical Conditions / Mating Behaviour

In some cases, cats spray in the house or urinate outside the litter box due to an underlying medical condition rather than a behavioural issue.

Arthritis or age can also create discomfort and cause your cat to urinate outside the litter box.

If you’re wondering why your cat is spraying all of a sudden, conditions affecting the urinary system, such as urinary tract disease or inflammation. These can cause discomfort and more frequent urination which may be in unusual places for your cat.

If you notice any changes in your cat's behaviour, including their urinating habits, it’s important to take your cat to the vet to rule out any medical issues.

Unneutered cats may spray to attract mates. Neutering significantly reduces this behaviour in males. If your neutered cat is spraying, learn more about the reasons why your cat is spraying here.

Why Do Cats Spray Due to Stress?

Cats are creatures of habit and thrive on stability. Changes in their environment can cause stress, and one common response is spraying.

By marking their territory in this way, cats are trying to feel more secure. While this behaviour may be frustrating, it’s not done out of spite. It’s their natural way of coping with uncertainty.

If you think stress might be the cause of cat spraying in the home, try to identify what’s making your cat feel unhappy.

For example, there might be a change in your family or in the home, such as redecorations or celebrations, or even the presence of new furniture.

The good news? FELIWAY has designed a natural solution for how to stop a cat from spraying due to stress. Pheromone solutions like FELIWAY Optimum paired with a calm environment, enough resources such as their litter box, food and water, and a consistent routine can help reduce your cat’s stress and ease the urge to spray.

Spraying vs. Urinating: What’s the Difference?

Cat spraying usually involves small amounts of urine being sprayed on vertical surfaces such as walls, doorways and windows and is associated with stress.

If your cat is urinating in the house on horizontal surfaces like beds or rugs, especially in larger amounts, this often points more strongly to medical issues or litter box problems.

Check Your Cat’s Health

When understanding why your cat is spraying in the house, it’s important to rule out any underlying medical issues as urine spraying can be linked to some health problems.

There’s no harm in checking in with your vet if signs continue or have suddenly started.

Frequently asked questions:
CAT SPRAYING / PEEING / URINE MARKING

Find quick, expert-backed answers, to all your questions about FELIWAY, cat spraying behaviour and tips to help your cat feel more relaxed and happy.

See all FAQs

Why do cats spray outside the litter box?

All cats, male or female, neutered or not, will mark out their territory with urine spraying. Normally this is rare and discrete. But when this natural behaviour happens in your house, it can be very frustrating. When this happens, it can be because your cat is stressed or anxious. Which can be a reaction to:

Recent changes at home – Such as moving home, new furniture, a new pet or family member.
Conflict with other cats – competition for resources, like access to the litter box.
Medical issues – if your cat starts peeing outside the litter box, please consult your vet as there could be a medical reason behind this change in behaviour.

Using FELIWAY Optimum Diffuser continuously can help stop and prevent cat spraying, especially if your cat seems emotional and sensitive to any change at home.

How can I stop my cat from spraying?

There are steps you can take to stop your cat from spraying, such as:

1. Identify and address any factors that may be causing your cat to feel insecure in certain areas. This could be conflict with other pets, changes in the household, or outdoor cats near your home. It can be helpful to keep a record of when and where your cat sprays to see if there’s a pattern that can help you identify why your cat is spraying in the house.

2. 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 is to have one more than the number of cats, and to ensure they are spread out around your home.

3. Use FELIWAY Optimum to help calm your cat and reduce the urge to mark their territory. If your cat’s spraying behaviour continues, consult a vet or a feline behaviourist for further support.

However, it’s important to remember that spraying is a natural behaviour for cats.

You can discourage a cat from peeing in undesired areas by keeping litter trays clean, providing enough trays for all cats (and in different parts of the house), cleaning accidents properly and reducing stress - the calming messages of FELIWAY Optimum are helpful to maintain your cat’s serenity.

Do neutered cats spray?

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/or feeling insecure in their environment. If you want to understand why a cat is spraying, it’s important to look for underlying issues. FELIWAY Optimum is 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.

What does cat spray smell like?

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).

Rather than identifying what cat spray smells 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.

Does FELIWAY® stop cats from spraying?

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)

What's the difference between cat peeing and cat spraying?

When cats spray, they are releasing urine that contains additional pheromones and chemicals that carry specific messages. This behaviour is different to normal peeing.

Urine 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.

Learn more about how to stop a cat from peeing in the house here.

How to get rid of cat spray smell?

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 eliminate both the stain and the odour.

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

It can be difficult to get rid of cat spray smell. If your cat has recently targeted your sofa, bed, or furniture with urine spraying, to stop the smell from persisting and avoid your cat spraying in the same places, start by removing anything that attracts them. This can be done by carefully cleaning up urine traces to remove odour and visual marks. You may need to clean a larger area to ensure complete removal.

To prevent the situation from continuing read our article on how to get rid of a cat spraying smell.

Key Takeaways: Why Cats Spray and How to Stop It

Cats spray in the house mainly due to stress, territorial behaviour, mating behaviour or underlying medical conditions.
If your cat is spraying suddenly, it may indicate a medical issue, such as a urinary tract infection or inflammation, and should be checked by a vet.
Stress-related spraying is often triggered by changes in the home environment, such as new pets, visitors or routine disruptions.
Territory marking is more common in unneutered cats but can still occur in neutered males and females, especially in multi-cat households.
Litter tray problems like cleanliness, location, type or access can cause cats to spray or urinate outside the litter box.
To get rid of cat spray smell, clean affected areas with warm water and mild soap or enzyme-based cleaners, avoiding ammonia-based products.
To reduce the likelihood of a cat spraying indoors, provide a stable routine, maintain clean and accessible litter trays and use proven calming pheromone solutions like FELIWAY Optimum.