Cat Urine Problems, Stop Those Nasty Odours With A Little Cat Care. 

 

Cat urine spraying indoors can be a sign of a underlining illness and so you should not assume that your cat is just being naughty or lazy.

Unfortunately many cats are put down or given away because of this problem, when all that is needed is a little time, investigation and good cat care.

This problem is usually caused by one anxiety or another. Either the anxiety to want to warn off other cats or the anxiety due to change in the home. Either way the cat needs some reassurance and not more tension.

This page will help you understand what is going on and how you can help your cat through this time.

 

What Are The Possible Causes.

If your cat suddenly starts to urinate in the home, the first thing you need to rule out is ill health. So a trip to the vets should be considered, especially if the urine smells strong.

There are two main health issues that could cause this problem and you need to rule out before you consider behavior issues. These are Cystitis and a urinary tract disorder, of which there are a few and are commonly known as either FLUTD “Feline lower urinary tract disorder or FUS Feline urologic syndrome.

Stress can also be a cause of cat urine problems starting up. Something may have changed which is causing your cat to feel insecure, these could include:

• A new pet
• A new baby
• Are they being bullied by other cats?
• Have you changed their environment, i.e. decorated or moved furniture?
• Have you changed their litter brand?

Often the cat will over time relax and get used to these changes and the problem should go away. If the behaviour continues then you may have to consider helping your cat adjust to the new situation. There are some anti anxiety medications for your cat which either your vet can prescribe or there are some natural versions which are available online, to help calm your pet down until they become more relaxed with the situation.

Cat Communication

Cat spraying is a form of communication for your cat as it contains a pheromone which gives other cats various messages.

Cats will often mark their territory with a small jet of urine and the cat urine odor tells other cats in the area to stay away.

This is mainly done by un-neutered male cats outside and can start as early as 5 months old. However even female and neutered cats will also spray from time to time.

When this spraying happens inside the home, it is normally a sign the cat feels threatened and needs to stake its claim to the property again.

During the mating season both male and female un-neutered cats will spray to let other cats know in the area that they are available for mating.

It is the un-neutered male pet urine, which has the distinctive strong smell, which we as humans find so obnoxious.

How do I stop my cat from spraying?

The best way to stop the cat urine scent marking is to have your cat neutered. This removes their desire to be competitive with other cats in the area.

If your cat keeps on spraying in the same places inside your home there are a few methods you could try to break this habit.

• Thoroughly clean the area with a special odour eliminator. Ordinary household disinfectant will not get rid of the smell. If a cat can smell even the smallest amount of urine itv will encourage them to scent there again.

• Put your cat’s food bowl over or near the area, as they will not urinate near to their food.

• Provide a clean litter tray in an area where the cat can feel private. A quiet place in a safe area of the room is best and there should be a separate tray for every cat you have.

In extreme cases where your cat simply keeps on urinating in the home, it may be necessary to give your cat some litter training. This is done by isolating your cat in a room with only it’s bed, a litter tray and water (the process is describe in more detail on my cat litter training page). This training method is designed to help your cat get relax again and get back into the habit of using the tray.

This is not a punishment and your cat should still be cuddled and played with and fed in its usual place.

This is to get the cat used to using the litter tray when it wants to urinate in the house. Gradually the cat can be allowed in other areas of the house, but if you see any signs of the behaviour returning then you will have to start the process over again.

Removal of Odours

Removing those nasty cat urine odors from your furniture and carpets etc. can be a bit of a problem and if not done right may encourage your cat to continue to spray.

We have therefore dedicated a whole page to the subject of cat urine cleaners and odour removers, which should provide you with all the ammunition you will need to combat this smelly problem.