Spraying

In this guide

What is urine spraying?

Urine spraying is a territorial marking behaviour seen in adult cats. Its exact purpose is still debated, but it seems to help cats communicate across distance, coordinate movement through shared territory (a form of “timesharing”), and avoid direct confrontation.

There’s no evidence that a cat encountering another cat’s spray mark actually avoids or retreats from it. What the mark may convey is timing information, since a cat’s response to sniffing and its Flehmen reaction vary depending on how old the deposit is. Scent matters so much to cats that they have a dedicated secondary organ for it, the vomeronasal or Jacobson’s organ, allowing them to essentially “taste” important smells. This organ consists of two small openings behind the front teeth connecting to the nasal cavity; a cat draws air into them with its mouth open, producing the slightly grimacing Flehmen response.

Spraying has likely taken on further roles in domestic neutered cats, reflecting emotional state. Cats may spray during socially stressful periods, potentially as a way of boosting self-assurance, coping with stress, or displacing tension. Outdoor spraying against fences, bushes and other objects is entirely normal. Indoor spraying, however, signals that a cat doesn’t feel secure and that something is causing genuine stress.

What spraying looks like

The classic posture involves a cat backing up to a vertical surface, often after intense sniffing and a Flehmen response, standing with its tail raised and quivering, hindquarters lifted, sometimes treading with its back paws while releasing a small stream of urine, usually under 2ml. Some marking happens on horizontal surfaces too, clothing left on the floor, for example, either squatting or standing to spray. The marks themselves can be subtle, sometimes just a faint smell or a small, sticky brown trickle on a skirting board, radiator or door. Electrical equipment, full-length curtains, plastic bags and clothing are other common targets.

Is spraying only a male behaviour?

Both sexes spray, though males do so more frequently. The behaviour is far more common in unneutered cats, suggesting a hormonal link, and likely conveys information about the sprayer’s presence and reproductive status. Around 90% of intact males and 95% of intact females show a marked drop in spraying after neutering.

How common is it?

Among neutered cats, roughly 10% of males and 5% of females spray. Household density plays a significant role, the more cats sharing a space, the higher the likelihood, rising to as much as 86% in households with seven or more cats, and reportedly close to 100% with ten or more.

What to do if your cat sprays indoors

Start with a vet visit. In a young, unneutered cat, sexual maturity is the likely trigger, and neutering usually resolves it while also reducing roaming, fighting and unwanted litters.

It’s worth being cautious about assuming a purely behavioural cause, though, since underlying pain or discomfort can also cause a cat to adopt a spraying posture. Research suggests up to 30% of cats presented for spraying actually have an underlying medical issue, cystitis (feline lower urinary tract disease) being a common example. Your vet may recommend urine analysis or other tests to rule this out before referring you to a behaviourist.

“But my cat doesn’t seem stressed”

Cats are largely self-reliant animals responsible for their own survival, so showing obvious emotion can make them vulnerable, meaning they’re remarkably good at masking illness, pain or stress. The signs exist, but they’re subtle, often only detectable through changes in behavioural patterns. Indoor spraying is itself a strong sign that something isn’t right.

What might be causing the stress

Not every cat responds to pressure the same way, temperament plays a role. Broadly, stress can come from other cats, from people, or from the environment. Specific triggers include conflict with other household cats, a dense outdoor cat population, an intruding cat entering through an open window or flap, home renovations or decorating that disrupt territory, new arrivals such as a baby, lodger or dog, changes to an owner’s schedule or absence, inappropriate punishment, and overly intrusive human contact.

What helps in the meantime

Once you’ve consulted your vet, the ideal next step is a referral to a behaviourist who can tailor advice to your specific situation. In the meantime, a few general measures can help: clean sprayed areas with a 10% biological washing powder solution, rinse thoroughly, then treat with surgical spirit; place feeding stations, with a portion of your cat’s normal food, at previously sprayed sites; use Feliway® spray on affected areas according to the manufacturer’s instructions, or a Feliway® diffuser to ease general anxiety; ensure enough litter trays, one per cat plus one extra, spread across different locations away from food, water and beds; in multi-cat households, apply the same “one per cat plus one extra” formula to every resource, beds, bowls, scratching posts, trays, high perches, hiding spots and toys; temporarily pin up full-length curtains once cleaned if they’ve been targeted repeatedly; and if your cat has seen outdoor cats through full-length glass, cover the lower section with opaque film or cardboard so neither side can see the other.

What if the spraying has already stopped?

Spraying tends to come and go depending on whether the underlying stressor is still present. It’s still worth seeing a vet even if things have settled, because the problem often returns, and the longer it’s left unaddressed, the more entrenched it can become. Resolving it fully can be difficult since it’s a natural behaviour, and some triggers, cats outside your own boundary, for instance, are beyond your control. Ahead of a known stressful event, a Feliway® diffuser can help cats with a history of anxiety-related marking. With the right guidance, the problem can usually be reduced or managed to a satisfactory degree, with attention paid to the cat’s long-term wellbeing throughout.

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