When it comes to cats urinating in inappropriate places, many pet owners may have a lot of complaints. Sofas, corners, and beds are their favorite spots, and there are “surprises” hidden in every corner of the house. The list of urine-soaked blankets seems endless. But how can we stop our feline friends from doing this?
Neutering
Unneutered cats are the most likely to mark their territory by urinating everywhere. Therefore, it is wise to neuter your cat when it is around 6-8 months old, aiming to curb the behavior of marking territory before puberty.
However, if your neutered cat still has this problem, refer to the following practices.
Pay More Attention to Your Cat
Many cats urinate in inappropriate places to get your attention. Spend some time every day interacting with them positively. Despite the common belief that cats are aloof and independent, your furry friend actually enjoys your company. So, play with them to your heart’s content!
Use a variety of toys, such as cat toys, fake mice, and balls. Cat trees can also increase vertical space for cats to move around, which they really love.
Help Your Cat Relax
There are many products available to help cats calm down and relax, such as catnip and silvervine.
Anti-anxiety medications can be used for cats that do not respond well to non-pharmacological treatments. However, these medications require a prescription from a veterinarian.
Limit Your Cat’s Exposure to Other Animals
Cats mark their territory by urinating, and inappropriate urination may be due to the smell of unfamiliar animals.
So, when other pets come to visit, introduce your cat to their scent in advance and comfort your cat during their interaction to give it a sense of security.
Creating a Friendly Environment in Multi-cat Households
If you have multiple cats, create a friendly environment to avoid territorial marking.
However, the more cats you have, the higher the likelihood of inappropriate urination. According to surveys, in households with five or more cats, at least one is likely to urinate inappropriately.
Tips
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Veterinarian Pippa Elliott MRCVS made an important point: “Some cats urine mark due to anxiety and the need to reassure themselves. Never punish your cat for inappropriate urination, as this can increase anxiety and make the problem worse. Remember, urine marking is an instinct for cats. Your cat doesn’t consider your perception of space, so don’t get angry with it.
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Visit your veterinarian to ensure that your cat isn’t urine marking due to a medical issue. Cats may urine mark due to physiological problems such as diabetes, urinary tract infections, feline lower urinary tract disease, kidney infections, or thyroid or liver disease.
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Identify your cat’s favorite marking spots. Most of the time, you can smell these areas, but to thoroughly clean, you need to detect all urine marks. Use a UV light to locate your cat’s urine marks.
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Regularly clean up urine or urine marks. To remove urine from furniture, use pet-specific deodorizers.
