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Urine Marking in Cats | ASPCA

The most common behavior problem reported by cat owners is inappropriate elimination. it is estimated that 10% of all cats will eliminate outside their litter box at some point in their lives. Quite a few of these cats have problems with some feature of their litter box (see our article on litter box problems for more information), but about 30% do not have a litter box problem at all. these cats urine mark, and urine marking is not a litter box problem, it’s a communication problem. urine marking is a form of indirect communication used by cats.

why do cats urine mark?

Animal species that live in social groups in which members depend on each other for survival have sophisticated interpersonal communication. in particular, animals that can cause significant harm to each other, such as dogs, have evolved a social mechanism to prevent conflict through interpersonal classification. they are prepared to assume a position of leadership or deference, and can read another animal’s body language to interpret its intentions and react accordingly. But cats have a unique social structure in that they don’t hunt, eat, or sleep in packs like dogs.

Given the chance, cats leave on their own when they mature and claim certain areas or territories for themselves. they can share a territory with other cats, but it’s a time-sharing approach: they avoid each other whenever possible. they have not developed a social system or a communication system like dogs. Socially, greeting cats often handle things like two neighbors in an argument, although one may back down if they think they might get hurt, neither will perceive themselves to be of lesser status than the other. cats do not have a system for resolving face-to-face disputes, so face-to-face disputes can be dangerous for them. to avoid disputes, cats communicate indirectly: they leave messages.

Cats have numerous ways of leaving messages for each other, and one way is through urine marking. By urine marking, a cat tells other cats of its presence and makes a statement about things like what property it owns, how long it’s been in the area, and eventually when other cats can expect it to return. cats can even announce themselves when looking for a mate. all this information is available to other cats in the urine. this way, the cats rarely have to meet.

Cats that live indoors may not have to forage for food or find a mate, but they still see their world the same way as cats who must survive on their own. they can only use the social and communication skills that nature gave them. if their world is predictable, there’s no conflict, they’re spayed or neutered, and they don’t need a mate, cats have little reason to mark and probably won’t. but, if they want a partner or are anxious about something, they will face their anguish like any cat: they will mark their territory. For a cat, marking helps keep unwanted individuals out, whoever and whatever they are, and creates an atmosphere of familiarity that makes them feel more secure.

How do I know if my cat has a litter box problem or a communication problem?

It takes a bit of detective work to determine if your cat has a litter box problem or is urine marking. cats that urine mark also use their litter boxes to urinate, so urine in the litter box does not rule out marking outside the box. but urine mark deposits are often qualitatively different than inappropriate out-of-the-box eliminations.

The following is a list of features that indicate urine marking:

  • Urine marks are usually deposited on vertical surfaces. Marks on a vertical surface are known as spray. when spraying, a cat typically backs up to a vertical object such as the side of a chair, wall, or stereo speaker, stands with its body upright and its tail extended up into the air, and sprays urine onto the surface. often her tail and sometimes her entire body twitches as she sprays.
  • Urine trace deposits often have less volume than evacuated deposits. The amount of urine a cat sprays when he is urine marking is usually less than the amount he would eliminate during regular elimination in his box.
  • The urine smells pungent. The reason cats can learn so much from another cat’s urine mark is that a urine mark isn’t just urine. it also contains additional communication chemicals. those chemicals have a pungent odor to people.
  • There are also certain characteristics of a cat or household that can contribute to urine marking:

    • The cat is a non-neutered male. Although female cats, as well as spayed and neutered female cats, may urine mark, non-neutered males have more reason to do so. One function of urine marking is to advertise reproductive readiness, so unneutered males may urine mark to let females know they are available.
    • There are several cats in the home. The more cats living in a household, the more likely it is that at least one of them will urine mark. households with more than 10 cats invariably have urine marking problems.
    • There has been a change in the home somehow. Cats don’t like change. when things change, cats can get stressed. urine marking behavior can be triggered by someone moving, moving, getting a dog, cat or other animal, building a room, remodeling the kitchen, changing work hours, staying in the hospital, have a baby, even buy a new coat or bring groceries home in an unusually large paper bag. one of the ways cats deal with this stress is by marking their territory. They can do it to preempt a problem by leaving a message that this place is theirs, or they can do it to comfort themselves with their own familiar scent.
    • There is conflict between cats. The conflict could be between cats in the house or between the house cat and other cats he sees outside. cats mark in response to conflicts with other cats for the same reasons that they mark in response to changes in the home. cat-to-cat conflict is one of the most common reasons for urine marking and is usually based on anxiety rather than intolerance. A cat doesn’t necessarily get angry because another cat has the audacity to enter its territory. rather, he gets upset because he doesn’t have the social skills to deal with the intrusion. if one cat is prevented from avoiding the other cat, he will become increasingly stressed and will mark frequently.
    • treatment of urine marking in intact cats

      here are some things you can do to remedy an intact cat’s urine-marking behavior:

      • neuter or spay your cat. Although marking is not limited to advertising a mate, advertising is one of the reasons cats mark. Neutering or spaying is a proven treatment for cats that are marked as a reproductive ad.
      • Close windows, blinds, and doors. Keep your indoor cat from seeing other cats in the neighborhood.
      • Attach a motion-sensing device to your lawn sprinkler. Place the sprinkler near windows to discourage cats from the neighborhood.
      • Treatment of Conflict Urine Marking in a Multi-Cat Household

        The first step in troubleshooting any removal issue is to rule out medical issues. Although there is no medical problem that specifically contributes to urine marking, physical problems can create increased anxiety in a cat, which can contribute to marking. Once your vet has determined that your cat does not have a medical condition or problem, consider the following guidelines:

        • Determine which cat is marking. If you have multiple cats and you’re not sure which cat is marking, talk to your vet about giving fluorescein, a harmless dye, to one of your cats. Cats Although the dye doesn’t usually stain furniture or walls, it does make urine glow blue under UV light for about 24 hours. if you cannot obtain or use fluorescein, you can temporarily confine your cats, one at a time, to determine which one is marking.
        • provide enough litter boxes. Although marking is not a disposal issue, if there are too few litter boxes for all the cats, a conflict over litter box usage will arise and may contribute to marking. make sure you have a box for each cat in your house, plus one extra. For example, if you have three cats, you will need a minimum of four litter boxes. place additional boxes in places where the anxious (marking) cat spends most of its time.
        • Place litter boxes in low-traffic areas with at least two exit routes. Again, the goal is to avoid conflicts between cats. Also, if you have a dog, keep the boxes away from your dog’s food and water bowls. cats can mark in response to dogs as well as other cats.
        • Scoop up at least once a day. In addition to scooping the litter box daily, clean all litter boxes with warm water and unscented soap, or nonsoap baking soda , and completely replace the sand once a week. this helps reduce the presence of any offensive “other cat” odors.
        • Provide multiple perching areas. Cats need their own space. conflict can often be reduced simply by providing more perching areas so all cats can have a place to rest away from each other. Creating space can be as easy as cleaning window sills or shelves, or purchasing cat trees with multiple perches.
        • distribute resources. provide multiple sources of food, water, scratching posts, and toys so each cat can use them without coming into contact or conflict with one of the other cats.
        • Play with your cats. Increasing play with individual cats in different areas of your home can sometimes reduce conflict. encourage play with toys that hang from strings suspended from sticks. Attempts to encourage mutual play can sometimes help reduce conflict, but could simply increase conflict if your cats react badly to seeing each other. see our article on cat aggression in your home for more information on how to reduce cat conflict.
        • Clean up accidents thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner designed to neutralize pet odors. You can find this type of cleaner at most pet stores.
        • Use a synthetic cat pheromone on areas where the cat has marked. Products like this provide a synthetic pheromone that has been shown to have some stress-relieving effect in cats. Administer the pheromone through a plugged-in diffuser near where your cat has seen cats outdoors. This type of product is usually available as a spray or through a diffuser, and can be found at many pet stores and online.
        • using medication. Because marking is often a sign of stress or anxiety, medication can provide additional treatment assistance. If you are considering behavioral medication, be sure to first consult with your veterinarian, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or ACAAB), or a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior (DIP ACVB). These animal behavior experts can assess your cat’s behavior problem and help you develop a treatment plan, provide advice on appropriate medications, and work with your veterinarian to maximize the success of your cat’s treatment program. For help finding a behavior expert in your area, see our article on finding professional behavior help.
        • treatment of urine marks caused by conflicts with cats outdoors

          You can try the following recommendations to remedy urine marking behavior caused by a conflict with a cat outdoors:

          • close windows, blinds and doors. keep your indoor cat from seeing other cats in the neighborhood.
          • Attach a motion-sensing device to your lawn sprinkler. Place the sprinkler near windows to discourage cats from the neighborhood.
          • if your cat is intact, spay or neuter him.
          • Use a synthetic cat pheromone on areas where the cat has marked. Products like this provide a synthetic pheromone that has been shown to have some stress-relieving effect in cats. Administer the pheromone through a plugged-in diffuser near where your cat has seen cats outdoors. This type of product is usually available as a spray or through a diffuser, and can be found at many pet stores and online.
          • using medication. Because marking is often a sign of stress or anxiety, medication can provide additional treatment assistance. Always check with your veterinarian, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or ACAAB) or Veterinary Behaviorist (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior, DIP ACVB) before giving your cat any type of medication for a behavior problem.
          • what not to do

            here are some things to avoid when treating urine marking:

            • do not rub your cat’s nose in his urine.
            • don’t throw things at your cat.
            • do not clean up accidents with an ammonia-based cleaner. Urine contains ammonia, so cleaning with ammonia can entice your cat to the same spot to urinate again.

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