UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

Although cats have a justified reputation for being "clean" animals, eliminating in inappropriate places is one of the most common behavior problems reported by cat owners. A survey of over 800 owners indicated that approximately 10% of pet cats had a behavior problem involving elimination.

The elimination behavior system in cats involves both ridding the body of wastes through urination and defecation as well as marking the environment as a means of communication with other cats. Urination and defecation involve sequences of many behavior patterns. The cat generally searches for a specific location and/or surface, digs in a loose material, squats to eliminate, and covers up or scratches around the urine and feces with the front paws. There are differences between individual cats both in frequency and patterns of particular elimination behaviors. For instance, some cats don't dig at all before eliminating; others dig a lot. Some cats barely cover their feces; others scatter litter for as far as several feet in all directions after eliminating. Some cats scratch on the floor outside the litter box, and some scratch on the walls.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary for cats to teach their kittens to use litter. Kittens will start to dig and eliminate in loose, clean materials at about four weeks of age without ever having observed their mother doing so. They have an innate predisposition to using loose material as their litter.

Cats can also use urine and perhaps feces to mark territory and to communicate with other cats about their identity and reproductive status. Spraying is a form of urine marking exhibited by cats. When a cat sprays. it remains in a standing position, alternately lifts its back feet, and raises a quivering tail straight in the air. It squirts urine against vertical surfaces---often windows, doors, and such prominent objects in the home as stereo speakers or furniture. Uncastrated male cats and unspayed female cats spray more often than neutered animals. Some female cats urine mark only when they are in heat. Whether the cat is neutered or not, males are more likely to spray than females.

Whenever a cat begins eliminating outside of its litter box, the possibility of the cat's having a disease should always be considered and a veterinarian consulted to determine if the problem is medically based. If disease is not a factor, then behavioral approaches should be pursued.

If your cat is "wetting" in the home outside the litter box, the first step is to determine if it is spraying or squatting. If you do not catch the cat in the act, you can deduce whether the cat is spraying or squatting by carefully determining where the urine has been deposited. If only horizontal surfaces such as floors are involved, the cat is squatting. If vertical surfaces such as walls are involved, then the cat is spraying. Often the volume of urine sprayed is smaller than the volume voided in a squatting position.

TREATING SPRAYING PROBLEMS

1. NEUTERING. Castration is highly effective for reducing spraying by male cats regardless of the age of the cat at the time he is neutered. If a female cat sprays only when she is in heat, spaying will likely stop the behavior. If she sprays year-round, spaying probably will not help.
2. ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES. If your cat is spraying in only one or two locations, preventing it from entering these areas may be all that is necessary to solve the problem. Sometimes simply using a cat repellent or consistently startling the cat with a loud noise as it nears the area is sufficient. Another alternative is to change the location from a marking area to either a feeding, watering, or playing area, which can be accomplished by playing food and water bowls or catnip in that location or fastening toys or hanging aluminum foil strips at the spot. Feliway® spray may also be effective in reducing spraying, but must be applied every 2-3 weeks until habit is broken.
3. DRUG THERAPIES. If less invasive strategies do not achieve results, the cat may be a candidate for treatment with a behavior-modifying drug. Consult with the veterinarian if all other attempts to control spraying have failed.