Do cats mark their territory?


It is relatively common to think that only male cats, moreover not sterilized, mark their territory with jets of urine. However, females can also adopt this behavior. So, if your cat tends to urinate all over the place, there are several reasons for this. 

Good to know: sterilization is not a miracle cure against urine marking in males. On the other hand, it can help to reduce this behavior.

Also, it is good to distinguish urine marking from proper elimination. When a cat urinates in small quantities on vertical surfaces, by backing up against a wall or furniture for example, it is marking their territory. If it squats down and leaves a big puddle of urine behind, that’s another problem.


1. It is anxious

If you’ve recently moved houseadopted a new pet, or even just changed your routine, your cat may feel some anxiety about the upheaval. To reclaim them territory and feel safe there, it needs to mark it with their scent.

By urinating on each piece of furniture, carpet or bed, it squares their territory, which has the gift of soothing them. If you’ve had a change in your life, give it time to get used to its new life. After a while, this behavior should go away on its own. If this is not the case, do not hesitate to spray synthetic pheromones everywhere. And especially on the marked places.

On the other hand, if it is the presence of a stray cat in the neighborhood that disturbs it, do not hesitate to install a blind on your windows to block the view while letting in the light.


2. It is sick

If your cat is spraying urine all over the house, it could also be due to a medical issue. Indeed, an inflammation of the bladder, a urinary tract infection or even gallbladder stones can be involved.

For this reason, it is essential to take them to the veterinarian to ensure that it is in good health.


3. It has a litter box problem.

If you have multiple cats in your home, it’s entirely possible that your cat is being bullied. In this case, access to the litter box may be forbidden to them by one of these felines, and it is then obliged to relieve itself elsewhere.

To avoid this kind of conflict, remember to always provide one litter box per cat and an extra litter box. Thus, if you have two cats, you will have to offer them at least 3 litter boxes.

However, the type of litter box, the location of the box, and even its cleanliness can also be the cause of inappropriate urination in your cat.


4. It’s in heat

If your cat is in heat, it may pee in inappropriate places. Indeed, the objective is to report its condition to possible males. It is ready to mate and lets it be known.

In any case, remember to clean your kitten’s pee well with enzymatic cleaning products in order to completely eliminate the smell. This will deter your hairball from relieving itself there again. On the other hand, ammonia-based products, such as bleach, are strongly discouraged because they have an odor similar to that of urine. Your cat might then believe that another cat has urinated there. It would therefore feel compelled to cover up their scent by urinating in it. A real vicious circle, in short.


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