• Clean and treat the area as soon as possible. It will be much more difficult to remove old stains and set-in odor. Quickly blot the urine and soak it up with a rag or paper towel to prevent it from being heavily absorbed into your carpet, flooring, or furniture.
• You can either use your favorite odor and stain remover or dilute some soap into the water. Apply it to the area once the urine has been soaked up with the towel. Wipe the area down until there is no trace of the urine spray left behind.
• Apply some baking soda to the area. Baking soda is great at eliminating stains and odors, so you will want to let it sit in the area for a couple of hours or overnight. Keep pets and children away from the area. Alternatively you can try a deodorizer.
• Vacuum up the baking soda once it is finished sitting. Make sure you vacuum thoroughly to ensure there is no powder or residue left behind.
• Finally, use an enzymatic cleaner to wrap up the cleaning process. Cat urine is strong, and chances are that traces of urine will remain. Enzymatic cleaners will break down any leftover urine and eliminate the odors, making it less likely your cat will be drawn to spraying that area again.

Once you’ve observed the unusual spraying behavior, call a veterinary office and schedule an appointment. A veterinarian will do a thorough physical examination and perform any diagnostic testing they deem necessary. If it is determined that your cat is suffering from pain or an underlying illness, a veterinarian will discuss treatment options with you and you will proceed accordingly.

The medical staff may even have some suggestions on how to stop the spraying once you are home. If it is not related to pain or underlying health issues, you can explore other reasons for the behavior and a veterinarian may have some professional advice to offer.

If you believe your female cat has begun marking due to territorial issues, you will first want to identify what has caused her to start up the behavior. Do you have neighborhood cats running around outside that she can see or hear?  If so, try shutting the blinds to ensure she can’t see them running around, as that could make her more comfortable.

If you have brought home a new cat, this may take time for her to adjust. If she’s not spayed, the best thing you can do is have this done, as spaying and neutering drastically reduce spraying. Make sure to do slow and proper introductions with new pets and allow her time to settle. You can try using pheromone sprays to help ease her stress. If this doesn’t work, reach out to a veterinarian for further advice.

Making sure every cat in the house is either spayed or neutered is the most effective way to combat unwanted behaviors like spraying or cat-on-cat conflict. If everyone has been altered, you will need to implement ways to reduce the competition between them. Try separating all of their needed sources, like food, water, toys, litter boxes, and bedding.

Do not force them to eat out of the same bowl or even side by side. Make sure they have different litter boxes in separate areas and make sure they aren’t forced to share the same sleeping spots. Always reward good behavior, so when they are interacting positively, reward with treats, affection, or playtime. You can even try using pheromone sprays to help diffuse the situation.

If you have tried everything to keep peace in the house, there is no harm in reaching out to a veterinarian or even an animal behaviorist that can help you come up with some ideas to create peace in the household.

A cat may stress for reasons that may not seem significant to you. Even small changes that disrupt their routine could cause significant stress. If you notice changes in behavior, evaluate what has been going on around you. Have you introduced a new person or pet into the home? Have you moved furniture or are you doing a home remodel? Is there any type of loud noise going on outside the home?

Once you figure out the source of their stress, you will be better suited to help relieve it. If you are aware of upcoming changes in your lifestyle, you can try and get ahead of the problem by talking to a veterinarian about reducing their stress before it begins. Handling your cat’s stress may be dependent on the root cause.

You will want to talk to a veterinarian about ruling out underlying health problems since signs of stress can also be signs of medical issues. Your vet will be able to give you their suggestions and possibly even medication to help give them relief from stress if that is determined as the cause for sudden spraying.

If your female has begun spraying due to mating behavior, it is time to contact a veterinarian and get her spayed. Spaying will not only significantly decrease the likelihood of spraying but will also prevent unwanted litters that can contribute to the current crisis surrounding the homeless pet population. It also has many other health and behavioral benefits and is the best thing you can do for your cat.

For those who struggle financially and cannot afford the cost of spaying at a veterinary clinic, many places offer low-cost spay and neuter services. You can reach out to your local animal shelter to discuss what options you have in your local area.