As of late, we have been receiving a large number of queries about – and there’s no other way of putting this really – cat pee. Anybody with a cat knows exactly what I’m talking about here and, since almost all our readers own at least one cat, I think no further explanation is required.

Urine problems are common; 1 in 10 cats will develop some kind of difficulty with urinating and I expect 9 in 10 humans will experience some kind of problem with their cat’s urination! The most common complaint from owners is the smell of cat urine – they can’t understand why it’s so pungent! The answer is simple; cats use urine to mark their territory, so the odour has to be strong, long lasting and capable of withstanding the element. For this reason, cats urine has up to twice as much urea in it as most other pets, making it one of the most unpleasant things that can be sprayed around your house.

If you are suffering from cat spraying problems, do see our guides to dealing with the spraying behaviour and cleaning up cat spray. If, however, it is urination problems – be they behavioural or medical – do keep reading the next few posts.

If cat spraying is becoming a frequent problem for you, there are various methods for preventing it. Today I’ll explain just a few of them. First of all, however, I must ask that you don’t punish your cat for spraying; as frustrating as it is, it is natural behaviour and in most cases the delay between the spraying and punishment will simply serve to confuse the cat.

Also, although castration stops spraying immediately in 80% of male cats, there are other, less drastic measures you should attempt first. For one thing, consider whether there is anything your cat may consider as a threat, which may be causing the behaviour; other cats inside or outside the house, a new baby or even simply moving the furniture around.

If you are having any building work done, try to keep your cat away from it, as this will encourage territorial spraying. Once any building work is done, introduce your cat to the new area slowly and with the use of familiar items to make her feel at home; this will reduce anxiety and the need to mark new territory. Allowing and encouraging your cat to rub against objects in places where spraying has previously taken place may also help reduce the urge to spray again.

Before anything else, have your cat checked out for any medical reasons that may be causing the spraying. Most relevant health problems will be covered by your cat insurance.

Nobody really wants cat wee all over their house, no matter how natural spraying might be! In this post I’ll explain how to go about cleaning up your cat’s sprayed urine, as it’s not as simple as you might think!

To start with, you’ll want to detect the exact area in which your cat has deposited urine. This is best achieved using a black fluorescent light, under which the urine will show up as yellow. However, sprayed urine is a more complicated substance than you may expect and cleaning it thoroughly will require more than just soap and water. Although you can buy commerical products designed for the job, you can also use basic household items to achieve the same result.

Firstly, you will need to remove the proteinous parts of the urine by using a warm solution of water containing biological washing power – the enzymes in which will break down the protein. Next you should rise the area with cold water and allow it to dry naturally before finally spraying an alchohol-based product, which will break down the fatty deposits. Once complete, ensure the room is totally dry before allowing your cat back in.

An alternative method is to combine one part white vinegar with two parts warm water to create an anti-spray-spray, or a cocktail of hydorgen peroxide (approx. 15 ounces), baking soda (approx. 2 tablespoons) and liquid hard soap; apply this solution and then wash away using warm water.

Any cat owner will be familiar with their cat running herself on objects and people. I wonder, though, how many understand what their cat is actually doing…

By rubbing her head and mouth against objects, a cat is marking her territory using scent glands to deposit facial pheromones. Unlike spraying, which is considered a response to a perceived threat, marking by rubbing is thought to be a positive and social expression, as well as something that makes a cat feel more comfortable in her territory. To this extent, cats who share a household will often actually rub against each other, even when simply passing one another by in the corridor!

Slightly different from this is a behaviour most cat owners will be familiar with, if not by name. ‘Bunting’ is the action of your cat rubbing her head against your face and is considered a very friendly and lovely gesture. Spraying is also normal cat behaviour but, rather than being a friendly and social gesture, it acts as more of a method of reducing confrontation by quickly communicating information about a cat’s age, health and rank. Although perfectly normal, spraying can be something of a problem for cat owners – check the rest of the blog for help and information regarding spraying.

Although spraying is perfectly normal for cats, it can be something of a nuisance for cat owners. In the next couple of posts I shall explain spraying; what it is, why cats do it, what causes it, how best to clean it up and what you can do to prevent it.

Spraying is a method of communication in cats; it carries information regarding a cat’s gender, age, health and even their social status and rank! Cats spray whilst standing, at a level that will be nose-height to other cats. It is a very common behaviour when there are lots of cats around, as it helps establish a hierarchy without confrontation.

However, cats will sometimes spray without an obvious cause or reason – when they are alone in the house, for example. Sometimes this may be because they perceive a threat outside, though other times cats like to mix their scent with your own, as a way of making themselves feel more comfortable in their territory and environment. As nice a gesture as this is, it can be frustrating!

Finally, there can be medical reasons behind behaviour similar to; lower urinary tract disease can cause urine to be deposited around the house, yet is nothing to do with marking territory. Although easily treated, LUTD is potentially fatal if left undetected and we highly advise taking your cat to the vet if you are even slightly concerned.