Pet Peeves - Inappropriate Urination
One of the most frustrating experiences of a pet owner is inappropriate soiling. In these few articles, we will look at inappropriate urination in cats and how it differs from dogs.
Explore triggers, proven methods and hacks to work around it.
Annoying or Worrisome
Inappropriate urination requires our attention
Inappropriate urination is a complex issue in cats and can be broken down into behavioral or physical discomfort.
Unlike in dogs where inappropriate urination almost exclusively leans towards physical discomfort and usually happens when they are older,
Cats display issues in their youth, observational studies have concluded that somehow it rarely occurs in their older age.
Lets take a comprehensive look into the cause of your kitty’s actions and offer some insight and perhaps solutions to this issue.
Let’s start with scenarios where there is Inappropriate urination but kitty is still using the litter box
Inappropriate urination due to spraying or marking.
Similar with dogs, the offending liquid is usually found on a vertical surface and is largely driven by hormones.
In both species, once neutered the behavior should subside after 3 months. If your pet has been neutered and is still displaying such behavior with equal intensity after 3 months, it is best to bring it back to your vet to ensure that there is no residual tissue causing this issue.
Once the vet has checked that all reproductive tissue has been properly removed, we can now look into the behavioral aspect of this action.
Both male and female cats spray. This behavior may start as early as 4 months of age in certain breeds. It is always best to spay or neuter your kitty just before it reaches reproductive maturity as some cats despite having undergone their desex continues to display such behavior for much of their early life.
When a cat is spraying, it is accompanied by a quick quiver in their tail, this action is not seen during normal urination. They may not always spray on a strictly vertical surface or stationary object.
Do a quick search on the internet and you should be able to locate a viral video of a roaming cat spraying a model’s designer skirt whilst she was modelling it on the runaway.
It is important to observe the offending’s cat action when they are soiling areas they are not supposed to, so that you may better identify if its displaying marking behaviors or if the spots of urine are due to the inability or reluctance to hold in it’s urine.
Regardless of whether your kitty is spraying or inappropriately urinating, it is important to thoroughly clean the area.
Our tested and tried solution to eradicate scent is good old fashion hydrogen peroxide .
Attach a spray head to the bottle and use liberally.
Hydrogen Peroxide is light sensitive and should not be transferred into a clear bottle.
Hydrogen peroxide is water (H2O) with an extra oxygen molecule (H2O2) this extra oxygen molecule reacts and neutralizes bacteria, fungus and even DNA.
It does have a bleaching effect if it is too concentrated. It is important to use the right concentration
When your cat soils any surface, it is important to wipe dry the soiled area, gently clean with water and spray H202 liberally. Leave it on for at least 10 mins before wiping or washing off.
At WinterForest, we routinely spray down all our cat trees and litter boxes with H2O2 as it breaks down dander, oils and scent leaving these highly used surfaces clean and odorless. There is no real need to wipe dry the area as H2O2 reacts leaving behind H20 (water) and oxidized bio substance that you may choose to vacuum off when the surface naturally dries. This is especially helpful if you suffer from animal allergies.
Cleaning soiled areas with H2O2 eliminates scent ( instead of masking it) hopefully breaking the cycle of them going back to the same spot to refresh their scent markers when they feel it is no longer strong smelling. If the behavior persists and is only in 1 spot of the home, do not allow kitty into that area for at least a month after cleaning it
If marking is in multiple areas or if kitty cannot be restricted away from the offending area, you may choose to deploy a pee pad on the clean area to monitor for repeated spraying and ease of cleaning. Pee pad maybe removed once the behavior stops for a month. It takes a human at least 21 days of conscious effort to break a habit. We need to give our kitties more time than that.
It is also important to note if marking only occurs when you are out of the home, and never in your presence.
If this is the case, the behavior is likely driven not by hormonal urges but protective instinct. Should this be the case, your kitty may require a comfortable space of its own when you are out to curb its drive to protect and mark the space in your absence.
If your kitty has no previous history of marking and is neutered. The sudden onset of marking all the corners of your home at any or all times is usually triggered by the arrival of an unwelcome visitor loitering around your home ( it may also happen with the introduction of a new kitty).
Once all spots are cleaned, its important to close all windows and curtains to ensure that kitty is unable to see, hear and most importantly smell the unwelcomed kitty.
You may not see, hear or smell the unwelcomed kitty, your cat’s senses are highly attuned and is able to sense the intruder. The intruder may or may not be of the opposite gender and it may not necessarily have to be another cat.
Sometimes , it maybe a mama cat that just gave birth near your home, a tom cat marking the exterior or your home or a kitty in heat loitering nearby regardless of the reason, once your kitty can no longer sense its presence, the behavior should automatically stop.
If this behavior is triggered by the introduction of a new furfriend, neuter the furfriend as early as possible. Allow kitty its own personal safe space away from new furfriend and use a pheromone calming collar.
Where necessary, use a pheromone diffuser to reduce anxiety in the home and expedite the acceptance of their new fur buddy.
Pheromones for dogs and cats are different and cannot be used interchangeably
Before we go, should kitty stop using its litter box and there are droplets of urine elsewhere, it is impertinent to immediately schedule a check up with the vet as it can be a life threatening medical emergency
Stay tunned for more on inappropriate urination where we explore the reasons behind urinating in your bed, slippers, shoes, sofa or clothes.
