Owners often encounter cats marking their homes and wonder what to do. The foul, pungent odor, puddles, and ruined furniture and shoes can ruin their mood and make owners forget about the comfort of their home. It's important to understand why their cat is behaving this way to choose the best course of action.
When does a cat start marking its territory?
The mark is a small amount of urine, sex hormones, seminal fluid and secretions (pheromones). Young kittens don't leave marks. Problems begin when the animal reaches puberty. Age limits are quite arbitrary: they depend on breed, diet, housing, and climate.
Around 7–8 months of age, most cats reach their peak blood levels of sex hormones.
Why do cats leave marks?
An animal that has reached sexual maturity is obliged to periodically inform other females and males of its existence.
Main reasons:
- The cat marks his territory and makes it clear that he will not tolerate intrusion. He also marks the front door for the same purpose, as he senses other males outside.
- Attracts the attention of females when they are in heat and shows their readiness to mate.
- Another pet appears in the house and is perceived as a rival.
- The cat has health problems.
- Boredom. The pet's parents aren't spending enough time with it, so it's trying to get attention. A characteristic feature is marking the owners' belongings.
- Stress or fear. This could be caused by moving to a new place, rearranging furniture, etc.
How to act depending on the cause
You should think in advance whether your pet will be used for breeding. If so, you should arrange for him to be allowed to roam freely or to be mated. If you plan to keep him confined permanently, it's best to avoid torturing him and have him neutered. Otherwise, no measure will help; the animal will continue to spray simply because it's necessary.
What to do in other cases:
- Contact your veterinarian and check if your pet is healthy.
- You can place cotton pads soaked in citrus, bleach, vinegar, iodine, or potassium permanganate on the marked areas. These will repel the animal, but only while the smell is strong. Professional products are also available, and they are more effective.
- A popular method is to ambush the criminal as they begin to do their work, then put on your best acting skills and pretend to be a rival cat. Grab the animal by the scruff of the neck, hiss menacingly, and hit it repeatedly in the face, just like cats do when they fight with their paws. Use your fingers to avoid injuring the animal. Act as angered as possible and be sure to look the cat straight in the eye. The first one to look away loses.
- If jealousy or boredom is the cause, you need to give your pet more attention, petting, playing, and giving treats. Leave toys out when the owners are away.
When a cat marks due to stress or fear, you should try to create the most comfortable conditions for it and, again, give it maximum attention.
Marking territory is a natural instinct, not a training flaw. No forceful methods—physical punishment, yelling, or throwing slippers—will produce a positive result. You need to act according to the specific situation or solve the problem with a more radical solution: castration.
