Is the cat marking territory in a house or apartment? We know how to wean him off and eliminate the unpleasant odor

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Many people do not want to have cats because of their tendency to mark all vertical objects in an apartment or house, so the choice often falls on cats. Male felines do this quite regularly, especially after puberty. However, it is difficult to answer unequivocally whether cats mark territory like cats.

In most cases, the owner simply confuses banal urination with a mark. Cats sit down to go to the toilet. When marking objects, they stand with their backs to the surface and raise their tail, releasing a few drops of liquid.

When concerns are confirmed, it is important to know what to do if your cat is marking its territory. The process of castration and sterilization is very stressful for animals and this procedure does not always help.

The main reason for marking is a change of environment, heat, a new family member or animal. The cat reacts to stimuli instinctively, so you should not shout at it. Radical actions generally only make things worse.

Content

1. Why does the cat mark in the house 2. Why does this happen in the apartment 3. The cat marks - will castration help? 4. How to stop a cat from marking

The cat family is a unique representative of the animal world. The owner of an ordinary domestic cat requires a certain diligence and understanding of the pet's problems, its basic instincts and rules. Only mutual correction and the right actions will achieve results. One of the main problems with their maintenance is the situation when the cat marks the territory. In the wild this is a natural process, but the owner's apartment is not a meadow or a park. In a confined space, an unpleasant odor is constantly felt, and with intensive irrigation of surfaces, even a change in color is possible. In 99% of cases this is done by males, for which they have certain natural reasons.

How to deal with cat marks

So, now there is no doubt whether cats mark territory like cats. But what should the owner do if Murka leaves streaks of urine in the apartment? You can try this:

A cat should always be scolded for marks, but only in hot pursuit
. You can even lift your pet and look sternly into her eyes. You should not beat the animal, as physical punishment can only aggravate the situation (the cat will mark when the owner is not at home). But you can and should bring the cat’s muzzle closer to the urine stream. Let her know what exactly the owner is dissatisfied with;
Sometimes scaring is the best way to stop a cat from marking
. Whenever the animal stands in a characteristic pose and shakes its tail, it can be sprayed with water from a spray bottle. The pet is unlikely to like such a “shower”. But let us clarify that such punishment can give some sense if you splash the cat immediately at the moment of tagging;
Sound effects can also be used as a deterrent
. So, at moment “x”, when the cat raises its tail to apply a mark, you can whistle loudly on the whistle, ring the bell, or squeeze the children’s squeaker toy several times with force;
As a rule, cats spray urine at certain places in the apartment
(they mark the door, corners of the room, sofas, etc.). It is advisable to periodically treat all surfaces that suffer from cat urine with substances with strong odors. Almost all cats cannot stand the smell of vinegar, alcohol, perfume or cologne, citrus fruits (you can use lemon, orange, grapefruit or other citrus essential oil). Near the problem area you can place small cups with aromatic red or black ground pepper;
Veterinary pharmacies and pet stores sell special products
that help correct cat behavior in the area of territory marking. Such drugs include, for example, the antigadine spray “Natures Miracle No more spraying” or “Apicenna Smart spray Protection of places NOT intended for the toilet”;
Sometimes the owner himself can stop a cat from making marks without any improvised means
. It is important to treat your pet patiently and kindly, play with it regularly, monitor its health and the cleanliness of its bowls, tray and bed. It is especially important to pay more attention to the cat if there is a new pet or a new family member in the house. Pussy shouldn't feel abandoned and unwanted;
If a cat begins to mark only at the moment of estrus, then there are only two options
: find her a male partner for mating or sterilize the kitty. Most cats stop marking their territory after surgery, but it also happens that a sterilized cat marks doors and corners in the apartment until the hormonal levels return to normal (this may take 2-4 months). But you shouldn’t resort to hormonal drugs to suppress sexual activity. These drugs have a bunch of contraindications and side effects (one of them is the development of cancer);
If the owner does not plan to sterilize the cat
, then during the period of heat the tailed beauty can be put on absorbent diapers (for example, brands “Neoomutsu”, “Cliny” or others). They will not allow the animal to mark;
If a cat marks after sterilization
, although the operation was performed a long time ago, there is a possibility that the purr’s emotional state is not in order. In such situations, taking sedatives (Cat Bayun, Fitex, Stop-Stress, Feliway) can help. But it is better to give such drugs to an animal after consultation with a veterinarian.

Why does a cat mark in the house?

All cats, from tigers and lions to domestic pets, have an extremely acute sense of smell. They navigate the world of smells, reading the environment from the subtlest notes left by other animals of their own or another species. Having a territorial attachment, they try to mark their own possessions with a mixture of urine, hormones and special secretions produced by the gonads. On the street this phenomenon happens unnoticed, no one pays attention to the marks, but in an apartment or house it turns into a big inconvenience. Guests will immediately ask if there is a cat in the home.

The animal simply marks its property. If in dogs the mark says something like “I was here,” then in cats it means “this is mine, get out of here.” Aliens who invade the property will definitely get a fight, which most often happens in the spring. The area covered means the claim to dominance, females and food available in the area.

How can a cat mark territory?

Cats that want to mark things perform the following algorithm of actions:

fits a vertical surface;
straightens up and raises its tail, shaking it a little;
excretes a little urine horizontally.

Sometimes when an animal marks objects, the posture may differ slightly. The main similarity is the extremely small amount of fluid released. Usually it is no more than 1 ml.

To mark territory, cats often rub their faces against certain objects. Many owners think that their pet lacks affection, but in reality everything is much simpler. On the face of cats, near the eyes, there are special glands that produce a strong odor. A person does not feel it, but other animals immediately understand that the place is already occupied.

You can often notice that cats sniff each other's anus when they meet. The anal glands, which secrete an odorous secretion, are located in this place. Raising its tail, the pet seeks to show its scent. You can notice this if you stroke it along the back. At the same time, the cat will begin to protrude the back of its body.

Cats wash themselves not only to maintain cleanliness, but also to distribute secretions throughout the body.

For example, by licking the genitals, they spread the smell from the anal glands along the back of the body. The secret will be more clearly visible to other animals.

Representatives of the cat family have very small glands on their paws. When cats sharpen their nails, they mark objects. This leaves visual marks and a corresponding smell.

Cats can mark not only with the help of fluid secreted by the glands, but also with saliva . However, it does not carry any information about the animal’s sexual behavior, for example, about the onset of estrus.

Why does this happen in the apartment

If a cat starts marking at home, there are a number of reasons for this. There is no need to scold him or “educate” him with slippers or a broom. This is an inhumane attitude towards an animal, and violence will not completely get rid of the problem. Let's look at the main factors that give rise to this behavior:

Domination	He tries to prove his dominance in a given territory even without meeting other representatives of his sex. This is not necessary, the smell from the street is enough to awaken an instinctive appropriate reaction. A child, a person staying for a long period, as well as any other animal can be considered a threat to a cat’s possessions. Someone may come to visit, wearing the scent of another male. After this, get ready for marks, because your pet does not need competitors.
Hormones	During the natural breeding season, the need to fight for their possessions increases sharply. The smell from an open window or the neighbor's cat can also be an incentive to activity. Most cats have a so-called biological alarm clock in their bodies. It is the basis of all hormonal surges.
Stressful situation	He feels threatened, a possible loss of his dominant status. It is this feature of behavior that makes him show independence and look as if a person should always show attention to him first. The slightest hesitation in assessing one’s own capabilities triggers a reminder mechanism about who is the boss in the house. The role of provocation can also be a house move, severe fright, including a forced trip to the veterinarian in a cage or box, the first exit on the street into the world of noise and smells.
Possible diseases	Many people wonder why a cat marks the owner or the bed. The normal pose looks like this: he turns his back, lifts his tail, shakes it a little, producing several short streams. If this happens by other methods, sitting, lying down, the tail remains wet, then these are symptoms of serious problems with the genitourinary system. An urgent visit to the veterinary clinic is required.

The opinion about revenge on the owner for certain actions does not have sufficient evidence. Animals are not endowed with intelligence enough to perform such actions.

How to punish a cat

Hitting and poking with the muzzle are ineffective, although common methods. Often they lead to the exact opposite result, because an angry animal begins to “mark” more and more inappropriate places with excrement, for example, the carpet, sink, bathtub.

If you need to punish a cat, you will have to do the following:

Apply punishment only at the moment when the cat is caught at the “scene of the crime,” and do not delay it for a while.
Punish until you achieve the desired result.
Consistency, don't make exceptions.
It is strictly forbidden to hit the animal with your hands, maximum with a rolled up newspaper.

The cat is marking - will castration help?

The animal's gonads actually produce a large amount of hormones that stimulate certain actions on an instinctive level. If the operation is performed at the age of 6-8 months, it can have an effect. This must be done on the verge of puberty of the animal. If hormones have already appealed to the reproductive instinct, then the habit may remain. The only consolation for the owner in this situation will be to reduce the intensity of the unpleasant odor.

Also, success largely depends on the skillful actions of the veterinarian. You should only contact trusted clinics with a good reputation. If you are too young or have reached full sexual maturity, this may be too dangerous for your pet's health.

When do cats go into heat and how often?

After estrus begins for the first time, the months must be counted based on the appearance of the first symptoms. How many times do cats go into heat? On average, it happens every 3 months. Thus, the answer to the question of how many times a cat goes into heat per year is 4 estrus periods. But every rule has an exception. For some pets it happens once a month, for others - once every six months.

How often cats go into heat depends on various factors. If the pet has given birth, estrus will begin in 4-6 months. If the offspring died or the kittens were taken prematurely, the estrus will occur earlier.

Over the years, the time between heats may increase, or less often, it may decrease. The season also influences the appearance of estrus. Street animals become more excitable in early spring and autumn, while in winter they are silent. As for domestic animals, they do not depend on the time of year; the season does not affect the desire to mate.

How to understand that a cat loves you?

Nine Signs Your Cat Really Loves You

The cat treats you like a relative. ...
She rubs against you. ...
The cat follows on your heels. ...
Murka loves to lie next to you when you sleep. ...
They blink their eyes slowly. ...
The cat is rubbing its paws on you. ...
Your cat is purring. ...
She shows you her belly.

28 Jun
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Is it all because of heat?

Upon reaching the age of 6 - 8 months, hormones begin to rage. The reproductive instinct awakens and the search for a partner begins.

If an uncastrated cat lives nearby or in the neighborhood, then the cat will try to attract his attention as much as possible with the help of loud screams and marks.

During heat, it is necessary to protect her as much as possible from potential meetings with suitors.

The most common cases are when a cat shits during heat, but the following may also be the cause:

Tag prevention

Owners are often stunned by the strange behavior of their charge. Panic from the series “the cat is marking its territory, what should I do?” - a popular request, since not all parents know about the physiological features of their pets. Hormonal surges force animals of both sexes to mark. Especially if people are not concerned about timely sterilization. Therefore, the best prevention of bad behavior is sufficient attention to equipment, which will ensure the most correct conditions of detention. And to eliminate a bad habit, you will need sensitivity, tolerance and attention to your cat. After all, we are the ones responsible for those we have tamed.

Use of folk remedies

In addition to store-bought remedies, folk remedies are used to accustom a kitten to the litter box and discourage it from its usual place.

A popular way to keep a cat away from a corner is to use citrus products. The shell of oranges and lemons, due to essential oils and other components, repels animals with its aroma. It is important to replace such a “repellent” in time so that it does not lose its smell and does not become a toy for the animal.

An animal should not be punished for using a corner as a toilet after it has done so. You need to scold your pet if you catch him at the crime scene. Then the cat will understand that this cannot be done.

Tray training is required for any animal taken into the home. This responsibility falls entirely on the owner.

Kirill Sysoev

Calloused hands never get bored!

Not one owner of a cute furry pet is immune from the appearance of an unpleasant “surprise”. The reasons for this behavior of a kitten or an adult cat may be different. The owner of the cute creature can only find the right solution and, using simple methods, wean the cat from shitting anywhere before it becomes a bad habit.

Problems with the litter box

In some cases, territory marking is caused by a litter box problem that forces your cat to pee-pee and ahh elsewhere.

This is a little different than just marking the territory, because in this case the cat simply does not want, for example, to go into a dirty litter box, or it is too small for him, or he does not want to share it with other cats.

Pay attention to the following signs that will help distinguish a litter box problem from area markings:

The marking cat raises its tail up and points its butt towards the target. The tail may shake or quiver.
A cat who marks will usually do so by squirting urine horizontally onto vertical surfaces and will still use the litter box regularly. And he won't poop past the tray.
A cat who has a litter box problem will leave his excrement on the floor or other horizontal surface. A cat that marks will usually leave urine on a vertical surface, such as a wall.