For many people, having their cat pick up the habit of urinating or spraying on the furniture or in the home is a distressing one. It is unsanitary, annoying to clean up and can cause social stress in the house. If your cat keeps on spraying, you need to be aware that there are a number of things that might be going on, and that by considering them and working with your cat that you can make sure that this unpleasant habit is stopped once and for all.

First of all, take your cat to the vet. A male cat which has not been neutered will spray to mark their turf. Neutering your cat will usually reduce or even eliminate the spraying problem entirely. Spraying can also be a symptom of underlying health problems - it is sometimes seen in older cats who have never sprayed before, which can be a sign of health issues.

To keep your cat from spraying, one thing which will not help is to yell at them when they spray on your furniture. You probably didn't catch your cat while still spraying; if so, they will not associate your anger with their behavior. Some cats will spray in response to stress, meaning that your yelling can make the problem worse. Other cats will spray to mark a new home if they have recently moved. If this is the cause, the spraying will usually cease once the cat feels more settled in.

Cats will tend to spray if they are challenged by another cat. By making it so that your cat cannot see outside, the problem will be reduced. Other cats that your cat sees outside will make your cat want to spray to mark his territory. Keep your curtains and blinds closed and your furniture away from these windows; this should help reduce spraying.

If your cat has sprayed in a certain area, make sure that you clean it thoroughly. You will find that cleaning up an area that has been heavily marked can go a long way towards making sure that does not have similar associations for your cat. You will want to spray the area with a pet repellent that is undetectable to humans but unpleasant to animals.

When your cat has been spraying, remember that you should always ask why this has been happening. Often, finding the reason for this phenomenon can help you put a stop to it altogether!