Can a cat mark like a cat?
Many people choose to have cats because they believe that they are not capable of marking at home. Males of the feline regularly “mark furniture” after puberty and during the hunting season, but girls are also capable of doing this.
Often, inexperienced owners can confuse the marks and a normal trip to the toilet outside the tray.
Externally, cats mark objects like cats: they stand with their backs to the object, twitch their tails and secrete a small amount of a pungent-smelling liquid.
Markings or simple urination?
In most cases, it is not difficult to distinguish urination from squirting in cats. So, to relieve their natural need, they sit down and release the entire volume of urine onto a horizontal surface. And in order to mark the territory, the cat uses vertical surfaces. At the same time, she turns her back, lifts her tail and secretes urine in small portions mixed with other secretions.
On the street, most often cats leave marks on fences, bushes or hedges. In the house, they can mark, for example, windows or doors, furniture, electrical equipment, curtains, wallpaper. If you notice such behavior in your pet, first figure out what it is connected with, and only then take measures to avoid similar situations in the future.
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:
- Veterinarian intervention or sterilization: the cat marks as a result of stress. You need to leave the animal alone. Perhaps this problem will resolve itself. If the situation with the tagged property drags on, then you need to consult a veterinarian who can offer sedatives.
- Developing pathologies in the genitourinary area. - This can be cystitis, pyelonephritis, formation of stones and sand in the kidneys and ureter. In such cases, the act of urination becomes painful, and the tray begins to cause unpleasant associations. This may prompt the cat to look for another place that, in its opinion, causes less painful sensations, marking it along the way. A loving owner is obliged to show the cat to a veterinarian for consultation and further treatment;
- The arrival of a new family member or pet. The cat may perceive such an “innovation” as a threat to its territory. Instinctively, she marks everyday objects, showing dominance. If this is a person, then you need to give time to get used to each other. When a pet appears, the best solution is to temporarily isolate them. It happens that when leaving, owners are forced to leave the cat with strangers. Marks in such cases can be a sign of protest
Duration and frequency of sexual heat
Characteristic behavior lasts from 3 to 10 days. The period when a cat is in sexual heat and allows a cat to approach her is called estrus. At this time, the ovarian follicles produce the maximum amount of estrogens and sex hormones.
In the very first days of estrus (1-4 days), the cat demonstrates sexual arousal, but does not allow mating. This time is called proestrus, “forerunner”. Unlike dogs, cats do not have a clear boundary between estrus and proestrus, and it is difficult to determine these periods.
If sexual intercourse does not occur during estrus, then ovulation does not occur. In this case, sexual heat returns every 10-14 days. The period between estrus is called interestrus, this is a time of rest for the uterus and ovaries. In some cats, the concentration of estrogen in the blood does not decrease, and the animal walks constantly.
Prolonged heat is a sign of follicular ovarian cysts, which must be removed surgically.
Complete rest of the ovaries, which means the absence of the reproductive instinct, is called anestrus, the absence of estrus. In stray cats, this period occurs in late autumn or winter, due to short daylight hours and the action of the hormone melatonin. Anestrus does not occur in domestic cats due to constant light and nutritious food.
A distinctive feature of the breeding system in cats is induced ovulation. Simply put, an egg is released from the ovary only in response to vaginal stimulation. Natural ovulation occurs due to mating, but artificial ovulation is also possible - as a result of manipulations in the vagina.
Ovulation occurs 1-2 days after intercourse, and after another 1-2 days the estrus stops. The ovary forms the corpus luteum, which produces the hormone progesterone to maintain pregnancy.
If the egg is released and fertilization does not occur, progesterone will be produced “by inertia” for 1-1.5 months (less than a true pregnancy). Progesterone prevents the resumption of estrus.
We suggest you familiarize yourself with: Vietnamese black pig
In cats, sexual function does not decline until death; even at 16-19 years of age, estrus is observed from time to time in non-sterilized animals.
I'm 14 years old, motherfucker, how old can you be?
More reasons why a cat marks territory
In addition to the main and common reasons, there are many prerequisites for a cat to start marking your home:
- Moving. Instinctively, a cat explores and marks a previously unknown territory as a cat, thus protecting it from the encroachments of other animals. In such a situation, it is worth being patient. Over time, she will calm down and the desire to mark will disappear.
- Other cats leave marks on the front door. The problem often arises among owners of private houses. Foreign odors cause stress for your pet, prompting you to mark the furniture.
- Crowded housing of a large number of animals in a cramped room. Cats are by nature territorial creatures: just as street fighters take their places in the hierarchy, so a pet will strive to win a place in the sun by marking the boundaries of its territory. The more living creatures per square meter of an apartment, the higher the likelihood of marks occurring.
- Physical violence - when a cat is squeezed against its will, or, even worse, harsh methods of punishment are used for misdeeds. She is under constant stress, which prompts her to mark for self-soothing purposes. Owners are advised to reconsider their attitude and parenting methods.
- Excessive spoiling of a pet is the other side of violence, when the cat’s misdeeds get away with it. Over time, the owners realize that it is time to start raising their pet. Punishment or refusal to do something, such as giving food from the table, can cause protest. She begins to aim to harm her owners.
Stress factor
Your cat is sterilized and marks corners in the apartment. How is that? The indignation of the owners is understandable; it is simply impossible to tolerate the disgusting smell. Do you really have to get rid of the animal if nothing helps?
Wait. Let's try to understand the problem. Remember, was there a situation at home that could affect the cat? Maybe friends with a dog came to visit? Or did little guests come to the children who wanted to meet the beautiful purr? Or did your pet’s food suddenly change?
It would seem that these are very minor factors. This is real stress for you and me, but for the cat. Imagine, she lies there, not bothering anyone. And then a dog’s face came out of nowhere. And he smiles from the top of his dog’s mouth. Naturally, the cat’s eyes will widen, as they say, and it will start looking for the fifth corner in the apartment, just to escape from the monster. And then the body “discharges” in such a non-standard way as marking the territory. Because he was stressed.
What to do if your cat starts marking: how to wean it off
If a cat systematically marks, this should not go unnoticed. First of all, it is necessary to identify the reason for this behavior.
- If your cat marks during heat, you should consult your veterinarian, he will suggest medications to suppress hormonal levels. It is strictly prohibited to abuse such substances; they have many side effects.
- For preventive purposes, if the pet does not have breeding value, it is strongly recommended to sterilize it during puberty. The sooner this procedure is carried out, the greater the likelihood that the cat will stop marking after sterilization, but do not delude yourself, there are no guarantees.
- The use of violence is highly discouraged. The best way to stop a cat from marking is to shout loudly, clap, or use a spray bottle inconspicuously. Punishments should be systematic and immediately after she has done something dirty. Otherwise they have no effect.
If a fresh tag is detected, it must be removed quickly and effectively. Rinse off the discharge with clean water, then wipe the area with a cloth and vinegar.
Acetic acid will help remove unpleasant odors, and its aroma will be irritating to the animal. You can secure the result with a veterinary spray to eliminate odors, or repellents such as antigadin.
In places where the cat has begun to mark, you can place cotton wool soaked in vinegar. However, many people do not like this smell, and it can be replaced with citrus or clove essential oil.
Such measures will help discourage the desire to label interior items in the apartment. The most important thing is to be patient, and the result will not keep you waiting.
Repelling with foil, sprays and other methods
If a cat is marking its territory, what to do is a question that cannot be answered definitively. There are several methods.
You can scare away your pet by using regular foil. Basically, the animal chooses one or several places for its tracks. Having found them, you need to lay foil there. Cats do not like to touch this material because the rustling sound irritates them.
You can stop your cat from marking his territory using foil.
If you don’t have time for experiments, then you can purchase a proven product in the form of a spray, which contains cat pheromones that help improve the psychological state of the animal. You can purchase this product at a pet store.
Advice! When you have absolutely nothing at hand, you can use folk remedies, for example, lemon juice or citrus-scented essential oils. Their smell has a deterrent effect on cats.
Tablets, drops
Experienced breeders recommend giving your pet plant-based calming tablets, for example: Kot-bayun, Fitex, Stop-stress. These drugs have a sedative effect and help the cat behave more calmly. However, sedatives do not work on all animals.
Inexperienced owners often resort to hormonal contraceptives in the form of drops, for example, Sex Barrier. However, veterinary experts argue that such products are harmful to males and do not eliminate the problem of territory marking.
Among folk remedies, citrus fruits are most often used to combat unwanted animal behavior. The aroma of lemon and orange not only neutralizes the unpleasant odor, but also discourages the animal from marking its territory. The herb wormwood and coleus can help cope with the problem. Laundry soap has a good neutralizing effect.
Furry fidgets do not like strong-smelling substances, and they avoid the treated areas. Ammonia, which has a pungent odor, will help stop you from marking your territory. Spices have a similar effect - red and black pepper, turmeric, cayenne pepper, mustard powder.
Watch this video on how to stop a cat from marking in the apartment:
