Will Female Cats Spray?

Cat spraying is often associated with tomcats, but many Australian cat parents are surprised when their female felines start urinating on vertical surfaces. Whether you’re dealing with an unspayed queen in heat or a spayed adult marking her territory, understanding why female cats spray and how to address it will help you keep your home fresh and your cat happy.

What Is Cat Spraying?

Spraying is different from inappropriate peeing. When a cat sprays, she typically backs up to a vertical surface, holds her tail upright (often quivering), and releases a small amount of urine. The smell is strong because the urine contains pheromones that carry messages to other cats. In contrast, urinating outside the litter box involves squatting over a horizontal surface and producing a larger volume of urine. Knowing the difference helps you explain the behaviour to your vet and choose the right strategy for stopping it.

Do Female Cats Spray?

Yes, both male and female cats spray once they reach sexual maturity, usually around six months of age. While male cats are more notorious for urine marking, females will often spray when they are in heat to attract mates. Even spayed females might spray if they feel threatened, stressed or want to claim territory.

How Spaying Affects Spraying?

Spaying reduces hormones associated with reproductive behaviour, so spayed females are less likely to spray, but the surgery is not a guaranteed fix. About 5 % of female cats still spray after sterilisation. If a cat learned the behaviour before being spayed or is reacting to stress rather than hormones, she may continue marking.

Why Do Female Cats Spray?

Spraying is a form of communication. Common triggers include:

• Mating Behaviour: Unspayed females will spray during heat to signal availability.
  If your queen is still intact, talk to your vet about spaying to reduce hormone driven marking. After surgery, use Michu’s health monitoring litter to track her post operative urinary health.
  
• Territorial Marking: Cats mark their space when they see outdoor cats or when a new pet or baby arrives. Multi cat households often have more urine marking.
  Providing enough resources such as multiple wooden cat trees and plenty of litter boxes can reduce competition.
  
• Environmental Stressors: Renovations, visitors, changes in feeding schedules, scented litter, or even a dirty litter box can stress a cat. Try a semi closed litter box with high sides to contain litter and a Michu litter scoop for quick clean ups to maintain a calm environment.
  
• Medical Issues: Urinary tract infections, bladder stones, kidney disease or pain can cause a cat to urinate in unusual places. If your cat strains to urinate or shows blood in her urine, contact a veterinarian immediately. Our blog on why cats urinate blood explains when to seek urgent care.
  
• Stress and Insecurity: Cats may spray when they feel anxious or insecure, such as after moving or when there are conflicts with other cats. Stress marking can occur in spayed cats. Using calming aids like pheromone diffusers and providing grooming tools to reduce loose hair can create a more peaceful environment.

Distinguishing Spraying from Other Urinary Problems

Sometimes what looks like spraying is actually a sign of illness. Medical issues like urinary tract infections, bladder inflammation or kidney disease can cause frequent urination, straining or discomfort. In these cases, cats might associate pain with the litter box and urinate elsewhere. If you notice any of the following, consult your vet immediately:

• Blood in Urine or Pink Tinged Urine
  
• Crying or Yowling during Urination
  
• Frequent attempts to Urinate with Little Output
  
• Licking the Genital Area Excessively
  
• Swollen or Firm Abdomen
  

Regularly monitoring your cat’s litter box habits and using health monitoring tofu litter pellets that change colour with urinary pH can help you catch problems early. These pellets are designed to be flushed and allow you to detect pH changes without extra testing strips.

Tips to Reduce or Stop Female Cat Spraying

Addressing spraying involves a combination of health checks, environmental modifications and behaviour management.

1. Rule Out Medical Conditions

Before tackling behaviour, schedule a vet visit to check for infections or other health issues. Untreated urinary problems can lead to serious complications. If your cat does need medication or special care, ask about using an enzymatic cleaner to remove odour and discourage re marking.

2. Spay Your Cat

Spaying not only prevents unwanted pregnancies but also reduces hormone driven spraying. If you adopt a kitten, discuss the best spay timing with your vet (usually before the first heat cycle).

3. Provide Enough Litter Boxes

Cats are particular about their toilets. Provide one litter box per cat plus one extra and place them in quiet locations. Consider different styles:

• Deluxe container litter boxes for spacious comfort
  
• Semi closed boxes for privacy and reduced litter tracking
  
• Litter mats or pads to keep floors clean
  

Using high quality litter such as Michu’s natural tofu litter or mixed tofu litter helps control odours and encourages consistent litter box use.

4. Keep a Calm, Enriching Environment

Cats thrive on routine. Maintain consistent feeding and play schedules, avoid sudden changes and offer plenty of vertical and horizontal spaces. Cat trees and scratching posts satisfy instinctive climbing and scratching needs. When cats have their own spaces, they’re less likely to compete and spray.

Mental stimulation through interactive play (try toys like feather wands or freeze dried treats as rewards) reduces boredom related marking. Providing cat grass can also satisfy nibbling instincts and aid digestion.

5. Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Identify stressors and remove or reduce them. If neighbourhood cats trigger spraying, cover windows or use motion activated sprinklers to deter outdoor cats. Pheromone diffusers or sprays can help cats feel more secure. Some cats benefit from calming supplements or special diets; consult your vet for advice.

If you have multiple cats, ensure each cat has its own resources litter boxes, food bowls and resting spots to minimise competition. Our blog on litter tracking solutions offers tips for maintaining a clean, stress free home.

6. Clean Marked Areas Thoroughly

Cats often return to the same spot if they can smell previous spray. Use an enzymatic cleaner to neutralise odour never use ammonia based products, which can mimic urine and encourage more spraying. After cleaning, apply a deterrent spray or place a food bowl nearby; cats rarely mark where they eat.

When to Seek Professional Help?

If you’ve tried the above strategies and your female cat still sprays, or if the behaviour is accompanied by health concerns, consult your veterinarian or a feline behaviourist. Persistent spraying may be a sign of deeper anxiety or a medical issue. In some cases, prescription anxiety medications or behaviour modification may be necessary. Our blog on cuddling your cat safely explores how gentle bonding and reading your cat’s body language can reduce stress an important part of managing marking behaviours.

Final Thoughts

Female cats do spray, but the behaviour isn’t inevitable. By understanding why cats mark their territory and taking proactive steps, Australian cat parents can minimise spraying while enriching their cats’ lives. Remember to keep an eye on litter box habits, provide a stable environment and invest in quality care products from Michu. From eco friendly wonder litter to nutritious wet cat food and innovative grooming and enrichment tools, Michu offers everything you need to support a healthy, happy home.