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This month, David writes about cats.
Cat Spraying in the House
Jane writes:
"My 8-year-old cat has started spraying in the house. He was neutered at the proper age, and is an indoor cat. He started spraying about two years ago, at first infrequently, but now it's pretty bad. He is also in good health."
Answer
Inappropriate elimination is the number one behaviour problem reported to vets by cat owners, with both males and females found to be equally at fault. While it can be caused by a urinary tract infection or illnesses such as colitis, often there's no medical cause, which seems to be the case with your cat.
Often you'll blame yourself or something you must have done for putting kitty off-track. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Urine marking, or what's typically called "spraying," is an expression of territorial dominance found in both cats and dogs. It's associated with the rubbing of body oils from the chin and tail on favourite objects (and favourite people).
Spraying, however, typically occurs when a cat feels like placing an advertisement that sex is available. It increases during mating season and particularly during "courtship." It's the feline way to send the message "Hey, this is my boudoir - keep out!" Of course, getting your cat neutered will almost always solve this cause of spraying. But it can also happen when a cat feels threatened by an intruder. An indoor cat may see a new neighbourhood cat spraying on or near the house. Indoor kitty will initiate defensive activity involving spraying and possibly other behaviour such as running to the door, hissing or growling at the window, and obsessively watching the rival. It can also occur when a new cat is introduced into the house. Basically, anything that disturbs the cat's routine and arouses the cat or is perceived as a threat can elicit spraying.
It's important to evaluate what could possibly be causing your cat's stress which is, in turn, causing the spraying. Attempt to determine if any outdoor cats are tormenting your cat. If so, either try and drive the outdoor cat away or block the view of your indoor cat (both of which can be, admittedly, difficult). Think back - is there any household behaviour which may have changed in the past year or two, since the spraying activity began? Any new addition (even a human) to the house hold can cause stress to your cat.
Finally, if spraying seems to be occurring in the same locations, try breaking kitty of going in these areas. Commercial cat repellents, mothballs in cloth bags, orange peels, and rubbing alcohol will all tend to keep kitty away. You can also try setting the cat's food dish near the spot, as cats don't like to soil near their feeding area.
You can also try upside-down mousetraps or aluminium foil spread on the floor. Unfortunately, the spraying may just relocate to another part of the house in this instance.
Unfortunately, there's no single cause for spraying and, consequently, no magic cure-all. Careful observation and trial-and-error are the only sure fire solutions. Still, you may at least now have a place to start.
Good luck!
Cat napping
If you think your cat is always asleep, you're not far wrong. Cats sleep an average of 16 hours a day, with two-thirds of the time spent in light sleep and a third in deep slumber. We don't know why they need to spend so much time napping, but electroencephalographic studies have shown that they do dream in deep sleep.
Do cats have a sixth sense?
Many perfectly rational people believe so, and there are innumerable accounts of cats who know when their owners are on the way home. In some cases, the cat's finely tuned hearing picks up the first faint sound of a familiar car engine, but that does not explain the majority of incidents.
Certainly, over the years that I have treated big cats, I have become convinced they can detect my mood. They treat me completely differently if I am in an optimistic, cheerful frame of mind or if I am down, doubtful or preoccupied. Their heightened sense of smell may detect changes in the chemical makeup of our perspiration, but I could it be more than just their acute senses? As yet, science has no answer.
Cat Communication
Miaow - Feed me.
Meeow - Pet me.
Mrooww - I love you.
Miioo-oo-oo - I am in love and must meet my betrothed outside beneath the hedge. Don't wait up.
Mrow - I feel like making noise.
Rrrow-mawww - Please, the time has come to tidy the litter box
Rrrow-miaww - I have remedied the cat box untidiness by shovelling the contents as far out of the box as was practical.
Miaowmiaow - Play with me
Miaowmioaw - Have you noticed the shortage of available cat toys in this room?
Mioawmioaw - Since I can find nothing better to play with, I shall see what happens when I sharpen my claws on this handy piece of furniture
Raoww - I think I shall now spend time licking the most private parts of my anatomy.
Mrowww- I am now recalling, with sorrow, that some of my private parts did not return with me from that visit to the vet.
Roww-maww-roww - I am so glad to see that you have returned home with both arms full of groceries. I will now rub myself against your legs and attempt to trip you as you walk towards the kitchen.
Gakk-ak-ak - My digestive passages seem to have formed a hairball. Wherever could this have come from? I shall leave it here upon the carpeting.
Mow - Snuggling is a good idea.
Moww - Shedding is pretty good too
Mowww!- I was enjoying snuggling and shedding in the warm clean laundry until you removed me so unkindly.
Miaow! Miaow! - I have discovered that, although one may be able to wedge his body through the gap behind the stove and into that little drawer filled with pots and pans, the reverse path is slightly more difficult to navigate.
Mraakk! - Oh, small and beautiful bird! Please come over here.
SsssRoww! - I believe that I have found a field-mouse or similar animal.
Mmmrowmmm - It is certain that the best tasting fish is one you have caught yourself.
Mmmmmmm - If I sit in the sunshine for another hour or so, I think I shall be satisfied.
Mreoaw - Please ask room service to send up another can of tuna fish.
Mreeeow - Do you serve catnip with that?
Mroow - I have forced my body into a tiny space in order to look cute. How am I doing?
Miaooww! Mriaow! - Since you are using the can opener, I am certain that you understand the value of a well-fed and pampered cat. Please continue. |
