Do female cats spray?

Updated 16/09/2024

Pet parents, we know your furry felines are your world, but you can admit that not all their behavior is totally desirable. Today we’re tackling the question “Do female cats spray?” and exploring the reasons for spraying and how to prevent it. 

Do female cats spray? 

Do girl cats spray? Yes, they do!  Although it’s less common than in male cats, it’s perfectly normal to see a female cat spraying. 

What is cat spraying?

When male and female cats spray (also called urine marking), they release a small amount of urine onto a vertical surface like a wall. You’ll notice them sniffing the area before backing onto it and raising their quivering tail to deposit their pee. It has a strong, musky smell that can be quite pungent. 

While cats can also spray their ‘perfume’ onto horizontal surfaces, this is usually just plain old peeing, which is an entirely different problem. Peeing outside the litter box involves a much larger puddle, and may be a sign of a medical condition such as osteoarthritis or problems with the box or litter substance itself.

Why do female cats spray?

There are a number of reasons why female cats spray, from stressors in their environment to acting territorial. Let’s take a look at these in more detail:

To communicate with other cats

One of the most common reasons for a female cat to spray is to communicate a message to other cats – be it those in their household or others in the neighborhood. Cats are territorial by nature, and spraying signals to other cats that the area or a certain object is “theirs”. They may spray on toys or areas of the home to mark them as theirs, or they might spray in the garden or other areas in the neighborhood to send a message to neighboring cats. 

Due to stress

Cats are creatures of habit, and behavioral changes like spraying can be caused by changes to their routine or environment. Pets are happier at home, and vets agree, which is why getting an in-home cat sitter is the best option for your pet while you’re away. Our verified sitters come and stay with your furry friend where they feel most comfortable – right at home – reducing the stress of situations like changes to their routine, new environments, and even the hassle of traveling. 

To attract males

Female cat spraying is also linked to their natural instinct to find a mate, so they may spray on surfaces to attract a suitable bachelor.

Do female cats spray when in heat?

Yes, spraying is a sign your furry feline is in the midst of her heat cycle and on the hunt for a mate.

Do female cats spray after being fixed?

Although it’s uncommon, female cats may still spray after being spayed (now that’s a mouthful!). Spaying removes a female cat’s reproductive organs making it impossible for her to reproduce, meaning she’s less likely to even think about searching for a mate. That being said, we know there are other reasons why female cats spray, which explains why 5% of females continue to spray after the surgery, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center.

How do you get a female cat to stop spraying?

If your furry feline’s spraying seems to be getting out of hand, your first step should be taking a trip to the vets. Although it’s usually nothing to worry about, there’s a chance their symptoms could be masking a medical issue such as bladder stones or urinary tract infections (UTIs). Your vet will perform a health check and may run tests such as urinalysis or blood work to dig into the issue further. Once you’ve got the all clear from the vet, they may suggest one of the following tips to prevent your cat from spraying:

• Spaying (desexing) your female cat: (the removal of reproductive organs under general anesthetic) This can greatly reduce the chance your furry feline will spray as they’ll no longer be on the lookout for a mate.
• Clean the sprayed spot: Once your furry friend discovers her favorite spraying spot, she’s likely to keep coming back as cats add scent to areas they have sprayed to mark it as their ‘patch’. To stop this, you’ll need to completely get rid of the smell of sprayed urine with an enzymatic cleaner and a thorough clean after each spray incident.
• Reduce stress: Try to identify and eliminate any stressors in their environment, e.g. if the spraying started after you bought a new litter box, go back to the old one. Artificial pheromones such as Feliway or medication from the vets can be used to help reduce anxiety in cats. Talk to your vet for more advice on this, or visit the international cat care website for more in depth advice. 
• Keep your cat happy: Keeping your cat happy goes hand in hand with reducing stress – make sure they feel safe and comfortable in their environment and fill it with everything they need, from interactive toys to quiet resting places.
• Reduce conflict: If you have multiple cats at home, your furry feline might be spraying to mark their territory – try splitting up resources so there’s enough to go round. In particular, make sure everyone’s got at least their own litter box, food bowl, and even their own toys, so no cat feels threatened. Go one step further and make sure there's an extra bowl, bed, and litter tray per cat in your house so there is always one ‘extra’ to help your cats feel secure in their resource availability. 
• Never punish your cat: Punishing your cat is never the answer, and it can actually make matters worse. If your furry friend is scared of you, she’s likely to become more stressed and the spraying could increase.
• Reach out for professional advice: if you are struggling, your veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist will be very experienced in managing this type of problem and will have a wealth of knowledge to draw upon to help you cope with your cat's spraying problem. 

Meet our veterinary expert, Corinne

This article has been checked by veterinarian Corinne Wigfall BVMBVS(Hons) BVMedSci(Hons). Corinne is originally from Wales and moved to New Zealand after graduating university. She started her career with a university based equine internship and moved onto mixed and small animal practice. Currently she splits her time between online tele triage and working in an after hours vet clinic.

Sources:

Cornell Feline Health Center