If your kitty has recently taken to going No. 1 in the most awkward of spots -- say your front door -- then a reaction of frustration is definitely understandable. After all, cat urine can be pretty persistent and strong stuff -- yikes. Thankfully, quelling the nasty habit isn't impossible.
Step 1
Set up an appointment for your kitty to be spayed or neutered. Cats often love spraying on vertical surfaces like doors and walls. One common reason for spraying behavior is, unsurprising, the urge to mate. By leaving a scent on your door, your cat may be attempting to communicate to other nearby felines of the opposite sex, essentially saying, "I'm totally available to mate with you right now!" Once you get your hormonal cat fixed, whether male or female, the behavior will likely cease within a short period of time. When the desire isn't there, the desire isn't there, after all. Goodbye obnoxious spraying.
Step 2
Assess your cat's stress level. Your furry pal may be spraying out of pure anxiety and nerves. Perhaps you just moved to a new home and your kitty is disoriented, confused and scared. Maybe you recently adopted a newer, younger pet and your cat is feeling threatened, and therefore attempting to assert dominance by spraying inconvenient areas of your home. Once you identify the stress factor, figure out what you can do to change it, whether it involves spending more quality playtime with your cat or allowing her to temporarily stay in a cozy "sanctuary" in your home far away from the newbie.
Step 3
Clean your door thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner. The more spotless and immaculate your door is, the less inclined your cat may be to spray it again. Prevent your cat from detecting his own scent, which may just serve as a reminder to him to repeat the offending behavior -- no thanks.
Step 4
Keep your blinds closed. If your door is located near any windows that may "showcase" the presence of other cats outside, whether stray cats or neighborhood cats, utilize your blinds to their full advantage, at least temporarily. When a cat can't see other animals, he'll be a lot less likely to get excited enough to want to spray.
Step 5
Purchase a synthetic pheromone spray from a local pet supplies shop. Artificial pheromones replicate the giddy secretions that your cat gives off through his cheeks. If you spritz your door with this type of spray, it not only will soothe and relax your pet, but also encourage him to think that he already marked it with his scent. If he believes that his scent is already present, then he probably won't attempt to spray it again.
References
Tips
- Just to play it cautiously, talk to your veterinarian about your cat's spraying habit. If your fluff ball is suffering from certain ailments, such as feline interstitial cystitis and a urinary tract infection, the urinating on the door may be beyond her control.
- Consider the possibility that your little one just doesn't feel comfortable using his litter box. He might have an adverse reaction to the chemical scent, he might think it's too cramped or he might resent the "open" location in the living room. Think about all of the things that your pet may dislike about his litter tray and make the key changes, stat.