What Does a Cat’s Spray Smell Like? Facts & FAQ
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If you’re a cat owner or have ever had cats in your home, the sight of a kitty backing up to your sofa will get you on your feet quickly. Whether we want to admit it or not, cats sometimes spray. It isn’t pleasant and is something cat owners fight hard to stop. Those of you who have never experienced this are probably asking, what does a cat’s spray smell like? Unfortunately, it’s much worse than the smell of urine. Cat spray is very pungent and smells of ammonia and musk. Yes, cat urine doesn’t smell great, but cat spray is worse thanks to the volatile organic compounds your cat produces.
While it isn’t fun to discuss, let’s learn more about cat spray. We’ll discuss what it is, why it smells so terrible, and why your kitty wants to spray items around your house.
What Is Cat Spray?
Kitties use cat spray as a way to communicate with one another. Cats use their spray to mark their territories or even to leave messages for other cats in the area. You may think that only male cats spray, but that isn’t the case. Females spray as well, but males seem to do it more often. This is especially true if the male cat isn’t neutered. Luckily, female cat spray and neutered males don’t smell nearly as bad as the spray of unaltered males.
You’ll know when your kitty decides to spray. Not only will you smell the burst of urine and chemicals produced by your cat’s scent glands near the urethra, but you’ll notice them raise their tail. This is when your kitty spritzes vertical areas around your home. Most often these surfaces are couches, other pieces of furniture, and walls. Spraying looks nothing like urination. When your kitty urinates it will squat. Spraying takes place with your kitty upright. There’s also not as much liquid produced when your kitty sprays as there is when they urinate.
What Does Cat Spray Smell Like?
As we already mentioned, cat spray is quite foul. Most people compare it to a mix of urine, ammonia, and musk. You’ll also hate to hear that this scent will linger for a bit. However, not all cat sprays are the same scent. Yes, like with most things concerning your cat, certain factors determine just how bad your cat’s spray smells.
- Diet – What a cat eats will affect what its urine is composed of and will change the smell of its spray.
- The cat’s health – Certain health issues, such as urinary tract infections, can make cat spray smell worse. This should also be an indication that your cat needs to visit the vet.
- Age – The older a cat gets, the worse their spray will smell. This is thanks to changing metabolism and body chemistry.
Why Do Cats Spray?
Now that we’ve learned what cat spray is and how it smells, why do cats do it? There are several reasons your cat may do this, so let’s learn more below.
Marking Their Territory
One of the chemicals in cat spray is pheromones. Thanks to this, cats spray to mark their territory. This lets other cats in the area know that this particular cat is claiming ownership. You’ll find that this is why unaltered males spray more than other cats. You’ll also find that cats living with multiple other felines will also spray often. This is their way of claiming what they feel belongs to them.
Confrontation
As odd as it sounds, when multiple cats are in the same house, spraying is used in hopes of settling the conflict. As we mentioned, cats will spray to claim what’s theirs. This is especially true if one cat can establish dominance. To avoid this issue, it’s best to have multiple cat beds, trees, and litter boxes if you have several cats in the home.
Stress
Cats don’t do the best with change. When this happens, they may begin spraying. This helps your kitty cope with what’s happening around them. These kinds of changes can include adding a family member or pet, moving, or even buying new furniture for the home. To avoid stress spraying, make sure all kitties in your home have access to a safe area, lots of toys, and things of their own.
Medical Issues
Yes, medical issues can cause your kitty to spray, especially those that deal with the urinary tract. Kidney stones, bladder issues, and even urinary tract infections can make your kitty spray. If you notice things aren’t right with your kitty and he or she is spraying, give your veterinarian a call to schedule an appointment. Your kitty will need a checkup.
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Final Thoughts
The smell of cat spray is not fun to encounter. While it can be a part of life when living with a cat, if there’s a chance you can avoid dealing with it, do so. Get your kitties spayed or neutered, keep things clean, and make sure you can accommodate all the cats in your home. If you do this, you may get to avoid this foul stench.
Featured Image Credit: Igor Shoshin, Shutterstock
