Spraying in cats is the deposition of small amounts of urine on vertical surfaces. It is a form of territorial marking behavior performed by adult cats. Cats spray when they are feeling insecure in the ownership of their territory, which may be due to a new cat in the home, conflict with outdoor cats, or changes in their routine or environment that contribute to stress. Spraying is more likely to occur in both male and female cats when they reach sexual maturity, around 6 months of age. Intact male cats spray to attract mates or communicate with female cats in the vicinity. However, female and neutered male cats can also spray.

There are several reasons why cats spray, including:

• Communicating with other cats in the household
• Creating a territorial threat to outdoor cats
• Attracting mates or communicating with female cats in the vicinity
• Feeling threatened, stressed, or uncomfortable due to a medical issue

To stop a cat from spraying, it is important to decrease the motivation for spraying. This can be achieved by reviewing and improving litter box hygiene, separating cats to find out who the offender is, and ensuring that the cats social and emotional needs are being met. It is also important to take the cat to a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical issues that may be causing the spraying behavior.