Spraying is perfectly normal cat behaviour, it acts as a personal cat calling card. Spray is usually deposited at nose height for other cats, conveying information about your cat's age, sex, health status and rank. Unlike going to the toilet, spraying is performed standing up and facing away from usually vertical objects. In areas where there are a lot of cats, spraying aids integration and minimises confrontation.

But sometimes it can become a bit of a problem.

Dealing with indoor spraying
Cats that spray doorframes, curtains and window ledges may perceive a threat from outdoors. Spraying chair legs, beds and dressing tables may mean they are increasing their confidence by mixing their scent with yours.

Cleaning
Clean the area with a warm dilute solution of a biological washing powder to remove the protein components of the urine. Rinse the area with cold water and allow it to dry. Spray with an alcohol, such as surgical spirit, to deal with the fatty deposits and then allow the room to dry thoroughly before allowing your cat access again. You can also buy commercially prepared sprays that mask the pheromone scent from your vet and pet shops.

Medical causes
Take your cat to your vet to rule out Lower Urinary Tract Disease. This is a treatable, but potentially life threatening, condition and should not be confused with territorial spraying or marking. Both can result in urine being deposited outside the litter box, but the causes and treatments are very different.

Prevention
Some owners cover objects with tin foil, or place litter trays or several small bowls of dried cat food around the targeted rooms to divert their cats' attention.

Assess challenges to your cat's security. These may range from installation of a cat flap or the arrival of a new cat or baby to building work or even moving furniture in a favourite room. Avoid punishment, as cats aren't usually caught in the act and will therefore be confused about why you are angry, adding to the anxiety that causes the spraying in the first place. Restrict your cat's access to any building works, and decrease the size of your cat's territory by keeping certain rooms out of bounds. You can introduce the new territory by placing familiar items, food and toys in it.

Recent research has shown that the face glands of cat produce calming chemicals. Rubbing a cotton ball or gauze square on your cat's cheek or chin glands and then rubbing the scent onto sprayed areas may also decrease the anxiety behind the behaviour.

Castrating a male cat puts a stop to spraying in around 80% of cases - and usually the effect is immediate. In severe cases, talk to your vet about a behavioural counsellor or even drug therapy.