A pet is a great joy for the owner. The cat gives so much love and warmth, waits every day after work, purrs songs for the night ... At the same time, caring for him is quite simple. But all this is only until the pet begins to mark the territory. Of course, this is more true for males. Here everyone understands that his patience will soon end. An urgent need to look for a way to wean a cat to mark territory.
We think in the language of a cat
Of course, emotions overwhelm you. What does this furry creature think to himself? But first of all, you need to figure out why this happened. To understand how to wean a cat to mark anywhere, you need the most reliable and proven way - is to "talk" with an animal in his language, tempering leadership ambitions. Today we’ll try to figure out how to do this.
First punishments and thoughts
If puddles have become regular, it means that something has already changed. And since it is customary to wean a cat to tag using punishment, the first thing the owner takes in his hands is slippers. But this does not always help. If the animal endures the punishment and continues to crap, you need to look for reasons. This is the only way to outline solutions to the problem.
Go to the veterinarian
We are not talking about a kitten who has not yet mastered the skill of walking in a tray. That is, the pet was neat and well-mannered, and suddenly at one moment everything changed. How to wean a cat to tag, if he has not been three months old and used to use the “five plus” tray?
Veterinarians say that you must first examine the animal. If it hurts your pet to go to the toilet, the animal’s urogenital system may not be OK. In this case, an attempt to go to the toilet leads to pain, and the animal changes places in order to avoid torment.
The specialist will conduct an examination and take tests. Then he will be able to accurately say whether an inflammatory process is taking place. If there is one, a correctional course will be assigned. If health problems are not identified, then it is necessary to apply educational measures.
Tray arrangement
Since it is very difficult to wean a cat to mark territory, it is easier to prevent such a development of the event. The proper arrangement of a cat's toilet in the process of teaching a pet to cope where it is needed, and not where you want, plays a crucial role. Cats are clean, fastidious and moody animals. Therefore, the tray must be selected correctly, and after installation it is impossible to change its place.
If you recently replaced the cat's toilet or simply moved it to another place, this may well be associated with a violation of behavior. Before talking about how to wean a cat to mark territory, it is important to analyze the following points:
- If a new tray was purchased, it may not meet the needs of the animal. Watch your pet. If he tries to get settled, but then leaves, then it is worth picking up something else. Experiment with a cardboard box, and then pick up the tray according to the specified parameters. Perhaps the product smells bad (low-quality plastic) - be sure to replace the accessory. Cats have a very developed sense of smell.
- Type of filler. It’s best to take one with which the pet is already familiar. Sometimes they flatly refuse to use specific species.
- Maybe the pet wants to find a more secluded place - cats are very shy and will not relieve themselves in public.
- If you have not removed the tray for a long time, then do not be surprised that the cat will refuse to go into it.
Thus, it is necessary to focus on the taste and preference of your pet. Observe it, adjust the location of the tray, look at the results.
In order not to fix bad behavior
This is a very common problem. The cat made a puddle in the wrong place, the owner scolded him and wiped it. But the smell remained. Next time, the animal will confidently go back to the same place. Therefore, the smell must be carefully removed. There are industrial facilities that are designed to destroy and destroy urine. But there are home remedies that work just as well.
Since it will be much more difficult to wean a cat to mark territory in a house, now you need to pay maximum attention to this. Use hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice, baking soda. All three of these products, used one after another, completely neutralize the smell.
Making a new place unattractive
For some reason, the pet decided that it was here that he should declare his rights to the territory. He needs to be convinced of this. How to wean a cat to mark territory in the house? You need to make the smell in this place alien and frightening. For this, orange peels or citrus essential oils are used. Try sprinkling freshly ground pepper. Pungent odors for a cat's sensitive sense of smell are akin to a blow to the head. But do not use vinegar - it echoes the smell of urine and can attract pets for new tricks.
Velcro for paws
If nothing helps and the pet continues to go to the same place over and over again, but not to the tray, then you can try such a tool. To wean a cat to mark corners and sofas will help ordinary double-sided tape. Stick wide strips to the floor. It will be unpleasant for a pet to step on a sticky surface with gentle paws, and he will forget about this place.
Some owners go even further. They paste over the cat’s favorite places with tape and sprinkle the surface with pepper. It turns out a trap, a visit to which will cost your pet dearly. He will sneeze and cough for a long time. And will never go into such a disgusting place again. Whether to resort to such radical measures is up to you.
Toilet and food
And we continue to consider folk remedies. How to wean a cat to mark territory? The task is not easy. If the cat has become accustomed to one place, then then this habit will have to be eradicated with great temporary losses. But animal instincts will help.
Cats are very neat creatures. They will never spoil where they eat. You can play on it. If the pet has a habit of walking in one place, transfer his bowl of food there. Perhaps this will help solve the problem. Of course, the cat can choose another place, and again you have to solve the previous problem.
You can continue to operate with instincts. Where its smell is present, the animal will not leave marks. You can use a cloth that will cover its litter for a while. That is, the animal was sleeping on it. Carefully rub the floor and walls with it in those places where the animal pushes marks.
Leaving on a business trip
Often the question of how to wean a cat to tag in the house, people are interested in busy. They may be away from home for several days. Of course, dry food and water can be left with a margin. But the resources of the filler for the toilet are not eternal. Therefore, in order not to find puddles throughout the room upon return, put a second tray next to it. When the first becomes too dirty, the pet can use the second. Behavioral problems can be easily eliminated by applying an integrated approach to education and taking into account the tricks listed to scare the animal away from undesirable places and accustom to the tray. The main thing - be patient. Your pet needs to understand that, no matter what, the owner loves it.
If the male claims leadership
This often happens with young, young cats. The best way to wean a cat to mark territory is to demonstrate his strong position. Moreover, this must be done clearly and clearly from the point of view of the animal itself.
- Seize the moment when the pet has already done the wet thing.
- Catch the cat by the scruff and raise to eye level. With your other hand, support under the breast so as not to cause severe pain.
- Look him in the eye and begin to hiss, then a couple of times do not hit your face too hard with your fingers. This is a direct analogue of a street fight with a stronger cat. As soon as the animal begins to meow plaintively, you can let it go.
You have proven that you have all the rights of a leader and do not tolerate competitors. It is worth a couple of times to teach such a lesson, and the animal will forever forget about puddles past the tray.
Now you know how to wean a cat to mark in the apartment. Wash and sanitize the area where the mark was left. Then put on it your T-shirt, the last time you were in the gym. Now it’s finally clear who is the main “male” in the house.
Sexual hunt
This is a very important issue. If you have an adult animal, then sooner or later you will encounter such a situation. How to wean cats mark doors, curtains and other vertical objects? Let's first deal with the causes of this phenomenon.
The male cat is trying to attract a female and make it clear to competitors that there is a master. That is why he sprays urine on vertical surfaces. What is the result? To clean the apartment and remove this smell is almost impossible. It remains only to monitor the pet and process the marked areas with lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate. But in order to avoid a recurrence of this situation, more drastic measures must be taken. Moreover, if the cat lives with you, then it is advisable to think about it even before puberty.
Castration
Of course, the biological need of animals can be understood. But putting up with it is very difficult. Therefore, action must be taken. If you have a cat, you can arrange a meeting with the cat. But this method is only good if the animal is thoroughbred, promising, and the offspring will go hand in hand. By allowing a purebred cat to become pregnant, you doom miserable kittens to vagrancy and starvation. Of course, if you are not going to leave the whole brood to yourself.
This method is completely unsuitable for cats. They need a female constantly, and not once a year. Therefore, after mating, he will still continue to tag in the apartment. Therefore, it is proposed that sterilization be performed so that sexual hunting more occurs. At first glance, this is violence against animals. But in an apartment, if you do not plan to be a breeder of thoroughbred kittens, this becomes the best solution. Or don’t have any pets at all.
Does castration save puddles
This question is often asked by veterinarians. People come to consult and learn how to wean a cat to mark territory in an apartment, and, as a rule, they are advised to castrate the animal. Is this a 100% solution to the problem? Unfortunately not. The fact is that if a kitten is sterilized before puberty, then most likely the owner will never have problems with tags. The kitten will grow more flexible, calm and domestic.
The opposite is the situation when the cat already in full demands the female and marks the walls. If you take him to the veterinarian now, he will continue to perform these actions out of habit. Perhaps in time this habit will quit. But there are no guarantees.
We increase the attractiveness of the tray
In parallel with the task of scaring cats away from those places that they have chosen for bowel movements, it is necessary to let them know where it is possible and necessary to cope with the need. Of course, this place should be the tray. To achieve this, try the next method. Once you find the fetid puddle, blot it with a cotton swab, which you put in the tray. Now it will focus on its smell.
Be sure to encourage your pet to visit the tray. Having noticed this behavior, be sure to praise it, stroke and give a treat. Gradually, a new skill will be consolidated.
Instead of a conclusion
Remember that you are responsible for those you have tamed. Often, cats find themselves outside the stinking puddles on the street. But this is not their fault, the reason for everything is blind instincts. And sometimes inattention or laziness of the owner. Your task as a rational person is to teach him new behavior and prevent a recurrence of the problem. It is not that difficult. All you need is your attention, patience and love for your pet. Systematic actions will cope with such a problem. However, they do not require the use of expensive drugs or time-consuming. The only cardinal measure is castration. But the operation is best done at a young age. If the pet has always been neat and suddenly started tagging in the apartment, a veterinarian consultation is required. Perhaps the cause was cystitis or another disease.