It's All Mine! Cat Marking, Explained

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Behavior Basics

By Elizabeth Wasserman

Certified cat behavioral consultant Marilyn Krieger recently received a flustered phone call from a couple in Redwood City, Calif: One of the couple’s two cats had started spraying urine around the perimeter doors and windows of their home. The two cats had always lived together peacefully. The owners were wondering what was provoking the male to mark its territory in such a smelly manner.

After visiting the family, Krieger learned that the couple had recently started feeding stray feral cats right outside their home. They said the male cat would get very upset when the feral cats arrived. He could see them out the window. “Cats spray for a variety of reasons,” Krieger says. “In this case, it could be a way of telling the world and the other outside cats, ‘Hey, I’m here. Stay out. This is where I live. You don’t belong here.’”

Cats use a variety of methods to mark people, things and territory with their scent. Spraying and scratching are two such scent-marking ways that are the most difficult for pet owners to tolerate. In contrast, other feline marking behaviors are endearing. For example, cats engage in head-“bunting” -- butting a person with the head -- or rubbing up against someone’s hand with their cheeks to release scents that mark you as their loved ones.

Glands and Plans
Cats have glands on certain parts of the body that explain many of these marking behaviors. These glands can secrete a subtle scent emanating from chemicals that scientists call pheromones. Pheromones are essential to cat communication. They allow felines to attract mates, define territories, promote a sense of comfort and let other cats know who and where they are. “It’s like leaving a calling card,” says Pamela Johnson-Bennett, a certified animal behavior consultant (CABC).

Cats secrete the pheromones from glands located in a variety of locations on their bodies. Here’s a guide to the locations and how those explain certain cat behaviors:

Forehead and cheeks The scent glands located on the forehead and cheeks are often used to promote calming behaviors that we see as very loving and friendly. Such behaviors may include head-bunting and cheek-rubbing.

Paw bottoms When your cat scratches, be it on the arm of a sofa or on a scratching post, it is not only leaving a physical mark, but also an olfactory one. “They’re not scratching only to give themselves a manicure,” says Krieger. “They are marking as well.”

In the urine stream Cat urine contains pheromones too. Urine spraying by cats should not be confused with urination. Spraying is done on walls, windows, furniture and other objects. After a cat sniffs the target, it turns around, lifts its tail, and sprays urine at the target.

Why They Do It
Different types of marking behaviors are often prompted by very different motivations on the part of our furry friends. Johnson-Bennett, also author of the book Starting from Scratch (Penguin 2007), has a general rule of thumb: the markings from the front of the cat are most often “friendly” behaviors, while the scent markings coming from the rear are often “unfriendly.” Here is what your cat may be trying to communicate:

Marking you -- or another pet -- as “Mine!” When cats head-bunt or rub cheeks on humans, it is often to mark you as their own. They will also mark a fellow feline this way. “Pheromone is a scent chemical, but it also helps cats with bonding behavior,” Johnson-Bennett says. “If two cats know each other and are friendly, they will engage in scent exchange. It helps the colony to have one familiar scent.”

Communicate that they live there Scratching is a natural feline impulse and activity. Cats do this whether they are indoors or outdoors. They pick a few different objects to scratch -- trees, chair legs, scratching posts -- and return often. It is one method of communicating that they live there. Scratching in a new location may be prompted by change, including a move or the purchase of new furniture. Cats are comforted when surrounded by their own scent in a room, such as on a couch or on the carpet.

Telling others to “Keep out!” Spraying is often used to mark territory or to communicate boundaries. It may often be prompted indoors by a change in environment, such as moving to a new home, buying new furnishings and remodeling. Or it may be a reaction to a new member of the household, be it a baby, a new husband or a new pet. Cat urine, which can be quite pungent, may be directed at draperies, walls, furnishings and more.

Keep a Positive Spin on Marking
Since marking is a natural feline behavior, remember that you can take steps to keep your pet’s instincts positive. Here are five tips from cat behaviorists on how to channel your cat’s marking:

Rub your cat’s cheeks and head. This has a very calming and reassuring effect on your cat, Johnson-Bennett says

Rub those “friendly” glands on the head and cheeks with a dry wash cloth and spread the scent on new furnishings. This could help to deter scratching behavior, according to Johnson-Bennett

Offer your pet places to scratch, such as stable vertical scratching posts and horizontal posts as well. Never buy these used because they may carry the markings of another cat and prompt your pet to spray, Krieger says

Prepare your pet for change. If a new baby is expected, invite someone over with an infant to accustom your cat to the noise, scent and presence of a baby

If your cat has sprayed in certain areas, wash those with an enzyme-based cleaner that removes the odor, Krieger suggests. Even if you address the underlying cause that prompted the spraying, your cat may return to spray in an area if it still detects its own scent

Krieger, whose business is called The Cat Coach, recommended to her clients that they not only clean, but that they also address the root cause of their male cat’s spraying. She advised them to block the windows and feed the feral cats away from their home. She advises, “You have to make sure you remove the trigger.”

About The Author

Elizabeth Wasserman , a Washington, D.C. area-based freelancer, has been writing about pets, among other topics, for more than 15 years. Her love of dogs, in particular, was handed down through the generations from her great-grandfather, Eric Knight, who wrote the book Lassie Come Home in the 1930s.

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20 Reader Comments | Add a comment

marking

That's great to know about the scratching. I have also noticed that they have almost stopped scratching the furniture since we moved into our house. They are much happier with more space to run!!

Posted by Stephanie on 04/30/08 at 04:28pm EST

PetHour

Have you seent this? Online podcasts of Pets Radio on Iams' PetHour online.

Posted by adrian on 05/02/08 at 05:39pm EST

Cat love:)

Your article has great information. We were wondering why our male cat continued to headbutt and/or force your attention to him, and now we know. Could you explain why maybe he will come up and paw at you. (My mom calls it making muffins.) He will literally lay on you and knead his paws into you repeatively. Any suggestions?

Posted by Barbara on 05/09/08 at 06:48am EST

Scatching

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF MY CAT SMOKE IS MARKING ME OR JUST BEING CATTY WHEN HE WALKS UP TO ME AND BEGINS TO PAW AND SCRATCH ON ME AS IF I WERE A SCRATCHING POST. HE PUTS HOLES IN MY CLOTHING AND SOMETIMES MY LEGS

Posted by Sherita on 05/15/08 at 11:12pm EST

Answer to Cat Love

Cat kneading is an expression of extreme feelings of well-being. Kittens knead around their mother's nipple to stimulate the flow of milk, and for the rest of their lives that kneading behavior is linked to profound feelings of pleasure.

Posted by Karen on 05/20/08 at 04:14am EST

Cat spraying

The article is great. I have a male cat who was 7 yrs. old and indoors that started spraying everything. The cause I believe was that he would get very aggitated when another male cat would spray outside the building which he would see from the window. I cleaned everything with an enzyme cleaner, placed pheromone difussers in the house and eventually my vet decided we could try prozac. This has calmed his behaviors down and back to normal. When the spraying began he would pace and cry all day. Now he sleeps and plays like a normal cat and the spraying has ceased.

Posted by Cid on 05/23/08 at 04:55pm EST

stray male cats spraying patio

is there a natural method of keeping a male cat from spraying on my patio? he also tries to attack my spayed female thru the WINDOW!

Posted by bb503121 on 05/26/08 at 08:44pm EST

Children

A friend from work has a cat was caught by the husban inside the babys crib and was laying on the child. He threw the cat out of the house and his wife is fighting to get the cat back in the house. He told his wife that the cat was trying to smother there child. Was he right to do so?

Posted by Armand Lambert on 05/30/08 at 06:40pm EST

Marking my clothing

My Simba started marking my clothing when he was about 4 or 5 what should I do? Its terrible. He was nutered. Why does he do this?

Posted by Jackie on 05/30/08 at 11:33pm EST

Cat urinating on partner

One of my cats recently starting urinating on my partner during sleep. It is a multi-cat household, but this is new behavior. I am never peed on, but she is. Recently, she has had health issues like seizures and blackouts. I'm wondering if the cat is picking up on this and that is why she is being urinated on. Any help would be appreciated.

Posted by chameleon on 06/04/08 at 01:09pm EST

cat behavior

We have two indoor male cats (brothers). They have always gotten along, but the other day one of them got outside. It was a struggle to capture him and get him back inside. He is fine, but the other one seems afraid of him and spends most of his time hiding under the sofa. What could cause this new behavior?

Posted by Joanne Taylor on 06/04/08 at 07:59pm EST

kitten biting furniture and doors

I have one year old kitten- tabby- who is biting the leather sofa and edge of wood doors and rips up newspaper. she has plenty of toys and things to chew on. I have covered the edge of sofa with foil for now.

Posted by betty on 06/05/08 at 12:42pm EST

marking

Jack was a tiny rescued kitten when I adopted him. I adopted a calico 4 months later. Never a problem with them.Jack immediately knew how to use the litter box.My daughter helped raise him and when she passed away Nov,2007 Jack started marking.There was a lot of in & out of the house, furniture being moved, litter boxes moving around. I was bringing things from my daughters house that smelled like her and her cat Sophie. After 2 months I called the vet and at 4 months I took him in. He had a litle blood in the urine & had an antibiotic shot.I was told the once a cat starts to mark (urine)They don't stop. Last week Jack had one day that he didn't mark and 2 days this week so I'm hopeful. He is very affectionate to me, I belong to him, not he belongs to me. I have been spraying "Urine Off" and something from the Vet, But I really believe he will stop in time.

Posted by Rene Turner on 06/14/08 at 02:50pm EST

Pooping outside litter box

My cat Addy, has started pooping outside her litter box. She pees in the litter box, but will poop outside it. I have had her checked out by the vet, and nothing is wrong health wise. Sometimes she will go four days without pooping outside the litter box, and then she will start up again. Is she stressed? Does she has litter box issues? I simply do not understand, and I have done everything my vet told me to do, but it has not worked. HELP WANTED. Addy is very, very, very loved and paid attention to. Her sister, Princess, has no litter box issues whatsoever.

Posted by Anne Wells on 06/26/08 at 05:26pm EST

Children

Please tell your friend that the cat was NOT trying to smother his child! Cats like to sleep with someone who is warm, and will cuddle up to a baby or small child in this fashion, When the baby is small, it's wise to put a mesh cover over the crib to keep the cat out until the child is big enough to safely sleep with the cat. It was very cruel to throw the cat out of the house! The cat will most certainly die!

Posted by Judy Rathke on 06/28/08 at 09:31pm EST

cat

my cat has begun to knead his paws on our legs and feet at night. he is 5 years old and has never done this. he has been doing it only for 2 weeks need advice.

Posted by debbie on 06/29/08 at 10:16am EST

Cat urination during human pregnancy

As soon as my daughter-in-law became pregnant, her 5 yr. old female cat began to urinate outside of her litterbox! Her veteranarian told her that sometimes cats "smell" the odor of the woman's pregnancy and can't put a face to the smell. She is ready to give her away, and although she already has a 4 yr. old boy, I hate to think of his pet going away. Can anyone help thwe grandmother protect this pet? Is their anything more they can do. They have used the"feremone" treatment from the Dr....to no avail! I would like to take her, but, I am afraid she would do the same at my home, as I have 3 cats myself! HELP PLEASE!

Posted by Sharon Rybak on 06/29/08 at 11:49am EST

Male Tabby

We have a female tabby and male tabby. They are indoor cats mostly due to our neighbors threats. I have noticed my male tabby follows me throughout the house. Both cats have been fixed. They are about 3 yrs. old. It is quite irritating. I find myself racing to a bedroom to hurry and close the door before our male cat enters. I figure he must be stressed being indoors all the time. Does he need catnip or something stronger to help him calm down? Our female cat is happy to do her own thing. I must say I am complimented but I also feel harrassed, chuckle. Help?

Posted by Judy on 06/30/08 at 09:13pm EST

my cat Tank

I have never had a cat before. my daughter bought me one for motherdays i love him so much he is the best cat and so funny. one thing he does he will go eat a cardboard box I have by a door. he will leave my lap and just jump down and go bite on the box it is so funny but why? does he do this he does not need to eat. that is why i call him tank he is 20lb. do you know why they do these things. thank you. jeneen

Posted by jeneen alix on 07/01/08 at 02:44am EST

urinating on certain rugs

My cat is 2 years old and I just got her about 4 months ago and just recently she has started urinating on certain rugs just in the kitchen! Never any where else just there.I had a cat for 18 years and she passed away and I think I had got these new rugs just before she passed away! Is that the problem..should I buy need rugs? The ones I have are kinda expensive I dont want to buy some new ones and she do the same thing! What should I do and why is she doing this? Help!!

Posted by Tami Daley on 07/01/08 at 06:34am EST