Cat lovers may encounter such pain – their beloved male Maine Coon (with testicles) unexpectedly violates the “resident agreement,” spraying urine here and there. The odor is not only extremely pungent, often with a deep yellow color, but the entire environment is filled with a strong urine smell. No matter how angry or reproachful you are, even if you scold or physically punish it, the cat doesn’t take it seriously. Instead, it continues to spray urine even more vigorously. Table legs, chair legs, walls, doors, and even your feet are not spared. Finally, you reach a breaking point, desperately seeking help but finding none. You end up spending your days immersed in the stench of urine. As time goes on, you become indifferent to the smell of urine…
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The Significance of Urine Spraying
Urination usually occurs in unneutered male Maine Coons. During urination, the cat assumes a standing position, with its tail held high and shaking, spraying a small amount of urine onto the surface of vertical objects such as table legs, chair legs, walls, etc.
Owners often fail to understand why their adorable Maine Coon, despite being provided with the best litter box and expensive cat litter, and receiving daily assistance in cleaning its toilet, still insists on urinating everywhere, often just a few drops or sprays.
In reality, cats are territorial creatures with a strong territorial awareness. They establish their territories and regularly patrol them to check for potential intruders. How do cats mark their territories? Cats have special glands on both sides of their necks that secrete specific scents. Each cat can distinguish its own scent from that of other cats, so cats often rub their necks against vertical objects such as sofas, table legs, chair legs, walls, doorframes, and even their owner’s legs. This action transfers their unique scent to these objects, serving as a confirmation and identification of their territory.
Their daily routine involves checking if their scent is still present, and if it’s weakened or masked by other scents, they use their necks to rub and reaffirm their scent.
When new people or objects enter the environment, bringing in new scents that disrupt the integrity of their territorial scent, cats feel uneasy. If they can’t confirm their territory by rubbing their necks, they resort to a strong measure—spraying a few drops of urine. Each cat’s urine has a distinct scent, serving as a confirmation marker for territorial boundaries. So, cats spray urine around to fill the entire environment with their scent, declaring the successful completion of their mission to reclaim lost territory. How satisfying!
Another scenario involves the psychological state of the cat. The cat finds solace in its own scent, so when a Maine Coon’s psyche is traumatized or distressed—perhaps due to being scolded by the owner, a failed hunting attempt, significant changes in the environment, neglect from the owner, competition with a new cat for affection, or catching the scent of a receptive female cat without the possibility of mating—it feels unsettled. In such situations, the Maine Coon seeks comfort for its wounded soul by marking its territory with urine, spraying here and there.
Identifying the Causes of Anxiety
Owners often say: Impossible! I treat it well! Nothing has changed! There can’t be any setbacks! Anxious? It seems perfectly fine! It gets along well with the new cat! It’s not because of the new cat that it’s urinating everywhere!
But honestly, to eliminate anxiety without confining the Maine Coon, resorting to medication, or resorting to neutering, owners need to carefully explore and consider whether new people or things have entered the cat’s territory. Has your attitude towards it or your way of interacting changed? Improving the root cause of anxiety is fundamental.
Here are several possible reasons for anxiety:
1. Sexual Impulses
In theory, spraying urine is the prerogative of male Maine Coons, especially those not neutered. When a female cat is in heat, her sexual pheromones can transmit several kilometers, so even if there’s no in-heat female cat at home, male cats may become restless, calling and anticipating the arrival of their “Juliet.” Can it happen? Of course not! You might consider finding it a “one-night stand,” but this will only make it more addicted, unable to stop. Neutering may be the best solution to resolve a male Maine Coon’s urine spraying.
2. New Intruders
New intruders can cause anxiety in Maine Coons, triggering inappropriate urination behavior. Many owners anthropomorphize Maine Coons, thinking they’ll be lonely at home and come up with excuses not to accompany them. To ease their guilt, they might suddenly decide to bring home another cat to keep the original one company.
I don’t know if this analogy is appropriate, but it’s akin to a busy husband fearing his beloved wife will be lonely at home, so he decides to marry another wife to accompany the first one – it sounds absurd, doesn’t it? However, this scenario happens frequently.
Cats have a strong territorial instinct. Asking them to share territory with another cat is a bit cruel, causing psychological trauma. Although they may not show displeasure or anxiety on the surface, their instincts may drive them to spray urine everywhere to repeatedly confirm their territory and find peace.
New intruders don’t just refer to other cats; new dogs, new family members, new roommates, new furniture, or new beddings and sheets may also cause anxiety in cats.
3. Punishment
Many Maine Coon owners, upon discovering their Maine Coon urinating inappropriately for the first time, may get angry and scold or even physically punish the cat. Some might even take the cat to the spot and reprimand or punish it directly.
In reality, such methods are not only ineffective but also make the cat more anxious, leading to more urination around the house to alleviate its inner turmoil. In such situations, owners should treat their Maine Coons better, interact more closely with them, and never resort to punishment. Otherwise, the cat’s urination issues may worsen. Remember to keep your anger in check – a momentary loss of patience can lead to long-term troubles!
Dealing with Urination Behavior: What to Do?
Short-Term Isolation
If the cause of anxiety cannot be identified, and you’re not considering removing the cat’s testicles, or even if the cause is known but cannot be addressed immediately (you can’t just kick out a recently wedded spouse or a newborn baby!), the simplest solution is to confine the Maine Coon in a cat cage.
While this approach may seem passive and unfair to the adorable cat, it serves as a temporary measure to calm the situation, especially when facing immediate complaints from family members. Afterward, release your Maine Coon and carefully observe its behavior. Utilize this time to reflect on potential sources of its anxiety.
Behavioral Therapeutics
There are several medications available to alleviate the anxiety in Maine Coons, akin to what humans might call “antidepressants” or “psychotropic medications.” Under the guidance of a veterinarian, these medications can be administered to the cat for a few months, followed by a gradual discontinuation. Observe whether the cat continues to engage in urine spraying after discontinuing the medication.
To Sum It Up
In conclusion, addressing Maine Coon urination issues requires a thoughtful approach, considering the cat’s territorial instincts and potential sources of anxiety. Short-term isolation and behavioral therapeutics can be effective solutions, but understanding the root causes, such as sexual impulses, new intruders, or past punishment, is essential for long-term success. By taking a compassionate and patient approach, cat owners can create a harmonious environment, ensuring their beloved Maine Coons lead happy and stress-free lives.
