Of all the "cat problems" we get emails about, spraying is the number one topic among concerned pet owners. And it should be. Spraying can be more than just a behavior problem, it can signify that a cat has serious health problems. About 50% of the animals that we hear about, which have been taken into a veterinarian for a full exam after spraying, have been diagnosed with an infection of some kind.
So, what happens when we have more than one cat and we don't know who is doing what? Cats are sneaky - we can't keep them under our watchful eye 24 hrs a day! This is when this week's product comes into play.
The Spray Alert system is incredibly useful for any of us with two or more cats. Anything under 2 cats and we can use the logic to determine who the culprit is, but anything more than two requires assistance.
That's where the Spray Alert comes into play. Now, if you'll remember, we have 18 cats in our home. Well, 17 now that we recently lost Baby... That's a lot of cats. And if there is a problem with spraying, we want to know who's doing what. They could have a physical issue that is causing them to do this, it could be emotional (our cats are all sensitive, you know), they could have crystals and be in pain, they may have kidney problems or some other issue that needs immediate veterinary care. Or they could just have behavior issues that we need to work on. Whatever the reason, I can't determine who is doing what without this handy gadget.
The great thing about this little monitor is that it can be moved anywhere, and it's very unnoticable. The picture above doesn't really do it justice. It's very small, about 6 inches long, and is as flat as a piece of paper. The little piece of plastic paper, which is the monitor, goes where you are finding "sprayed" areas in the house. Generally this is the door, but it could be a wall, piece of furniture or the floor. The "plastic strip" has a sensor inside that detects moisture and is easy to both put up and remove.
Now, the monitor can be placed, set or mounted anywhere near the strip. Each monitor comes with a battery and can handle two "plastic strips" plugged into each side, which makes it super easy to maintain. The cord itself is long, allowing you to plug the strip into the unit. The monitor has two lights on it, red and green, and when moisture is detected on the strips, it sounds immediately and sets the light to red. This allows me to run in and see who is doing what, and it also scares the cats away from the area, training them to avoid it.
The alarm sounds for 30 seconds, and the light turns red. The alarm will reset itself, but the light will remain red until you reset it. That way, if you aren't around to hear the alarm, you can clean the area as soon as you come in.
All you need is a place where the cat sprays and an outlet. Apply one of the two strips to the area your cat tends to favor, plug in the unit and you're ready to roll. When the cat(s) spray the area, an alarm will sound and you will be able to determine which of your cats is the guilty party. At that point, you can employ one of several other products to stop the cat from spraying. I recommend Ssscat for making sure they leave the area alone, and UrineOff to quickly clean the surface.
Now, I know most of you are thinking you don't need this product, but I'm telling you - if you have more than one cat, you do. Cats will occasionally spray over another cat's scent, and you could very well be punishing the wrong cat (the one you caught in the act of investigating, not spraying) and not treating the original troublemaker. This could end up a tragic ending if the spraying cat is doing so because he or she has a urinary blockage. The alarm also acts as a deterrent to spraying. Once it goes off, you most cats will startle and "turn tail". This helps deter them from returning and rather than acting as a "punishment", which cats DO NOT respond too, it becomes more of an "Act of God" and they will quickly associate spraying with negative behavior.
So - what do you do when you see your cat spray or determine who the "sprayer" is? I like to follow these steps:
1.Clean the area with a uretic crystal dissolver or other cleaner. I prefer Urine-Off. 2.Take the cat in for a physical exam at your veterinarian and describe the problem. He/she will know what to check for and how to best treat. 3. When physical problems have been ruled out, you can treat the behavioral problem. This is also an excellent contraption to monitor how well your treatment is working.
DO NOT PUNISH the cat for spraying - this can result in even worse behavior. Instead, follow these suggestions:
a) Purchase Feliway and spray that area with this pherenome based calming agent. It will help the cat "calm down" and stop spraying. b) Purchase Feliway Diffuser. This will help slow down territorial based spraying by keeping all of the cats a little calmer. c) Incorporate "Rescue Remedy" in their water. This will also help keep the cats calmer. (Remember if you have a pet fountain to remove filters when adding Rescue Remedy to water).
The only issue we had with this product is not having the entire house wired. That would be helpful - it has nice stripes that could possibly be incorporated into a wallpaper of sorts. Maybe. But, then, I'm not sure we're at that point yet. By targeting certain areas that had a history of "spray activity", we were able to stop our cats from returning to the area, and were also able to save the area from the damage of "spray" sitting there for too long, rotting whatever it is sitting on. It works incredibly well, is moisture activated and if you have a human kid who likes to test his boundaries, it will work well with them also! Check this product out if you have a problem with spraying - we know you'll appreciate it!
________________________From the Cats
Hisses & Spits:(Silence from the cats as they await the next alarm.)
Purrs: We used to be able to what we want... not so much anymore...
______________________From the Humans Two opposable thumbs up! If you have more than one cat, you need this product. Find out who's doing what in you're home, and why they might be doing it!
Drawback? Any moisture can set it off, so don't be "alarmed" if the product sounds off while you're mopping or if you put it into a moisutre area, such as the bathroom. It won't hurt the unit, but you do want to be sure what caused the alarm!
About the author: Stacy Mantle is a freelance writer who currently resides in the southwestern deserts of Arizona with a number of cats, a coyote/wolf hybrid, and a very understanding husband. Her writing has appeared in publications such as The Arabian Horse Times, Today’s AZ Woman, and Pets Illustrated and she currently writes two pet product review columns for www.PetsWeekly.com. Many of her stories and articles have been translated into several languages, and now reach an international audience. Quickly becoming known as "…the Erma Bombeck of animals", her writing has skyrocketed to new heights as she records the stories of those she loves, inspiring the reader to learn why we have all come to love the animals we share our lives with. She is the author of Conquering the Food Chain: Living Amongst Animals (Without Becoming One), which is available in Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide, as well as online at www.bn.com or www.amazon.com.
