Spraying is usually a small amount of urine deposited while the cat stands with a raised, often quivering tail; toileting is more often a squat and a larger puddle on a horizontal surface. Both justify a calm response and veterinary advice.
Observe posture and location
Cats Protection describes spraying as scent marking commonly directed at vertical surfaces. Note whether the cat backed up to a wall or squatted, the amount, and where it happened. Do not rely on smell alone.
Rule out a health problem
Urinary discomfort can alter litter-tray behaviour. Contact a vet, especially if a cat strains, passes tiny amounts repeatedly, cries, licks the area, has blood in urine or cannot urinate. Inability to pass urine is an emergency.
Do not punish the cat
Shouting, rubbing a nose in the area or spraying water can increase fear and does not address the cause. Clean with a cat-safe product, protect the site temporarily and review household changes, outdoor-cat sightings and access to resources.
Improve choice and privacy
Provide enough trays in quiet, accessible places and separate key resources in multi-cat homes. A retreat such as the Koda Pod may add choice, but no bed or product is a treatment for spraying.
Sources and further reading
Guidance checked 13 September 2026.
