Whether it’s furniture scratching, toileting in inappropriate places, or nonstop howling, living with feline behaviour problems can be a challenging experience. Coping with these issues day in, day out can take over our lives and can even affect our mental health and wellbeing. So, often out of desperation, cat carers go in search of a quick fix—and water sprays appear to offer just that.
Does Spraying Water on Cats Work?
Initially, using a water spray as a deterrent for cats does seem to work. A quick spray usually startles them, stopping the problem in its tracks as they flee from the water.
But how does this influence your cat’s behaviour long term?
The theory behind the use of water sprays for permanent behaviour change seems logical—a behaviour followed by an unpleasant consequence i.e., the spray of water, will be less likely to happen again in future. However, this over simplified explanation fails to account for the complexity of why these behaviours take place. Rarely does the use of a water spray for cats completely resolve a problem and there are almost always unforeseen consequences that can be even worse.
Why You Should Avoid Using Water Spray Deterrents for Cats
For starters, clever kitties quickly learn who’s in control of the water spray and become skilled at saving their behaviour for when no one’s around. The sofa mysteriously still takes a hit from claws or pee, or they may save their howling for night-time when the bottle is out of reach. This elusiveness makes it even more difficult to permanently stop the problem.
The Impact on the Human Cat Relationship
And because cats can make the association between the spray and the person, a huge consequence of using water spray for cats is a breakdown in your relationship together.
Cats can quickly become fearful of being near you, even when the water bottle is nowhere to be seen. They can become very avoidant, hiding more, showing less affection, and being less sociable. They may also respond aggressively because the feeling of being sprayed induces negative emotions. They may swipe, grab, or bite, as well as hiss and growl. This can happen when they’ve been sprayed or when they are expecting it, so they can become aggressive generally throughout the day or night.
It is here you can see why using a spray bottle risks doing much more harm than good for both you and your cat. Your unpredictable behaviour (sometimes loving, other times punishing) will pile on the stress, potentially snowballing into a huge problem. Cats need consistency and stability to keep their confidence up and show more appropriate behaviour.
Can You Change a Cat’s Behaviour?
The key to effective, long-term behaviour change in cats is understanding why the behaviour started in the first place. Just reacting to the problem with a punishment without giving this due consideration can have significant welfare implications.
For example, most (if not all) behaviour problems can be directly caused or certainly exacerbated by underlying medical issues. Without veterinary intervention, these medical issues will go undetected. What’s more, using aversive methods to control behaviour in these circumstances can make these problems worse.
Is Your Cat Stressed?
The role of stress is important here too. Stress can have a serious impact on a cat’s physical and emotional health and can directly lead to behaviour problems, including the one trying to be resolved.
Water sprays for cats only continue to increase stress levels, the degree of which depends on the intensity of the spray, the temperament of your cat, and their emotional state. Some cats will be affected a lot more than others with this form of punishment. Add this additional source of stress to an already stressful situation risks making the original problem worse, and secondary behaviour problems can develop too.
How to Address Your Cat’s Behaviour
Successful behaviour change relies on understanding what your cat needs and working with them to get those needs met. This can mean identifying a specific source of stress, such as a cat outside the home or something they are fearful of indoors and taking steps to reduce or remove it.
It can also mean looking to reduce the overall stress levels in the household. FELIWAY Optimum can be a big help here. FELIWAY Optimum emits a synthetic pheromone that enhances feelings of happiness and harmony. This can help reduce those unwanted behaviours without harming the trust between you and your cat.
Sometimes, figuring out exactly what a cat needs to stop the problem behaviour is easier said than done. A suitably qualified behaviourist can be a great help in these situations. In all cases, you and your cat are on the same side and taking the time to work out what they need will be worth it when the problem permanently resolves, and your relationship remains as strong as ever.
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