噴尿是一種標記行為，通常和焦慮有關。可能帶有領域，性，或是競爭的含義。在多貓家庭中，則有著明喻或暗喻的攻擊意味。約有10%的絕育公貓，及5%的絕育母貓會噴尿，而多貓家庭（10隻以上）則由100%的機率至少有一隻貓會出現噴尿行為。

 

噴尿的貓大多成站姿，也有可能為蹲姿，尿量少，並且多在直立的牆面上，當然有少數會在水平面上，噴尿後鮮少會有抓蓋的行為。

 

造成噴尿的前置因子包括許多泌尿道的問題（腎結石，腎衰竭，膀胱炎），及病毒性疾病如貓免疫缺陷病毒（FIV/俗稱貓愛滋），貓白血病（FeLV），甚至是肛門腺的問題造成不適。門診中約有30%的貓會因為生理問題產生噴尿行為。

 

另外，噴尿行為不乏源自領域衝突，競爭交手，或其他造成激動情緒的環境情況，如在室內或室外看見，聽見，或聞到陌生貓。分離焦慮，作息改變（新家，新成員）也都可以造成貓咪緊迫，而衍生噴尿行為。

 

Spraying is a marking behavior, often associated with anxiety. It may be territorial, sexual, or agonistic. In multi cat households it is associated with overt or covert aggression.

 

It is estimated that 10% of castrated males and 5% of spayed females spray. Spraying appears to be more common in multi-cat households with a 100% chance of at least one cat spraying in a household with more than 10 cats. 

 

Cats that spray usually stand, but may squad, usually produce a small quantity of urine, frequently use vertical surfaces but may use horizontal surfaces and rarely scratch afterwards.

 

Predisposing factors include medical conditions ranging from those associated with the urogenital system such as renal calculi, renal failure, cystitis, viral diseases such as FIV and FeLV to impacted anal glands. It is reported that up to 30% of cats that present for spraying may have a concurrent medical condition.

 

Territorial, agonistic encounters or any highly arousing circumstances such as environmental stimuli (e.g. the sight, sound and/or smell of another cat, within the household as well as outside) may be associated with spraying.

 

Anxiety related problems including separation anxiety, changes in routine for example moving house, the introduction of a new spouse, new baby or new cat in the area have also be implicated.