This is a YouTube video titled "¿Cómo MARCAN los GATOS? 🐱🐾 (Evita el Marcaje de tu GATO ✅)" created on May 6, 2022, that explains the three main types of marking behavior in cats—urine marking, foot marking, and facial marking. The video provides detailed information on why cats mark, the biological and behavioral reasons behind it, and practical advice on how to manage or reduce marking behaviors, including sterilization, environmental enrichment, and veterinary consultation. The content is educational and aimed at cat owners or enthusiasts seeking to understand feline marking behavior better.
In this video by an animal expert, we explain the three main types of marking in cats and what to do in these cases. First, urine Marking. Urine contains a great deal of olfactory information in the form of pheromones that cats detect and process through a special structure called the nasal pheromones. This organ, located on the palate behind the upper incisors, allows felines to detect, among other things, the sexual or health status of other animals. When a cat marks with urine, it raises its tail until it is completely erect and moves it rapidly while releasing small droplets of urine in the form of a spray onto a vertical object. This behavior is carried out by both males and females, which is why female cats also mark territory with urine. Second, foot marking. Anyone who is or has been a cat guardian will know that these animals tend to scratch certain elements of the home, such as sofas, chairs, or trees in the garden. Scratching certain surfaces is a natural and necessary behavior in cats and responds to a type of marking called foot marking. Through this behavior, the feline leaves a signal that is both visual and olfactory, since its paws also contain glands that release pheromones. 3. Facial marking finally, we find facial marking, which is what cats do when they rub their face against certain objects, animals, or people. Felines usually perform this type of marking when they feel calm and comfortable in a space or with an individual, and in doing so, they leave a chemical mark on the surface in question. So if your cat rubs its face against yours, it is leaving that signal on you because it feels safe and comfortable with you. In the video on the card, we talk in more detail about why your cat rubs its face against yours. What to do when a Cat Marks Although it can be very unpleasant for our cat to spray urine inside the house or scratch the furniture, marking is a completely natural behavior in felines, so much so that they do it even when they do not live with other cats or when there is no possibility of other animals invading their territory. For this reason, it is ineffective and in some cases, even counterproductive to punish them for it. However, this does not mean that there are no ways to reduce the frequency with which the feline carries out these behaviors, and depending on the type of marking and its purpose, some will be more effective than others. Let's look at the possible solutions. First, sterilization. The truth is that the removal of the sexual organs is a very effective solution in the case of marking for reproductive purposes. By eliminating the main source of sex hormones, urine marking is significantly reduced, as are other problems associated with the sexual instinct. For example, unwanted litters or the urge of cats to leave home to find a mate, which can lead to accidents or fights. However, castration can also have certain drawbacks, especially if carried out at a very early age, so it is always advisable to discuss it with a veterinarian or feline ethologist. Find out more about castration in cats in the video on the card. 2. Synthetic pheromones and an enriched environment on the other hand, marking that occurs as a result of stress is not eliminated by castration but by providing the cat with an enriched, calm and stable environment where it can feel safe. To create this space, we can, for example, use calming feline pheromones, place enough towers and scratching posts for the animal to scratch and climb on, or use boxes as a den in which the cat can hide if it feels insecure. Of course, we should never punish the animal for urinating or scratching the furniture, as this could increase its stress levels. 3. Veterinary consultation finally, it is important to note that urine marking is not the same as inappropriate urination, that is, when the cat urinates in places other than its litter box. If you notice that your feline begins to urinate more frequently than usual or that it does so outside of the designated space, consult your veterinarian to rule out possible pathologies, such as a urinary tract infection. If you want to continue learning about cat behavior, don't miss the playlist that we have left for you here on the side. Tell us, do you now understand cat marking better? Until next time, experts.
