Do senior cats spray to make their owners remember them after they're gone? Let's find out the truth

Cats are one of the most popular pets around the world. They were long domesticated since Ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians believed cats would bring good fortunes to their owners. And the belief has spread around the globe and continues until this day. However, some myths might lead to misunderstandings circulating on social media.

Claim on Social Media

We found the post from a Facebook page that shared a story with the belief about cats.

Translation: "Cats don't want to be forgotten. I found this on a Taiwanese cat lovers' group. There's a belief that some old dying cats will spray in some areas in the house to leave their scent, hoping their owner won't forget about them after they're gone. And they hope people in the house will remember their existence. Senior cats who feel attached to their houses and owners don't want to be forgotten."

The post received over 5.5K shares and over 9.1K reactions.

Fact Crescendo has looked into the above information and found it to be false.

Fact-Check

We reached experts to clarify this matter. Dr. Issaraporn Promnao and Dr. Thanon Bootsombat, certified veterinaries, explained to Fact Crescendo that "Urinary incontinence in senior cats might be from deterioration with age, whether mental or physical degeneration. This may cause the cat to excrete in the wrong place or be unable to remember the excretory area.

In addition, the nerve that controls the sphincter in senior cats often deteriorates. They also have hip and/or joint problems, making them impossible to excrete for a long time. Moreover, some of them directly have issues in the urinary system, such as gallstones.

Other behaviors should also be observed, such as the color or amount of urine. That is related to the cat's drinking behavior. If the cat is drinking more water or urinating more than usual. Taking your cat for a health check-up with a veterinarian is advisable."

Regarding the claim that cats urinate in different places in the house so that the owner can remember them, the doctors have denied it, and there is no evidence or research to support it in any way.

Moreover, we found an article that aligned with the clarification above from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, which said, "Your cat may have litter box trouble for any number of reasons, including medical problems, an aversion to the litter box, or a preference for urinating or defecating in places outside the box."

Conclusion

The claim that senior cats litter in various areas around the house to make their owner remember them when they pass away is false. Such behavior may be due to physical and mental deterioration, causing cats to excrete in the wrong places. The veterinarians recommend that if the cat has abnormal eating or drinking habits, you should take your cat for a check-up with a veterinarian.