Behavioral Issue -- The Wall Kicker

bobfenster · New member Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

I have an adult, spayed female cat that has exhibited an odd behavior that stumped even my vet. She like to stand near a wall, with her back end near the wall. She kicks out a back leg and robotically -- or maybe like a woodpecker -- kicks the wall. Rat-a-tat-tat, 7 or 8 times. Then she typically switches legs and does it again.

Has anyone seen a similar phenomenon? Have a clue why she does it?

Mary_NH · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:20 pm Post subject:

she's not spraying is she? Spayed female cats can, and will, spray.
Sounds comical....perhaps she's marking her territory like a dog does with their backward kicking

bobfenster · New member Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

We've never spotted any drops when she does this. However...

You make me wonder if I've just missed it as we've caught all three of the male cats in the house marking their territory (or just evacuating completely)... a string of UTIs, crystals and other problems. I'm sorry to say, maybe the house just reeks so badly that we haven't noticed the damage she's done?

Is this how a female cat marks?

Mary_NH · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:18 pm Post subject:

yes females will back up to something and give their tail a good shake.
Sometimes nothing comes out (as in the case of my cats - they seem to try to spray but the works are empty). I did have a spayed female who used to spray my car tires and the spray was visible. Back in the day when I let my cats out (I haven't seen that particular cat in 6 years - I still look for her though).
But yup - that's what they do.
I would suggest you get a blacklight and in the dark go around shining it on surfaces you think they have marked and spray Nature's Miracle on it. I recently went through a little bout of cat smell and every night I'd get my little blacklight out and start searching for the offending area and spray Nature's Miracle on it. Having 4 cats and fosters I buy the stuff in a big bottle and keep it in a large spray bottle and go on blacklight patrol now and then. It's almost amazing what you find around the walls of a litterbox!!! It might take a few applications but eventually the smell does get taken care of.