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Cats/Tiger Relief

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Expert: - 12/24/2010


Question
Hello Norm.  You were kind enough to answer a question for me about BIG cats, namely a lion.  Could you answer one about Siberian tigers?  I watched a YouTube video about a Siberian tiger in a zoo.  He backed up to the perimeter fence, lifted his tail and emitted a couple of quick spurts.  After that he walked a few paces into the interior of his enclosure, squatted, and voided a good puddle.  Was the first time just for marking and the second time just relief of his bladder, and if so why would he not just relieve himself completely while standing at the fence?  I see that felines resemble canines in that they can void in segments so to speak, conserving more of their "ammo" for later use.  All other animals I know of (and people) let it all out once they start.  If felines and canines are unique in this regard, do you have an explanation?  THANKS.

Answer
Ken,

This is a good question!!!!!  AFAIK, all felines, no matter the species can "spray", i.e. mark territory.  This behavior is most noteworthy in unneutered males, to a lesser extend unspayed females will carry out this behavior when in season, and to an even lesser extent, neuters and spays may carry on this behavior.  It seems to be hormonally linked.  Also, I have seen neutered males, spayed females go through the motions, but not emit any spay at all!!!!!

This marking behavior is separate from voiding to empty the bladder and only involves depositing a relatively small amount of urine on a vertical surface. Cats will spray to mark territory, or overmark territory from another cat who sprayed that area before.  Cats may also spray due to stress caused by a whole list of things (see http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-spraying-urine.htm for more information).

Seasonal regards... Norm  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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