spraying

Anytime your cat backs himself up to a door or other object in your house, lifts his tail, and releases urine - you have a problem. This problem is known as spraying, and is very common with cats kept indoors. Even though it is a very annoying problem, it's a problem that can be solved.

Contrary to what many think, spraying isn't a litter box problem, but rather a problem with marking. Cat urine that is sprayed contains pheromones, which is a substance that cats and other animals use for communicating. Pheromones are much like fingerprints with humans, as they are used to identify the cat to other animals.

When a cat sprays something, he is simply marking his territory through his urine. The spraying is simply the cat's way of letting others know that the territory is his. Even though it may make you mad and annoy you, getting angry with your cat will solve nothing. If you raise your voice or show angry towards your cat, it can very well result in more spraying.

Cats that are in heat are easily attracted to the odor of urine. For cats in heat, spraying is more or less an invitation for love. Often times cats that spray while in heat results in a litter of kittens that are born in just a few short months. Keep in mind that cats not only spray during heat, as some will also spray during encounters with other cats, or when they are feeling stressed.

Although spraying is a way of communicating for cats, the smell for people is horrible. The good thing here is that most cats will do a majority of their spraying outdoors. If you have an indoor cat that never goes outside, spraying can indeed be a problem. If you've noticed spraying in your home, you should take action and do something about it immediately.

The most effective and also the easiest way to stop spraying is to have your cat either neutered or spayed, which of course depends on the sex. Most male cats that have been neutered will stop spraying the same day they have the surgery. If you don't want to get your cat neutered or spayed, you should look into other options. If you hope to one day breed your cat, you certainly don't want to have him neutered or spayed.

The best thing to do in this situation is to talk to your veterinarian. He will be able to give you advice, and possibly even solve the problem without having surgery. There may be a medical problem present that is causing the problem, which your vet can identify. You should always do something about spraying the moment it starts - simply because cat urine stinks and it can leave stains all over your home.

Anytime your cat backs himself up to a door or other object in your house, lifts his tail, and releases urine you have a problem. This problem is known as spraying, and is very common with cats kept indoors. Even though it is a very annoying problem, it’s a problem that can be solved.

Contrary to what many think, spraying isn’t a litter box problem, but rather a problem with marking.

Cat urine that is sprayed contains pheromones, which is a substance that cats and other animals use for communicating. Pheromones are much like fingerprints with humans, as they are used to identify the cat to other animals.

When a cat sprays something, he is simply marking his territory through his urine.

The spraying is simply the cat’s way of letting others know that the territory is his. Even though it may make you mad and annoy you, getting angry with your cat will solve nothing.

If you raise your voice or show angry towards your cat, it can very well result in more spraying.

Cats that are in heat are easily attracted to the odor of urine. For cats in heat, spraying is more or less an invitation for love.

Often times cats that spray while in heat results in a litter of kittens that are born in just a few short months.

Keep in mind that cats not only spray during heat, as some will also spray during encounters with other cats, or when they are feeling stressed.

Although spraying is a way of communicating for cats, the smell for people is horrible. The good thing here is that most cats will do a majority of their spraying outdoors.

If you have an indoor cat that never goes outside, spraying can indeed be a problem. If you’ve noticed spraying in your home, you should take action and do something about it immediately.

The most effective and also the easiest way to stop spraying is to have your cat either neutered or spayed, which of course depends on the sex.

Most male cats that have been neutered will stop spraying the same day they have the surgery. If you don’t want to get your cat neutered or spayed, you should look into other options.

If you hope to one day breed your cat, you certainly don’t want to have him neutered or spayed.

The best thing to do in this situation is to talk to your veterinarian.

He will be able to give you advice, and possibly even solve the problem without having surgery. There may be a medical problem present that is causing the problem, which your vet can identify.

You should always do something about spraying the moment it starts simply because cat urine stinks and it can leave stains all over your home.

If you observe that you cat gets into an agitated state, with its tail lifted and is backing himself towards the door or any other thing and urinates, it means it is suffering from some problem. This is a common problem in cats that are not allowed to go out of the house and is referred to as “spraying”. It is no doubts, a problem which can annoy you and the cat both, but it can be easily treated.

As a lot many of you think, the spraying problem is not related to the litter box; in fact it is related to the habit of ‘marking’. Pheromones, present in the spray of the cat urine is something which these animals use to communicate with each other. They are almost like the fingerprints of the human beings, which identify them. Similarly, cats can be identified through pheromones, to the other animals.

As cats are known to be territorial, they have a habit of marking their territory, and they do so by spraying, which is also a sign for others that this territory belongs to the cat. This may be quite annoying but the problem would not be resolved by getting angry by the cat. Raising your voice or showing anger to the cat would only result in frequent repetitions.

The smell of urine tends to attract cats in heat and for them spraying is kind of an attraction, a signal for love. You may even notice that a cat that has been spraying during heat gives birth to kittens after some months. It is not necessary that cats spray only in heat; they may also do so following some stress or interaction with other cats.

Spraying might be a way of the cats to communicate but for the humans, the smell is quite annoying and irritating. In general, most of the times the cats spray when they are out of the house, but in case your cat remains inside the house all the time, this means trouble. In case you notice spraying inside the house, take necessary measures to prevent and stop it.

The simplest and the most convenient methods to restrict spraying are to get the cat spayed or neutered, which is based on the sex of the cat. Spraying usually stops in male cats, on the very day, the surgery is performed. This option may not be suitable for you, if you wish to breed the cat sometime in future. In such case, you can not get the cat spayed or neutered, but you can choose other ways of preventing it.

Immediately consult the veterinary doctor if you face such a situation. He may be the right person to talk to and can guide you some ways to handle the situation without surgery too. This can be caused due to some medical reason as well which can be determined by the veterinary doctor. But make sure to take the necessary action as soon as you observe spraying because apart from carrying a horrible smell, the spraying may also leave stains in different areas of the house.

Cat spraying urine in the house is one of the most annoying and frustrating cat behavior problem. Constant urine smell is pretty hard to tolerate and sadly but not surprisingly, some cats will have to take a one way trip to the shelter.

However, as with most cat behavior problems, there is a reason as to why the cat sprays. Identifying the cause can greatly help you in finding the right solution to stop this annoying habit.

Why do they spray?

Spraying should not be confused with inappropriate urination since it is an intentional act.

In entire cats, urine spraying is part of a normal and natural behavior. It is a way to convey territorial and sexual messages to other cats. Not only tomcats spray, queens in heat will spray too to let others know they are ready to mate.

In neutered cats, the most common reasons for spraying is competition and territorial disputes between cats in multi-cat households, moving to a new house, arrival of a new baby or another pet and situations where the cat feels unsafe and insecure so it may feel the need to 'reinforce' its 'territory'.

How to stop them spraying

Firstly, your cat should have a health check to make sure there is no underlying medical condition causing its behavior. It is possible the cat has cystitis or some other elimination problem.

Since urine spraying in entire cats is primarily a sexual behavior, neutering can help to control this behavior in most cases. In addition, it will also reduce territoriality and aggression between cats. Yet, it is not necessarily a cure-all and don't expect your cat will stop spraying right away - it may take two to three months.

Clean soiled areas thoroughly. You can purchase cleaners and odor neutralizers at your local pet store or simply use diluted vinegar. Stay away from products containing ammonia - they could stimulate the marking behavior as urine also contains ammonia.

If you own more cats, you will need to provide each cat with one litter box and you should have one extra box for the house. Cats don't like dirty boxes!

Try to identify the reason why your cat sprays. If for example a new person has moved into the house, have him or her feed your cat to establish a bond between them.

If your cat is anxious then try to reduce the stress levels by playing with it in areas where it tends to spray.

If your cat is spraying in one room only, keep the door locked. If it is spraying only in one or two locations and you cannot keep the cat out, make it to a feeding and playing area. Most cats are very clean animals and will not urinate near their food.

Use Feliway spray or diffuser (a synthetic equivalent of feline facial pheromones) in all areas where your cat marks. Feliway makes the cat feel comfortable and safe and decreases its instinctive urges.

If you have more cats and they don't get along, you should initially separate them to see if spraying continues. Then you could gradually reintroduce them in situations that create positive associations such as playing and feeding in combination with calming effect of Feliway.

You should never punish your cat by dragging it to its litter box, rubbing its nose in litter or smacking it. In fact, you will make the matters much worse. Your cat will then associate punishment with you and the litter box; it may become anxious and start to spray even more.

If nothing works then ask your vet for advice or referral to a cat behaviorist. In severe cases, where all cat behavior training and modification techniques fail your vet can prescribe appropriate medication (usually anti-anxiety drugs

Do you have a cat that sprays outside the litter box? If yes, then you have smelled the horrible odor and experienced frustration when attempting to get your cat to stop spraying. To resolve the problem, you must first figure out what is motivating your cat to spray.

Territorial marking is the number one reason why cats spray. Felines are compelled to let others of their kind know that they are around. They may also spray when they are looking for a mate. If you have another cat in your home that fights with the culprit kitty, the spraying may be done to show aggression. Cats hanging around outside of your house can also cause your cat to spray. A move to a new home, the arrival of a new child, or other upsets to the cat's daily routines can cause the behavior. A cat that is under any kind of stress such as living in a noisy household can also resort to spraying.

Generally, male cats are the prime spraying offenders. But, some females will also spray, especially if they are in heat. The unique smell of spray is due to chemicals in the anal glands that are expressed along with a small amount of urine.

If your cat has not been neutered or spayed, doing so is likely to solve the problem. But, some altered cats will still spray. For the best results, the surgery should be performed before the age of six months.

One thing that you should not try is punishing your cat. Kitties do not understand the relationship between behaviors and punishment, and the stress may cause your cat to spray even more.

Regular cleaning and scooping of the litter box is important as some cats will spray as a form of protest against poor litter box maintenance. Keep routines consistent including bed time, play time, and feeding. When your cat sprays, be sure to clean the area with enzyme cleaner so that no odor remains. Otherwise, the cat may return to the same spot to spray again.

After trying measures to curb spraying, take your cat to a veterinarian. Bladder infections and other health issues can lead to the behavior. Drugs for anxiety such as Prozac can also be prescribed, since your cat could be anxious even if you are not aware of it.

For fighting cats, put them in separate parts of your home if possible. Unfortunately, sometimes the best choice is to give the spraying cat to a new owner. Neither cat will be happy if they are constantly picking fights. Especially if no other cats live in the new home, the cat may stop the behavior.

Another option if the spraying appears to be over territory is to confine the cat to a small area of your house. The feline will not have as large of an area to defend, and may decide to stop spraying. At least the number of messes to clean should be lessened.

Cat behaviorists analyze cat behavior and develop plans to change unacceptable actions like spraying to more desirable behaviors like using the litter box. They can be successful in working with you and your cat to develop better behaviors.

Cat spraying urine in the house is one of the most annoying and frustrating cat behavior problem. Constant urine smell is pretty hard to tolerate and sadly but not surprisingly, some cats will have to take a one way trip to the shelter.

However, as with most cat behavior problems, there is a reason as to why the cat sprays. Identifying the cause can greatly help you in finding the right solution to stop this annoying habit.

Why do they spray?

Spraying should not be confused with inappropriate urination since it is an intentional act.
In entire cats, urine spraying is part of a normal and natural behavior. It is a way to convey territorial and sexual messages to other cats. Not only tomcats spray, queens in heat will spray too to let others know they are ready to mate.

In neutered cats, the most common reasons for urine marking is competition and territorial disputes between cats in multi-cat households, moving to a new house, arrival of a new baby or another pet and situations where the cat feels unsafe and insecure so it may feel the need to 'reinforce' its 'territory'.

How to stop them spraying?

Firstly, your cat should have a health check to make sure there is no underlying medical condition causing its behavior. It is possible the cat has cystitis or some other elimination problem.

Since urine spraying in entire cats is primarily a sexual behavior, neutering can help to control this behavior in most cases. In addition, it will also reduce territoriality and aggression between cats. Yet, it is not necessarily a cure-all and don't expect your cat will stop spraying right away - it may take two to three months.

Clean soiled areas thoroughly. You can purchase cleaners and odor neutralizers at your local pet store or simply use diluted vinegar. Stay away from products containing ammonia - they could stimulate the marking behavior as urine also contains ammonia.

If you own more cats, you will need to provide each cat with one litter box and you should have one extra box for the house. Cats don't like dirty boxes!

Try to identify the reason why your cat sprays. If for example a new person has moved into the house, have him or her feed your cat to establish a bond between them.

If your cat is anxious then try to reduce the stress levels by playing with it in areas where it tends to spray.

If your cat is spraying in one room only, keep the door locked. If it is spraying only in one or two locations and you cannot keep the cat out, make it to a feeding and playing area. Most cats are very clean animals and will not urinate near their food.

Use Feliway spray or diffuser (a synthetic equivalent of feline facial pheromones) in all areas where your cat marks. Feliway makes the cat feel comfortable and safe and decreases its instinctive urges.

If you have more cats and they don't get along, you should initially separate them to see if spraying continues. Then you could gradually reintroduce them in situations that create positive associations such as playing and feeding in combination with calming effect of Feliway.

You should never punish your cat by dragging it to its litter box, rubbing its nose in litter or smacking it. In fact, you will make the matters much worse. Your cat will then associate punishment with you and the litter box; it may become anxious and start to spray even more.

If nothing works then ask your vet for advice or referral to a cat behaviorist. In severe cases, where all cat behavior training and modification techniques fail your vet can prescribe appropriate medication (usually anti-anxiety drugs).

Cats are territorial animals. They mark out their territory using a variety of visual and scent signals. Changes in the environment (such as visits to the vets, return from hospitalisation, moving house, new arrivals, re-arrangement of furniture) can be disturbing for the cat because of the absence or loss of these familiarisation marks; making them anxious and causing stress.

The most likely reaction to this anxiety is a change in the frequency or type of marking. Unfortunately for the owner, this often results in the onset of urine spraying and or scratch marking around the house. These signs are worse in multicat households where tension can occur between animals and lead to intercat aggression.

Urine Spraying & Scratch Marking

It should be noted that urine marking and scratching are NORMAL behaviour for the cat, but they can also occur when the cat is stressed or feels threatened. Transport too is a stressful situation for cats and it can show various emotional signs such as agitation, miaowing, vomiting...Signs of stress in cats are different but easy to identify.

Urine Spraying

Feline urine spraying is one of the primary methods used by cats to mark out their territory. Whether male or female, neutered or not, it is exhibited by almost every cat that goes outside. But while spraying urine outdoors may be acceptable, most owners find the behaviour difficult to tolerate in the home due to the strong odour and potential hygiene risks.

Urine marking is a very specific behavioural sequence where the cat adopts a posture that is easy to recognise:
- it approaches a vertical surface (wall, item of furniture...)
- it sniffs the surface, treads the floor, then he turns his back,
- and standing with his tail erected, he emits a horizontal jet of urine onto the object.

During urine spraying behaviour, the cat stands up and marks of urine are generally small and seen above the ground. Urine on the floor, large volumes of urine or urine in the sleeping area are typically not signs of urine marking.

There are several kinds of scratching. Scratching horizontal surfaces when waking up, during play or sexual excitation. Scratching on vertical surfaces to keep claws in trim, scratching on vertical surfaces to send a signal. Only this can be qualified as a marking behaviour.

What is Feliway?

Feliway is a chemical copy of a pheromone that has a calming influence over the cat...this helps to reduce stress and the subsequent scent marking as the cat’s impulse to claim its territory is reduced. Feliway can also be used to help calm cats. There is a plug in device and a spray, the diffuser emits the scent around an enclosed area, similar to a perfume plug in, and a pump spray that can be used in stressful situations when the diffuser is out of range.

Feliway is a safe solution of the feline F2 facial pheromone, which mimics the cat's natural pheromones, creating a state of well being and calm.

The placing of facial pheromones is a behaviour that is well known to all cat owners. When a cat feels safe in its environment, it rubs its head from the side of the chin to the base of the ear, against the furniture, the corners of walls or the bottom of curtains. By doing this, the animal is depositing facial pheromones. These marks convey a message of well being and a feeling of security.

When there is a change in the cat's environment (such as visits to the vets, return from hospitalisation, moving house, new arrivals, re-arrangement of furniture) or if the cat is scared, a state of disquiet or stress may develop. In these situations, Feliway Spray and the Feliway Diffuser combined can be used to restore a natural stress free balance.

In statistic, cat spraying a urine constitutes 44 and near to 100% in multi-cat households with over ten cats. It is quite normal behavior for the cat but we can reduce the problem. Many cats will reject a litterbox placed in a busy area of your home, people walking by all the time and making too much noise. Some cats like a little privacy if they are going to use the box and not give you cat urine problems. Most cats will not use a box that is located too close to their food and water, this is understandable.

Spraying urine is a way cats mark out their territory. Your cat will back up to a vertical object that he/she wants to mark which could be a wall, your sofa, your drapes etc. The tail will be held up high, and will usually be quivering, the cat will often tread the ground with his paws. He/she will then spray a fine stream of foul smelling urine at just the right height for any other cat to smell it.

Stress can also be a cause of cat urine problems starting up. Cats can get stressed for a variety of reasons. Most of the reasons for stress in cats are associated with change, felines are creatures of habit and they simply do not like changes to their routine. Never punish your cat no matter what cat urine problems he/she gives you. Punishment will not help and is unfair to your cat. Cats do not deliberately pee where they should not.

How to control:
1. The easiest way to deal with the cat spraying is to consider neutering or spaying. But you should do this before your kitten’s mature - when she is 4-6 months old.
2. If you are a multiple cat owner, it is strongly advised that you have one litter box for every cat. Keep the litter boxes scooped and clean, and be mindful when washing them to use only mild and unscented cleaning agents.
3. Try to lower the cat’s stress by maintaining a routine, because the changes often cause cat spraying. Feed at the same time each day and keep their food, litter box, and bed in their respective places.
4. Give your cats enough attention. Play with her, massage her, talk to her. Give her tons of praise, affection and attention for simply breathing.
5. Urine spraying occurs near doors or windows where cats can see outdoors, especially when strange cats are hanging around outside. If your cat spraying because she perceived treat from another cat or animal, try limiting the area she can roam in your house to improve her feeling of security. If the problem is with the cats that are outside the home, you should try to reduce your cat’s exposure to those cats, because when she sees other cats, her natural response will bee to mark her territory, which is your home.
6. Do not hit or yell at your cat when he sprays. It will only make the problem worse. Instead, try to figure out why he is feeling insecure and take steps to ease the disruption.

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No matter how well you treat your dog, or how obedient and affection he or she is when you are there, separation anxiety may still be a problem.

Separation anxiety manifests itself in many different ways. Some dogs tear up papers, chew furniture, soil the carpet, howl and/or cry. Exactly what happens will vary from dog to dog....but one thing is for sure, the dog has a problem when left alone.

Not all dogs suffer from the problem and there are products available to help and procedures that the owner can carry out to assist.

Initially, it is a good idea to consult your vet about the animal’s problem. He or she may have advice on the matter and ‘top tips’ to point you in the right direction. They may suggest consulting a dog trainer or attending a course. Separation anxiety doesn’t seem to be uncommon and many people have advice.

Some top training tips include low-key departures, so make the leaving the dog as insignificant as possible. Also practising leaving the dog for a short time before returning. Practise training with the dog that involves it being in another room, such as telling it to sit and stay in one room whilst you are in another. Providing entertainment during your absence can also help as it takes the dog’s mind off being left alone. Similarly, taking the dog for a long walk before leaving him might also help as it will tire him out.

Another tactic which can be used with the above is to leave the television or a CD on to stop the dog constantly listening for your return.

As for products, there are some available, such as DAP which may help. DAP stands for Dog Appeasing Pheromone and this is available in different forms such as collars and plug in devices. These emit the DAP and this has a calming influence on the dog due to the fact that the pheromone is a synthetic copy of the natural pheromone a lactating female dog produces. DAP is an unobtrusive way of helping to calm dogs and is certainly worth considering to help cure nervous problems.

Cat spraying is a problem for many cat owners and although it is commonly associated with un-neutered male cats, it is also an act that can indicate ill health.

Before action to ‘cure’ the problem is taken, the cat’s health must be examined. When the cat has been given the all clear, treatment can begin.

As mentioned previously, it is un-neutered male cats who tend to do most of the spraying. They will spray over household furnishings, curtains, sofas....the lot. Not only can cat spray stain, it also leaves a less than pleasant smell. One method of stopping this problem is to have the cat neutered.

Some people are against neutering their animals as they believe it is unnatural and inhumane....but consider the vast quantity of unwanted cats put into rescue homes each year, the stray cats on the streets and, of course, the fact that keeping an animal ‘entire’ when there is no intention to use it for that purpose might also be classed as unnatural.

However, there are some good reasons why people choose to keep their cat or cats in an un-neutered state. Perhaps they are hoping to breed from their animal and they do practise careful cat ownership that helps prevent unwanted kittens.

If this is the case then there are some products available to help with spraying. Spraying is a form of scent marking and therefore using a product like Feliway Spray can prevent this. Feliway Spray is a chemical copy of a pheromone which has a calming influence over the cat....this helps to reduce stress, and the subsequent scent marking as the cat’s impulse to claim its territory is reduced. Feliway diffusers can also be used to help calm cats in the home. This is a plug in device which emits the pheromone that calms cats like the spray, but, instead, the scent is spread around the home constantly ensuring maximum efficiency.

Ok it's a fact that most cats like to play around, running here and there, scratching furniture or biting you. But Sometimes cats can be so energetic that can cause damage when playing. And what about spraying? All cats spray their territory to mark it and make it their own. Do you have a house training tactic to deal with these issues?

Let's start with play fighting.

Cats are carnivorus animals, they like hunting, attacking and biting their preys with their claws. They like playing like that and they do not really understand that this behavior can cause any damage. It's their natural instict that orders cats to behave likewise.

So what is the best house cat training method to prevent your cat from damaging you or your child when playing? Here are some possible solutions to the problem:

- Buy some cat toys allowing the cat to play with another cat or alone.

- A very effective house cat training method is to spend some time everyday playing with your cat by having the pet chasing a string.

- You can use a squirt bottle (You can find it in any pet shop). Fill the bottle with water and spray your cat when, for example, you thing it's trying to use it's claws on you. You can buy a few small bottles and put them in different places in your house and use them accordingly.

- Never try to hit your cat because of rough play fighting. This is a totally unacceptable house cat training method and will have no results.

Now a few things about spraying.

This is a common cat behavior performed especially by male cats. The best solution to that would be to neuter the cat. This generally solves the problem.

If your cat still sprays after that then there's probably a new cat in the neighbourhood and is walking around your house. In that case you can disable physical contact with new cats or other pets in the neighbourhood until your cat feels comfortable.

You can also try buying a repellant (you can find it in any pet store) and spray it around your house so that other cats will not approach the territory.

That is all! Happy House Cat Training.

Many cat owners are puzzled when their cats start to pee all over the house. It can be quite a nightmare trying to remove the smell of cat pee! But more importantly, you may be very worried that your cat is having some ill health or disease.

Before you get sick with worry (or overly frustrated), do take a minute to see if your cat is having a medical peeing problem or if your cat is in fact spraying to mark its territory.

You can tell the difference between a cat's normal peeing and spraying by this:

If your cat is peeing normally, it would squat to do it and this usually lasts for a few seconds. However, if it is spraying, it would give out a short quick spurt of urine at different parts of the house (and this is usually done standing).

There is always some trigger that causes a cat to spray. Usually, it has to do with a feeling of insecurity and anxiety that your cat is having. Some common triggers are:

1) A new cat or another pet has been introduced into the family
2) A new baby has arrived in the family
3) A visitor is staying over at the home
4) A new partner/spouse to the cat owner
5) New stray cats in the neighborhood
6) Stray cats entering the house
7) If you have always had a cuddly relationship with your cat but now you don't have the time to spend quality time with it because you are busy or your cat is left at home alone more often than in the past.

If you identify any of these triggers as possible causes of your cat peeing, then focus on removing the triggers or taking more time to shower love on your cat so that it feels secure and less anxious. If removing the triggers still does not work, you may need to consult a cat behaviorist for help.

Here are some signs to help you determine if your cat has a medical cat pee problem:

1) Smelly urine accompanied by blood. Cat may be peeing much more frequently than normal or it has trouble holding in urine. It may also be licking the vulva or penis.

2) Large quantities of urine. Cat is experiencing excessive thirst, mouth ulcers, weight loss, bad breath, anaemia or vomiting

3) If it's a male cat and it's straining to pee, accompanied by vomiting and mournful howling

4) If it's a young animal and it's pee is very pale. It is also having difficulty growing and strengthening itself.

One or more of these signs could signal kidney and bladder stones and infections. If your cat is showing any of these signs, it is urgent that you bring your cat to a vet immediately.

About 25 years ago I was working on the farm where I live in Illinois. We were working on an implement of some type making some adjustments preparing to do some field work. A chemical spray truck backed up to a field not more than 16 feet away and began spraying herbicides. It is this stupidity on the part of applicators that is one of the most dangerous aspects of our chemical society.

Five or six years ago another chemical spray truck began spraying the field out in front of our house. That was not so strange but the problem was the current wind conditions were a steady 15 miles per hour directly at our house and yard. I filed a complaint. The Illinois Department of Agriculture sent a person out to take plant samples and subsequently sent the Applicator Company a warning letter.

What people have to do is complain when their person or property is exposed to the myriad number of chemicals sprayed into the environment every day. The chemicals are regulated to some extent and there are guidelines for their application. The steady 15 mile per hour wind was clearly a violation. If an applicator gets enough complaints they could simply be put out of business.

The blaze' attitude evident in my two stories is prevalent in this agricultural area. It is an attitude fostered by chemical companies to take attention away from their poisoning of the environment. Also, it is an attitude held by farmers who really do not want to admit or think about the consequences of what they are doing, even to themselves.

But the blaze' attitude permeates our society. I have seen countless times a young guy walking across a suburban yard with a hose trailing back to a truck. He is spraying out either herbicides or pesticides. Who knows? Then they put these little postage stamp signs on the corner of the yard the is supposed to warn people of the recent application.

I also have seen lots of times state owned trucks driving along the highway spewing chemicals along the roadside to kill everything except the grass. I speak of what I see here in the Midwest. I am sure there are other types of applications in other parts of the country. I know years ago there was a lot of complaint about spraying herbicides from airplanes over forest land.

In Illinois it is the Department of Agriculture that handles complaints about chemical applications. It may be another agency in your state. Probably a call to either the state department of agriculture or the state environmental protection agency will get you started in the right direction. If you know or you think you have been exposed to chemical contamination call them up and find out how to complain.