Why does a fixed male cat still spray? Need the vet not get it all?

Question

I meant did the vet!!!!!!!!

I thought once they were fixed they could not spray anymore!!!!!!!!

The cat is about four years old.

Answer 1

Tomcats (and some females) spray to mark their territory. Territoriality is only partly related to mating and sexual behavior. Some of it is just, well, territorial. Neutering removes the testosterone from their systems and cuts down on hormone-driven spraying, but as your kitty is showing you, that's not the whole story.

Some people have had success with Feliway, a product that comes in a dispenser and mimics the pheromone scent of cheek marking. Since cats seldom spray mark where they cheek mark, this can discourage spraying. Feliway also tends to make cats feel relaxed and secure, which might also reduce the compulsion to spray.

Before you invest in Feliway dispensers (they're not cheap) clean the places where kitty has sprayed. Use an enzyme type cleaner that will completely remove the scent, and avoid cleaners with amonia, which smells like cat spray. That's because as long as any urine or similar scent remains, kitty will read it as a signal that this is a place where he should spray.

One more thing. This may sound crazy but it worked for me with one of my cats, the late great Rusty. Have you ever just told him you don't want him to spray? In a language he can understand? Some cats won't care what you want - they just consider it "cat business" and won't even acknowledge your right to an opinion. But some want to please. Rusty was that way

When Rusty, a stray gone feral, came to live with me, my Scooter objected strenuosly and the result was the "Scent Wars," as Rusty tried to establish himself as a member of the family by filling the apartment with his scent and Scooter tried to cover Rusty's marks and make him feel like an outsider. They were stinking up my apartment and driving me to distraction.

One evening I went upstairs and met Rusty at the top of the stairway. I sat on the top step to greet him and pet him. He greeted me, then turned and backed up against a corner, raised his tail and wiggled his butt in preparation for spraying. I took his tail in my hand and lowered it like the handle of a pump, stared into his eyes and hissed at him. He got the message and he never sprayed indoors again.

On the other hand, if I'd done that with Scooter, he would've just laughed at me...

Anyway, it's worth a try. When you see him setting up to spray, get down to his level, right in his face, look straight into his eyes and hiss. He Will understand. Whether or not he cares what you think is another thing, but try it and see what happens.

Answer 2

There are two ways to "fix" a male cat. One way leaves the male intact. The vet just cuts the cats version of the vas deference. He still has his testes which produce the hormones that make male cats want to spray. The other way the vet actually removes his testicles and he no longer has the male desires. My boy had the second one and he is more affectionate too.

Answer 3

Cats will still spray. It's not just testicles that make them want to mark their spot.

Fear, territory, etc.

For example, we have a dog and when we first brought out neutered male cat in, he sprayed constantly. He hated the dog and did not like us much either... (Which is why he'd poop next to the litter box and sit there and look at us with a low meow.)

It's a territorial issue. It's not that the doctor necessarily missed... They just shouldn't spray AS MUCH.

You might want to do some psychological research on why the cat would still be spraying. Is the house unbalanced?
Does the cat have his own space to relax and call his own that no one can get to?

Answer 4

Spraying is done to mark territory. Intact cats are more likely to feel the urge to spray, but spayed and neutered cats will do so, as well. The vet probably did a fine job, but you can have blood tests done to determine the level of testosterone if you want to.

Answer 5

Male cats can be very territorial once they have matured and start feeling their hormones.

A cat that is four years old has been an intact male for quite a while, just because you had him nuetered recently doesn't mean that he is going to stop being the cat that he was.

His terrritorial behavior will go away eventually.

Kittens needs to be spayed/nuetered at no more than eight months of age.

Hope this helps

Answer 6

You may not believe this, but all cats (male & female) will look like they're spraying but there isn't anything to spray. Both of my "fixed" cats (male & female) will back up to furniture or even me and look like they're spraying, but nothing comes out.

If your cat is actually spraying, so that things get wet and smelly, then the vet might NOT have taken care of spaying/neutering your cat to begin with.

You may want to take him to a different vet to be checked.

Answer 7

Well this depends on when you got your baby boy neutered and if there are other cats around. I know someone that had two male cats and had them neutered before they could start mating but they still sprayed till the cows came home!! But I also know people with male cats and female cats (like they have two males and two females) and there was no spraying. It depends on the situation.

Answer 8

Male cats are very territorial, even after being neutered. Are there other male cats in the household? Or outside?
Also, if he still smells his urine, he will continue to mark his territory. Natures Miracle (get it at any pet store) will remove stains and eliminate the odors. You can also get Feliway (it's a spray that calms cats) if another male is agitating him.

Answer 9

You never mentioned, how old the cat was. I only heard of this one other time and I still don't understand why, are you sure it is not an infection? I would sure as heck ask this vet why. If you are not satisfied, I would ask another vet.