Is it possible to stop a male neutered cat from spraying in your house?

Question

Story:
I have three male neutered cats. I allowed another cat in the house last winter who is also male and neutered, but he started spraying in my house. Now all my cats are spraying in my house. Is there anyway to stop this? These cats are my family. Please help!

Answer 1

take his aerosol away!

Answer 2

Last week, the director of our rescue group contacted us and asked if we could foster a male cat that was abandoned when his family moved. I went and got the cat and he was intact and sprayed. I was expecting this/watching for this and made arrangements with the vet for him to be boarded there until they were able to neuter him. Both my vet and this book I have called "The Cat Owners Home Veterinary Care" said that approx 80% to 90% male cats who spray stop when neutered. When I picked him up and brought him home from being neutered, he did it right away. I gave him another chance and he did it two more times. Also, like you all the other cats in our house are spayed/neutered (4 cats of our own; 2 neutered males,1 spayed female and 1 male kitten who is too young to be neutered yet and 1 spayed female foster cat) so I thought after he got neutered it would not be a problem. According to my vet and once again the book I have, it says if a neutered male continues to spray, you can either try a regimen of drugs from your vet. I am not sure, but I think it is along the lines of a tranquilizer type deal. OR you can alter the cats environment which basically means have it be the ONLY cat there. Because if a male cat is in the same house, the cat that sprays might continue to do so to show dominance over the other male; or if a female cat is there,even if spayed, the spraying cat will continue to spray to show the female his prowess and invite her to possibly mate. I really dont have any advice for you, because it is a tough situation. I know you love all the cats, and do not want to part with one. Is there any way you could have the male cat that started the spraying become an outside cat? I am not sure, but I think if the other ones did not spray before he came, they will quit after he leaves. I think the only reason they are doing that is because he marked what he perceives as his turf by spraying, so they are doing it back to him. I would talk to your vet and possibly and animal behaviorist. I know how bad male cat spray can smell, so I know what you ar e going through. GOOD LUCK and I hoped this helped and was just not me talking about a similar experiene. PS-I hope it works our with you and you can find a way to keep all your furbabies

Answer 3

Firstly, are you sure they are spraying (on vertical surfaces), not just urinating (puddles)?

The most common reason for litter box avoidance is a orinary tract infection, so you should get them checked to make sure they're healthy.

Also, you will have to clean every spot where they "went" thoroughly with an enzyme cleaner (e.g. Nature's Miracle, Petastic - you can get them from a pet store). Enzyme cleaners are the only way to get out the smell to the point where the cat can't smell it - and as long as they can still smell urine in a certain spot, they are likely to go there again.

You can use a blacklight (also from a pet store) to find all the spots where they peed - the urine will show up under the blacklight.

How many litter boxes do you have? With three cats, you should have at least four - and of course, they have to be kept clean, scooped and changed regularly, and have a litter the cats like.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Once male cats start spraying it is difficult to get them to stop. In addition to what some other users have suggested (cleaning the spots with an enzyme cleaner, additional litterboxes, and checking a urine sample to make sure it is not a UTI), you can try a product called "Feliway." It comes as a spray or as a plug-in and contains a calming pheromone. It can sometimes help with behavioral problems such as spraying. I'm not sure if it's available at pet stores--you may need to buy it through your veterinarian's office.

Try Feliway before trying any medications such as valium, as it has no risk of adverse side effects. If it is unsuccessful, consult your vet about trying a medication.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 5

Last year my beautiful Manx cat Theodore went out for the evening and never came back. I love cats and the house didn't feel the same without one, so I picked up Lola from a rescue centre. She was very frightened and would pee all over the house. I found Cat Spraying No More� on the internet and the techniques worked almost immediately. I haven't had a problem with Lola since. Amazing!

Can't stop your cat peeing in the house? Then worry no more...

Answer 6

You first need to rule out any medical issue. Possible urinary tract infection , blood in the urine or something along that lines. Either bring in a sample of the urine or get those urine test stripes from you vet. If everything is OK from a medical standpoint, it is just behavioral. You need to get rid of all cat urine smells in the house. This will be challenging. You can use a blue light to see if you missed any spots. The newest male cat doesn't appear to be part of the cat coalition. You will need to give this cat lots of love and even find a place where it is just you and him. But don't ignore the three-some. Hopefully , in time, and before you need to replace all your furniture again, the new cat will be allowed in the coalition. Right now just show him that you are in his pride and that he is a part of the family.

Answer 7

How frustrating. I hope the other cat is gone. If not, the spraying will be pretty hard to stop.

Cats spray to mark their territory, mostly. Your three cats are now reclaiming the territory. To get the smell of the other cats urine off the walls there is a urine smell remover that you get at the store. After you apply this, your cats will settle down and not spray anymore. (I go with Nature's Miracle products cause they really work.)

Answer 8

I had this problem with a spayed female cat urinating everywhere when a new baby came into my house. My vet gave her Valium, which helped a little, but in the long run I found a new home for her without babies, and she thrived.
Talk to your vet, there may be medications or furniture sprays that can help. Nasty habits are difficult to get rid of once they start, though, and spraying is impossible to live with.

Answer 9

The above suggestions are good. Ask your vet! He may prescribe medicine, rule out disease, and help break this habit! There are many valium type medications. Also, there is a product called FELIWAY. Its a pheromone spray that helps calm territorrial cats down and makes them think the house is already smelling like them. Also, make sure their boxed are clean, you should have at least 2-3 litterboxes spread out throughout your house. If your cats go in and out, you will have a harder time controlling the habit , so your vet might suggest keeping them indoors while you are breaking this habit and pursuing treatment!

Answer 10

Oh my sweet pea..That sounds AWFULL!

Is the 4th cat STILL in your house? When did he leave?

Were you able to completely remove his smell? Sometimes they spray in spots you don't know about. Watch where your 3 guys sniff check/spray. A LOT of sniffing for no apparent reason is a good place to de-urineize with the urine/pet smell/stain remover sprays available at any petstore/Walmart type joint.

Your 3 are re-claiming their territory from the "interloper".

For now let them see no other feline near their place no matter what. IF you need to bring a feline in for whatever reason bring him to the basement/laundry room or a place where you can close the door and make sure your 3 don't SEE the cat. If they do it's a wrap.

It takes time and lots of urine removing spray and re-training them (so to speak).

Everytime a kitty sprays grab a squirt bottle and let er' rip. Not a "Super-Soaker" mind you.

Let them associate THEIR spraying with YOUR spraying.

Can you lock them in for the night? Lock them in when no one is home to supervise? Like "crating" a dog.

The loud "NO" everytime they go to spray also helps. So does the loud smack of a rolled up newspaper against something deter them.

You need to reprogram them. Spraying=Water bottle spraying/Loud "NO'S"/Smacking rolled up newspaper on items loudly/Isolated at bedtime-when no ones home/No treats/Special lovey dovey treatment till they behave.

IF all else fails get advice from a vet.

Answer 11

When I have cockroaches, ants, silverfish, etc., I usually hire an exterminator to come in an spray the house to get rid of them.

Do the cat's do a better job?