My Neutered Male Cat Sprays...?

Question

...and I no longer know what to do! He is 10 years old and I had him neutered when he was just a kitten. Everything was fine for years until one night he escaped outside. I could not find him until early the next morning and within days he began spraying the walls, the furniture and mostly my daugters bed!! I had him checked by the vet and he was fine, so the vet suggested a bigger litter box. Went and bought a bigger litter box and it did not help. We went and bought a bottle of odor-remover that was supposed to clean up the mess and neutralize the smell. Nothing. Right now he lives outside in a little cathouse we made him and though he seems fine, it has been suggested that we will never break the cat of this habit and it would be humane to have him put down. Suggestions?

Answer 1

My male still does some too & he is 13! He really started when we moved a few years ago & now he only does it when he gets mad at me. In my experience, being neutered has nothing to do with it., they just don't have the skunkish odor of unnutered cats. White vinegar helps to neutralize the urine odor- you might try a vinegar water mixture. It sounds like he may have not "realized he was a cat" until he got outside & found that there were others since that is when he started. As long as you keep the litter box clean, that has nothing to do with it. It sounds like he may need to be an outside cat if he won't stop. Maybe try a cat repellent on the bed or other furniture. That's hard to live with though. Good luck!

Answer 2

I totally understand what you are saying. My family had a male cat which lived with our other cats when I lived with my parents. He peed on everything even in peoples cars outside. We tried everything (he is neutered), pheromone plug-ins, medicine, special litter. Then about 2 years ago (I had already moved out of my parents house about 5 years prior) my parents house became infested Whit mold and we had to board this cat (since he sprayed I couldn't keep him at my house) well, after they fixed the house he needed some where to live (Long story). Since we never told to boarding people he sprayed and they never said he did or didn't I said look we will adopt the cat and see if he sprays. Well he HASN'T. I have had him at my house with two of my cats and he hasn't Once even thought out it. He also never goes outside. (he used to go outside a lot when he lived with my parents). I personally don't let me cats go outside due to dangers that could kill them or hurt them.

So basically by boarding this cat for almost 3 months somehow made him stop spraying. It cost money but it was worth it. Personally putting an animal down because of a behavioral problem is unethical.

There is also another factor that lingers. He has a hyperthyroid condition which we had to have treated. So possibly the boarding and the medical problem were factors and solutions.

So take the kitty to the vet and give him a full check up. Then board him and see what happens.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Now why would you want to put him down? I own three males and they are all neutered. The one male I had gotten at the age 8months. He was a outdoor cat. When he got around my 8 other cats (only two male) he started to spray and that only got him a trip to have his nuts removed. But spraying is a sign of territory and he just might not be able to help himself at his age. If you don't mind him outside, well he is old enough to enjoy some freedom. Sometimes as a cat ages their personality change as well.

Answer 4

I had the same problem. My cat is now 16 years old and finally he stopped! Try putting down some tin foil or sticky paper in his favorite places. He wont like the texture and may stop. Also, try placing his food and water near the places he likes. Cats dont like to go near thier food and water.

Answer 5

That doesn't sound right at all.

Maybe an animal behavior specialist can help. Or, if your cat is otherwise healthy, you might consider giving him to a farm where he can live outside so spraying won't be a problem.

Answer 6

can't you just make him an outside cat if you don't want to deal with the spraying??

Answer 7

Get him descented or whatever. it is a surgery to take out his scent glands. it works, too.