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Spraying male

post #1 of 11
1/21/11 at 5:57am
Thread Starter 
We adopted two kittens from our neighbor - one male and one female, who are about 5 months old. We think they were born around mid-September, but we're not 100% sure, although the vet seems to agree.

The male seems to have started spraying (standing up while peeing and it shoots out horizontally). He does this in the litter box and it shoots over the sides. And last night he did it in an open piece of luggage.

He has an anointment to be neutered next week. He's 6.5 pounds. (It was the earliest my vet could get him in).

My question is - because he started spraying already, will he be more likely to spray even after he is neutered? Is there anything I can do to prevent it, if there is?

The female is still only 4 pounds and has been on antibiotics for URI, so the vet wants to wait on her a few more weeks.

Thanks in advance.
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post #2 of 11
1/21/11 at 11:31am
Yes, he will be more likely to spray after the neutering as opposed to a younger cat. Don't worry too much though, as that is relatively rare for a male to continue spraying. His hormones will still be in his system for around 2 months after the neuter, so tye behavior will likely continue through that period at least. All you can do is get taller litterboxes, spray some feliway around, and try not to stress him out at all for a while after the surgery. The sooner he stops spraying, the more likely it is for him to kick the habit completely. With no hormones and no stress, there will be no reason for him to spray and he should eventually no longer have the need.
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post #3 of 11
1/21/11 at 2:45pm
I hope you're keeping them apart, at 5 months you could end up with kittens especially as he's showing signs of maturing.
He will be fertile for up to 2 months after the surgery so best to keep them apart until the girl is done.

He will probably stop spraying, but there's no way to be certain since any cat can spray, but neutering will often help.
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post #4 of 11
1/21/11 at 2:54pm
is he just spraying in the litter pan? Or is he marking his territory in the house in other places? If he is marking his territory then yes, he will continue to spray even after the neuter. If he is just standing and urinating large amounts- just buy a large rubbermaid container with tall sides as his litter pan. If he is just spraying small amounts then it could be health related. They may continue to spray as long as 6 months after a neuter depending on the cat.
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post #5 of 11
1/21/11 at 3:24pm
I had a cat male that would start in the squat position in the litter box but would go to the standing position and finish. I bought the tallest box o could find or you can buy a rubbermaid plastic tote and cut the front down for the entrance. These work best since they are taller than any litter box out there.

I am hoping the only reason your boy went in the suitcase was because it looked like a litter box?? But if he is doing this in other places too then it is likely that he will continue after the neuter at least until the hormones go away. You have to find a good enzyme cleaner to cover the smell or he will continue to spray in that spot.

Some cats just stand up to pee and it is not marking. Hopefully this is the case with your cat. I have even known of female cats to stand up when going. Also keep cats separated right now. They could breed at this young of an age. I would keep the male in a separate room right now until he gets neutered and to re-learn to only go on the litter box again. much luck to you
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post #6 of 11
1/21/11 at 3:38pm
Kody was a retired stud from a breeder that was not neutered until 2.5 years old--I have had no problems with him. Sugar was over a year old when he was neutered--he was a stray that wandered up. He never sprayed after he was neutered---he never came in until after his operation.

Kody does stand to pee in his box though--I have one with tall sides or it would go over!
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post #7 of 11
1/21/11 at 3:48pm
Thread Starter 
He's definitely spraying in other places. I only saw him do it twice, once in the suitcase, and the other time in a bag. As soon as I saw him and picked him up and put him in a room with his litter box. I can't tell if he's done it anywhere else in the house... I don't smell anything, but I'm keeping an eye out. I might try to see if the vet can squeeze us in sooner. I feel bad keeping him separated for another 10 days. Also, who knows how much worse it could get by then.

I will definitely keep them apart. I've never had a girl and a boy kitten at the same time before, so this is all new to me. And the vet didn't mention this at all.

We have 2 other cats - a 4 year old spayed female and a 3 year old neutered male. They have all been getting along since we introduced them. A few hissing from the oldest female at first, but she's the alpha, so I expected that. The older male and the new boy kitten seem to have gotten along the best (they play and cuddle and bathe each other, which I hope is ok). The kittens have not seemed stressed to me. But I will definitely try to make sure he isn't.

Thanks for the tips. I'm sorta freaking out, because nobody wants a urine smelling house!
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post #8 of 11
1/21/11 at 3:52pm
I wouldn't panic too much! He's still young. Chances are good that it will go away on it's own once the hormones are sorted out. Kudos to you for adopting the pair!
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post #9 of 11
1/24/11 at 9:23am
Thread Starter 
Thanks, I'm feeling a little less panicky. Especially after talking to a few people who had pre-neuter issues with their males and none since. We also got the Feliway diffuser and plugged it in. I think that will help with general territory issues since we have 4 cats. Although, as soon as I plugged it in, all four of them started acting super strange. Sniffing each other and rolling around on the ground. Could just be coincidence.

Anyway, we got the little guy's neuter moved up to this Thursday. And we've completely separated the kittens from each other. The girl's spaying is next week. She is starting to exhibit signs of heat (butt up in the air, lots of chatter). So I'm glad we're getting them fixed soon.

Thanks everyone for the tips and suggestions.
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post #10 of 11
1/24/11 at 9:41am
At that age, neutering him quickly should stop the problem. In the meantime, KEEP THEM APART FROM EACH OTHER. I'd confine him to one room with a washable surface till he is neutered.

Kittens as young as 4 months can breed, so you don't want them interacting. And you'll need to keep them apart after he is neutered and until she is spayed. Males are still capable of getting a female pregnant for up to 2 months after being neutered.
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post #11 of 11
1/24/11 at 1:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kittysback View Post
Although, as soon as I plugged it in, all four of them started acting super strange. Sniffing each other and rolling around on the ground. Could just be coincidence.
It can do that in some cases. Someone on here once told me that it's banned at cat shows because it causes the rare cat to act nutty. My female gets mildly aggressive when I first plug one in but it chills the boys out so much more than it amps her up and she relaxes in a couple of days so I use it anyway and we all just tip toe around her for a day or two. We tip toe around her anyway so it's not that big of an adjustment!
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