I'm having a real problem with my 6 year old male cat. He has been neutered (at 8 months) and just started spraying in the house. Let me start at the beginning. When we got him he was 8 weeks old and we had another female cat (Shadow, also spayed) that was 12 years old. They lived together very well for 4 years, when we had to have her euthanized (she had a very aggressive cancer). I rescued another female kitten (8 months old and spayed) about 4 months after we lost our girl. My male cat (Buddy) and our newcomer (Holly) get along fine for the most part (she can be a little aggresive at times, tho not very often). We had just the 2 of them for a little over a year, then this summer (July) I bought home a feral (partly tame) momma cat and her baby boy. I'd have to say thet she was about 10 months old and the baby was about 6 weeks old. Both Buddy & Holly wanted nothing to do with them at first, but after a few weeks they all seemed to settle down and at least tolerate each other. We had momma (Knuckles) spayed in September and baby (Pip) neutered the first part of December. We first noticed Buddy spray about 2 weeks after Knuckles was spayed. I forgot to mention that Buddy had been allowed outside for the first 16 months after we got him, then we moved and he became in indoor kitty. I've tried "Feliway" and that helped for awhile, also have drops made by "Cat Faeries" called Territorial Rescue, that I put in their water, but can't tell if that's working or not. He doesn't spray everyday, only about once a week and always when we're standing right there by him. My husband is about to throw him outside to be an outdoor cat. I don't want that to happen because we live near a very busy highway now and I worry about him (he has gotten out a few times) and there are also other cats wandering around outside. Any help would really be appreciated. And yes, he has been to the vet and there are no medical reasons for this. Sorry this was so long, but thought the whole story might help.
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Spraying
- Thread starter suzi
- Start Date
Suzi...do you have a question about spraying?? Is your cat neutered? If not, below is a list of low cost neuter clinics in MD:Originally Posted by suzi
http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html#md
Katie
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- Feb 19, 2001
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Do you have a black light that you can shine outside at your home? You could have a territorial stray coming in and spraying the outside of your home triggering your male to spray. Author Amy Shojai in her new book PETiQuette addresses this issue in one of her chapters. She calls this behavior "pee-mail" I strongly suggest you buy her book as well.
It could be that there are just to many cats for his liking and he is trying to overcome that by spraying his scent and establishing his dominance. I would not suggest you bring anymore cats into the home until long after this behavior is curbed.
How many litter pans do you have for all these cats?
Do they share anything? Toys, food bowls, beds, you? They shouldn't they should have separate bowls, toys, cat beds, litter pans-
Yes how many litterpans do you have? That is important, there should be one per cat and one extra. Put them all over the place. At least until the spraying stops. Try different litters too, maybe he decided he doesn't like it.
Oh and could he have been affected by anything else? Did you rearrange furniture in the house or move or build something? Or anything to change is surroundings? Some cats are picky and will spray because of things like that too.
Oh and could he have been affected by anything else? Did you rearrange furniture in the house or move or build something? Or anything to change is surroundings? Some cats are picky and will spray because of things like that too.
In addition to the above suggestions, have you given any thought to the fact that you have too many cats? Seems that the problems started when you brought more cats into the house - and he's trying to tell you that he doesn't like all these extra cats.
Some cats are fine with one or two companions, but when you keep adding, things can turn upside down. The spraying is his way of telling you he is unhappy with all the other cats. I'd do my best to find homes for the recent additions and get back to your two cats - bet he will stop spraying!
Some cats are fine with one or two companions, but when you keep adding, things can turn upside down. The spraying is his way of telling you he is unhappy with all the other cats. I'd do my best to find homes for the recent additions and get back to your two cats - bet he will stop spraying!
I hate to say it but it may be that he sees the new male kitty as a rival male. I suspect the females aren't a problem. Would you be able to find a new home for the new kitten since he is young and a new addition? I know kittens are wonderful but they are also easier to find homes for.
don't let your husband put him outside, that is horrible. I would have nightmares. He is one of your first- you have to have patience with him. I have amulti-cat household and two boys spray occasionally. Use 'orange oil' or 'oil of peppermint' or 'nature's miracle' the latter to neutralize the odour.. Give him lots of love and an extra litterbox with new litter and a new toy or two and he will be fine.
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- #9
Thank you all for your replies. We have 6 litter boxes in different places around the house, and they all have their own places to eat. I've been using some drops that I put in his water and that seems to have helped. A couple of you suggested it was because of some sort of "change" in the house and yes, there has been one. My youngest son moved out about 2 weeks before this started, and he used to sleep with him. I can only hope that that is what started it all and that he is getting used to him not being here. I know when he would stop by to visit "Buddy" would not go near him, but now he does let him pet him. Thanks again
