I am doing my research on cats...I have never owned one, but am thinking about buying. If a cat is neutered before 6 months of age, will spraying be a problem? I know if a cat is under stress they may spray, but I am wondering how much neutering cuts back on that. Thanks!
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Spraying in Neutered cats...is it common??
- Thread starter taralynn0930
- Start Date
My cat has always been indoors and he has never sprayed. I think in the majority of indoor only cats that are neutered early, they do not spray. My parents had an indoor/outdoor cat that still sprayed after he was neutered..but the neutering did reduce the spraying significantly.
Katie
I had a male cat in the UK who sprayed when he was very small, I took him to be neutered but he hadn't any, you know whats, they still hadn't dropped.
A very embaressed
me took him home agian and waited for him to get something to be removed. Had him neutered later but it was too late he had learned the habit and I never cured him of it. If I caught him he would run like hell, knowing he was doing wrong, I had him for 10 years and the spraying was worse if we had visitors.
When I moved here he decided if I was going so was he and he moved out to live with one of my neighbours, my husband tried to coax him back but he would have non of it.
A very embaressed
When I moved here he decided if I was going so was he and he moved out to live with one of my neighbours, my husband tried to coax him back but he would have non of it.
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2003
- Messages
- 4,005
- Purraise
- 31
I think spraying is usually only a problem in neutered cats if they're neutered later in life after spraying has become a habit, or if they become ill or stressed.
We have two males, one was neutered at 10 months (later than ideal, but fortunately he hadn't started spraying yet), and the other at 6 or 7 months. I've never had any problem with either one spraying outside the box, except that the one neutered at 6 or 7 months will spray inside the box, so I have to use high-sided boxes for him. I think it may be because he used to be an outdoor cat, though he too may have been neutered a little late - ideally they should be neutered before or at 6 months. He did start going outside the box (not spraying, though) on two occasions, but both times it turned out he had developed urinary crystals and needed veterinary treatment.
We have two males, one was neutered at 10 months (later than ideal, but fortunately he hadn't started spraying yet), and the other at 6 or 7 months. I've never had any problem with either one spraying outside the box, except that the one neutered at 6 or 7 months will spray inside the box, so I have to use high-sided boxes for him. I think it may be because he used to be an outdoor cat, though he too may have been neutered a little late - ideally they should be neutered before or at 6 months. He did start going outside the box (not spraying, though) on two occasions, but both times it turned out he had developed urinary crystals and needed veterinary treatment.
Any male or female will spray - whether or not they are spayed/neutered. Sometimes another whole male/female around will cause the spayed/neutered one to spray. Additional cats sometimes trigger it. Spraying also marks territory and if the cats feel threatened they will spray.
A neutered cat will usually not spray and the odor will be much less then in the whole cat.
A neutered cat will usually not spray and the odor will be much less then in the whole cat.
I think you're going to find the occasional cat who was neutered at the right time and just is by nature a sprayer. It might help to talk in detail to the breeder and make sure you pick an outgoing, confident kitten with a good family history? And make sure that you neuter in good time. I have had a boy who sprayed pre neutering and never did again, but it does help if you catch them before they ever start the habit.
I have two cats, a female and male, that were spayed/neutered at six monthes. The male was a best guestimate on his age. I haven't yet had any problems with spraying. They will be three this year.
