Cat spraying making life a misery...

[WinnieBonBon21]

My 15 year old cat's spraying is making life a misery for me and my husband. I cannot keep on top of the spraying and am spending a fortune on the correct cat urine cleaner. We have been in discussions with vets for a long time now- identifying that it is behavioural and spending a lot of money trying every single method of making it stop- tablets, diffusers, new cat flap, continous cleaning - we think the cause of his anxiety is another cat -' however he has had run ins with cats in our previous houses and has never sprayed- I am starting to think it may be down to his age... anyway I have a 7 month old baby who will be crawling soon ... I cannot keep throwing money at this cat... vets current suggestion is to do some bloods but are very sure he is fit and healthy and failing that a cat behaviourist that would presumably cost a lot of money.. I will be returning to work soon- I cannot keep up with the cleaning of his spraying, I cannot afford to keep buying the product to clean it! I am at my wits end and have no idea what to do... I do not want my baby crawling into his spray - I do not want to live in the tension he causes in our home - apart from rehoming him which I really do not want to do- I am now considering buying an outdoor cat enclosure/ kennel and keeping him out of the house- does anyone know anyone who has successfully done this? Can it be done? I will feel bad on him but we can't go on like this and it feels like we have exhausted every avenue within our finances...

[SarahSissions]

Cat lives inside for 15 years, baby comes along and the cat is then relegated to a kennel outside 😞.

[Annoyedandirritated]

Put him down, he’s 15 and you have tried everything. I hate cats anyway, but I wouldn’t put up with that with a small baby even if I didn’t. People on here are very odd when it comes to cats, and would rather you re-homed the baby 🤣, but seriously, you don’t have to live like that

[PissPotPourri]

We have this now. Cat peeing on curtains, cushions etc etc. He and his brother now live outdoors (we have a covered, contained outside area) and are only allowed inside when we are in the same room. It was that or ‘the end’ for our boy as was not tenable.

[SmokingGun]

I had a similar issue with my boy cat, spraying and territorial aggression was then causing idiopathic cystitis. I was at my wits end as he was hurting me quite badly when aggressive. Then one absolutely fabulous vet prescribed him fluoxetine abs gabapentin and it’s changed our lives. He’s so much happier, spraying has pretty much stopped, no aggression and he finally sits on my lap for a cuddle now and then. It is worth suggesting anti depressants as an option to your vet and see what they say! Good luck.

[Geoguillo]

I have a similar issue with my male cat spraying, he never used to when he was younger but we think it’s been triggered by another cat. (He is spayed)

We have also tried everything to no avail. I’ve started being much stricter with having him out all night, then he can come in, in the morning with the hope he’s tired and ready to sleep. But even then he comes in and within 5-10 minutes will do a small spray on the walls/doors etc.

It’s definitely a insecurity or scent marking problem. We are moving soon and he will be shut out of all rooms unless we are there, and will be predominantly outside with a shelter. There are multiple trays, but he chooses not to use them, I’m not having a cat dominated household!

I couldn’t rehome him I’d feel too guilty, but this is the best option for all involved as I’m sure if he was rehomed he would be abandoned or put to sleep due to the spraying.

[Maydaysoonenough]

When my 2 kept weeing they got banned to utility room and the kitchen for 6 months! They kicked the habit and were gradually allowed back in. Was triggered by a house move.

[Dontfuckingsaycheese]

I’d put it down to the arrival of baby and all that. He’s not happy is he 🙁 Anti depressants sound like a good move.

[Unforgettablefire]

The baby's arrival has unsettled him
Poor cat, 15 years years old and referred to as "this cat" was he a loved pet at any time?
He's extremely stressed, and he'll be picking up on your annoyance you don't hide it.
I have no advice apart from please don't get any more pets, they all grow old and have problems just like we do.

[XelaM]

Outside cat enclosure sounds like a good solution. I don't know why some posters are so outraged by it. Don't cats love the outdoors anyway?