A cat is spraying in my house - advice please!

[LilRedWG]

We have a 15-year old tom cat who is starting to slow down, understandably.

He has always fought with other neighbourhood toms but I think one of them is now coming in the house and spraying. This morning I have cleaned three lots up in the kitchen and one in the dining room.

It always happens overnight or if we are out, so I think that it is another cat coming in and spraying, especially as one spot is always over my cat's food/water bowls. :( DH has suggested that it could be our cat doing it in an attempt to mark his territory, but we've never seen the culprit.

Has the time come to lock the cat flap permanently? Not sure I want to do this as Joe loves going outside and has always had a cat flap. BUT, I'm fed-up of my house smelling of cat pee.

Any advice will be gratefully received.

TIA.

Could you swap it for a cat-flap that needs the corresponding collar for it to open so only your own cat could get in?

Our cat doesn't wear a collar. He breaks out of them somehow - sorry should have put that in op.

Thank you though!

Microchip cat flap, Lil. They're about £70 but worth the added security (and not having to clean up) and many posters have them. They only allow in an 'authorized' cat with the right chip number. (If he's not chipped, that's a good idea anyway even though he's an older fellow - should cost somewhere round about £20 at the vet.)

Sureflap is the one most posters use if I recall - have a Google for that. It's available online and easily fitted.

I had same issue with a local tom cat. I got mine microchipped and bought the SureFlap catflap. Best money I have ever spent.

I can't get my head around why people don't get their cats neutered? Unless a pedigree and its contained somehow. The smell from tom cats is VILE!

Another vote for microchip cat flap. Transformational. If a foreign cat is coming inside and spraying it will be very upsetting for your cat, let alone the nastyness for you. Made a huge amount of difference to our two cats - we knew they were being hassled by another local cat but didnt realise it was coming in until it sauntered into the house and troughed their food right in front of our eyes!

I've found the culprit! It's a big grey tom. The kitchen door is open as it's warm and I'm trying to air the house. I saw the little bugger walking away from the house licking his lips - he's eaten Joe's left over lunch, including thyroid medication and sprayed my steam cleaner, which was left out from cleaning his piss up this morning! Grrr!

Catflap currently set so that Joe can get out but not in. Not ideal, but can't afford the £70 atm, but will definitely be getting one before winter. He's already microchipped. In the meantime, I'm a SAHM so will be here to let him in as required most of the time.

Thanks all.

Not sure if neutered or not. My tom is neutered but still sprays his territory in the garden.

You can often tell if a tom is entire - or a very late neuter. They have a slightly more pronounced build (on their back legs in particular) and a 'tommy' shaped head. (That last is difficult to describe but it's sort of squarer and more jowly. Once you know it, it's easy to spot.) Their ears are also likely to be a little lacy if they're an older cat.

Neutered boys will also spray on occasion but their urine doesn't stink quite so much so the likelihood is that he is a full tom. People just don't think.

Best of luck with the saving up.

Hopefully my boy will feel a little more secure even if he has to ask to come in for a while. It'll be good for the other cat too, especially if he's been self medicating on Joe's tablets. :)

Yes indeed. They like to know that they've got safe home territory - and especially if he's an older boy and not wanting to strut his stuff so much these days.