Young female cat spraying round house

[Cleebope2]

Any tips on how to stop a cat spraying? She is spayed. She does it when she wants out but I can’t let her out much except in the evenings. She is in during the day and I catch her spraying on walls, curtains, carpets. The house stinks and I can’t stand it much more. She is 19 months.

I've never come across this before with females and don't have much advice. A pheromone plug in such as Feliway could possibly be helpful.

If it happens when she wants to go out then it might just be easier to solve the problem of why she can't go out. What is the reason for not being able to go out during the day?

Have you got a litter tray?

It sounds like she is weeing inside because you won't let her outside to wee?

You have to get all the smell out with a pet odour cleaner - she's now going back to where it already smells.

It is worth a trip to the vet as she may have crystals which are common for stressed cats, I had a female that sprayed when she was stressed. She needed a urinary diet.

How many litter trays do you have? Have you tried Feliway?

And finally why can't she go out during the day if this is what she wants. I used to chuck mine out in the mornings and retrieve them when I got home from work.

Ah yes, I obviously assumed there is a litter tray. Is there? Does she use it?

I’ve had a female cat who would pee around the house despite having access to outside, my sisters cat was the same always on her rug despite having access to outside, it really isn’t uncommon.

@RedCandyApple You're right, inappropriate peeing is sadly not that uncommon. However a female cat spraying is very unusual (so much so that I've never come across it).

And redcandyapple - did you have a litter tray?

No my cats do it outside and have constant access to outside as we have a cat flap.

Thanks for comments. She has 3 litter trays and we also have an older cat. I can’t let her out as she is a prolific hunter and I got too distressed at her killing all my beautiful garden birds. I may have to rehome her but the family love her so I am trying to get her happier to be indoors during daylight. She then gets out for hours at night. We did try feliway and I also have a good cat odour removal spray. I’m just looking for any extra advice that has actually worked for others.This problem may be more common than I thought. Do they stop as they get more mature? We have had 4 cats and this is the only one to do this.

@RedCandyApple I think their trying to tell you buy a tray, outside toilets for humans aren’t ever going to make a comeback because it’s not nice to have to go outside in the cold to do a wee.

We had an outside loo when I was little (for my dads staff) and it was horrible to use.

@RedCandyApple Well you've just said you had one that pee'd round the house. So they don't/didn't always go outside. Lots and lots of cats need a litter tray despite having access to a cat flap. That is why your cat pee'd. Lots don't want to go outside to pee when it's raining/snowing/the ground is frozen/there is a big scary cat or fox outside or for any number of other reasons. And the older the cat is the more reluctant they seem to become to pee outside.

@Cleebope2 Do you actually mean spraying and not general weeing?

Which litter are you using @Cleebope2? My big rough-tough Bengal boy would only use ultra clumping scented litter but my indoor only little duchess prefers wood pellet.

The Bengal wouldn’t even countenance the crystal litter, he did a wee on the cooker top instead when I bought it.

@Cleebope2 Does she use the tray for normal weeing but then do protest sprays? Is that what's happening?

I don’t have the cat anymore, the cat I have now goes outside thankfully. I wouldn’t have a litter tray in the house personally. Animals and people are different and all other animals manage to do it outside.

She is stressed because she is frustrated by being imprisoned inside when her natural instincts are screaming for her to be outdoors.

You will have to get used to feathered casualties for a time I'm afraid, birds will soon learn to not come in your garden.

@RedCandyApple

I don’t have the cat anymore, the cat I have now goes outside thankfully. I wouldn’t have a litter tray in the house personally. Animals and people are different and all other animals manage to do it outside.

Well I'm glad you don't have a cat anymore if you don't see why you should provide for their needs.

I have a cat just not that one. Loads of people don’t use litter trays and cats go outside 🤦🏻

In fact every person I know with a cat doesn’t have a litter tray, not past the first few months till they learn to go outside, if I got a litter tray they would never go out to do it.

A catio (outdoor enclosure) is an option, if you don't want her roaming? You can put a litter tray in it and fix a route in and out of the house.

Yes it is protest spraying. I know it is because she wants out. I’m afraid I am a massive bird lover with feeders and nests around the garden. That’s what makes me happy. I cannot let her kill any more. I am trying hard to make her more placid indoors. I will buy more feliway. May also be because the older cat still hates her!

@RedCandyApple Indeed loads of people refuse to provide a tray. And this mean that loads of people end up giving up their cats because they therefore sometimes toilets inside. Particularly as they get older.

That's exactly what's happened here for example:
www.celiahammond.org/canning-town/index.php/animals-needing-homes/canning-town-london/8-animals-needing-homes/2439-soya

OP, then sadly I think she is the wrong cat for your household. I can't see this getting any better.

@RedCandyApple Yes, plenty of cats do go outside without problem. But owners must always be willing to put a tray down if the cat starts toileting inside. And, as I keep saying, this becomes more important as the cat ages. However a lot of people simply refuse to put down a tray and end up getting rid of the cat instead. I'm not saying all cat owners have to have a tray, I'm saying they need to be willing to if necessary.