Please help - my spraying cat is making my life a misery

[inky1991]

Has anyone got any advice on something by that actually worked for them?

My 6 year old cat has been spraying around the house is whole life. He's ruined furniture, flooring, everything. It's costs us hundreds and hundreds. We've tried literally everything, microchip cat flap, feliway, he's even on anti anxiety meds now. He's a very small cat and gets constantly bullied by neighbouring cats. One in particular who seems to be the neighbourhood bully. We also are at the vets around every 3 months for either a stress induced UTI or a cat fight wound.

We've had one last ditch attempt at fixing a garden gate today to our side entrance, which all the other cats mostly use to access our garden. I really hope it has some affect

I love him so much, and really don't want re-home. However I have a newborn now and I really can't go on like this abs feel like it might be the only answer. 🙁

I second the idea of having a permanent outdoor structure for your cat to live in. My cat started to urinate in strange places after the pandemic, I think having people over again stressed the cat out. We had to confine the cat to just a few rooms and gradually rebuild the cats confidence, but we started that after just a few weeks. I'm not sure years of this behaviour will be possible to turn around. Also we had to treat the floorboards and then paint with a special sealant, and replace carpet even though it only happened a few times. I'm just not convinced any cleaner gets rid of the smell. Good luck.

At the risk of being flamed, he sounds like an unhappy cat. Being put to sleep is not the worst thing that can happen to an unhappy animal.

Why do they do this??

I have a 6 month old indoor Tom who has never done this but now I'm terrified he will start!!

Anxiety, fear or insecurity normally. Or habit. It can happen with both males and females.

Please don't worry though! I've never had a male cat that's sprayed indoors - remember, these threads will naturally attract people who've had it happen to them. People with no experience of spraying are unlikely to click on a thread about it just to say "well, my cat never sprays" :)

I agree that most cats don't spray (if they are neutered). I have had cats all my life and very rarely had a problem with it - until now.

I have a (male neutered) cat who for reasons unknown is a very very nervous individual and almost anything sets him off. We have made all sorts of adaptations to improve his environment, used multiple calming remedies, use the correct cleaning methods, but I really don't think there is anything that would stop him.

We have an enclosed cat-proof garden so he has a small 'territory' to defend and is never in contact with other cats except our own, who he gets on well with. He just sprays around all the perimeters - fine in the garden, not fine in the house. I thought about letting him roam, but that would just cause other problems and not necessarily fix this one.

I have thought many many times about rehoming him. Maybe he'd be happier somewherelse, but depending on the environment he may still spray and I am reluctant to pass the problem on.

@inky1991 I think the one saving grace here for you is that you are moving house - I think that could fix it. My vet told me it is extremely hard to stop them unless you (a) identify and fix the problem which is causing it and (b) remove every trace of their urine scent. Moving house will do the latter, and it could also do the former. It depends just how anxious this cat is really. I wish you the best of luck, I known how difficult and disheartening it is.