Help Adopted Cat Spraying

[Littlesunshine123]

Hi I've just adopted a family members cat as they are moving and unable to take the cat with them.
He's settling in nicely as its been a week but now he is venturing out his room, he is spraying everywhere.

We have feliway plug in and constant clean litter tray he is using.

I am finding it super stressful as he is doing it everywhere and it's so strong. I am suffering from migraines so my sense of smell is extremely heightened and it's making me vomit.

No vets within a 10 mile radius of us can offer neutering till January now either.

I can't get the smell out of a chair he has sprayed on. I've tried different sprays and vinegar bio carb etc.

Can anyone offer any advise or products they have used.
I can't keep him locked in his room until he is neutered as just mean. Am just feeling very overwhelmed as I have a toddler and it's a struggle having to try find where the cat has sprayed and constantly clean. The whole house stinks.
I've only had a girl cat before and she was neutered straight away as we had her from 5 weeks.

If search further 10 miles isn’t a huge distance, there may be one 15 miles away that could do it?

That's not ok. He needs neutering asap. Try other vets? Ask if the vet you asked can contact you with any cancellations?
I think you need to keep him in one room you can easily clean until he's snipped.

I don't drive so going further out would be very expensive in a taxi. We have asked a few vets to contact us if they have any cancellations. Fingers crossed as he is just spraying everywhere in sight. The only time he feels comfortable coming out is at night. When my two year old is in bed.

I have to sleep with my toddler so I can't even keep an eye on the cat when he comes out at night.

I suspect that no amount of feliway etc will help with this.

I would keep him in one room (that's easy to clean) until he's neutered. Provide lots of enrichment to keep him busy, it doesn't need to cost much, cardboard boxes, puzzle feeders, rolled up foil and paper, furniture arranged to provide viewpoints etc.

And, if you're not already, you need to clean up with an enzyme cleaner, Simple Solution is good. You can get a UV torch quite cheaply to search for urine if you're struggling to find where he's marked.

You could also talk to local rescues to see if any can help you access neutering more quickly.

Thank you for all your advice.
That's a great idea about contacting local rescues or even the cat protection. I think will have to keep him in one room for now. I will buy an enzyme cleaner thank you.

It doesn't help I have a super sensitive nose either.

Also he has a big cat tree/house he has been going on with toys on that. Just put my toddlers play tunnel in there as well. Plus I've been playing with him with the good old daggly Feather on a stick. He's got a couple of enrichment balls in there. He's a bit of a strange cat and doesn't really like treats (besides lick e licks) or wet food.

Finding it all very strange as my previous cat went mad for treats and also loved wet food.

That all sounds good. It does sound like he's settling well, but it's such a shame his previous owners neglected to neuter him. Hopefully you can get him done soon 🤞🏼

This is why I wouldn’t have another male cat. My previously neutered male cat did this when he was annoyed. However, it’s only been a week so with any luck getting him neutered and time will settle him down.

When my Dad adopted an older cat from a rescue he cam with a cage which he was supposed to be in for a couple of weeks to get him acclimatised so maybe it’s too soon to let him have run of the house?

this might sound cruel - but I once had a rescue feral cat who'd had three operations on a broken leg and hip and because he wasn't allowed to try to jump or run around whilst it was all healing we kept him in a large dog crate for a month - by the end of the month he decided that he was now a happy indoor cat with regular meals/snacks/toys/playtime and warmth, he realised it was a much easier life than being an outdoor feral cat :-) OP you feel mean locking your cat in a room but maybe he would build his confidence / security if he did?

He needs to be neutered. I really would be doing everything in my power to get him to the vet no matter how much it costs - because the more he marks, the more the smell will get ingrained into your home and the more likely it is to become a habit.

Can you not get a train to a vet? I’d be willing to travel considerably in the circs.

Or a lift??

Going to call a few vets further out. Travel is a bit awkward as I don't have childcare and my husband works during the week.

His wee in general just reeks. Obviously am use to cat pee smell and it's never going to be pleasant but my god this is potent.

We did ring further afield yesterday and where getting told Feb 🙄

I transported an un neutered cat. And my friend fostered him for a couple of days until I could get him to the rescue. The smell was horrendous. Fortunately she'd got a wet room to put him in. He's now the soppiest cat in the world apparently.

Not sure if it's because he has cryptorchidism that it's making it harder to get an appointment. We only got told on Sunday by his previous owner (family member) that he has this.

It's been last minute me taken him to be honest as I'd of sorted out his neutering sooner.

He's my uncles cat who is moving to a flat who don't allow pets. He's already been moved twice in the last month poor thing. Someone else was meant to take him but let my uncle down last minute. We contacted rescues but they all full at the moment and he was on a waiting list.

I felt so sorry for him and although it's not been ideal as we only have a small home and toddler we will make it work.

I just wasn't prepared for the spraying as never dealt with it before.

As I said my previous cat was a girl and neutered straight away.

He's a very gentle and soft cat anyway but I imagine will be even more so after neutering.

He really should of been neutered earlier with his condition as well.

I will keep him in the room for now am just a softie and worry about him. Sounds like it hasn't bothered other cats. Am just use to my old cats behaviour who would go mental if even the door was shut on her for 5 mins.

He sounds lovely 😻

Tom cat urine smells horrendously bad - I really do sympathise.

Re. transport you may find that a local dog walker could do that for you. I offer it as part of my business. I've taken dogs (and cats) to appointments before and picked them up afterwards - the owners just pay over the phone or transfer the money to me to pay when I'm there.

It's definitely worth asking.

We have rang a lot of vets and all saying January.

Am just really down because the smell is really affecting me. I don't even want to be in my own home as it's that bad.

UV light was a great shout as I thought he only sprayed on one part of the chair but found out it was loads of spots. I gave it a really good clean with bio washing powder and warm water. Then vinegar and warm water and finally the enzyme cleaner the extra strength one. Smell seems to be gone.

However he is in my toddlers bedroom (toddler sleeps with me) and the smell is unbearable. It's acting smelling out the whole house it's that bad. We only have a small two up, two down and the stairs are in the living room so the smell just travels down.

I am going to give it a massive deep clean when he has gone to the vets for neutering. I open the window in there everyday for an hour (turning heat on etc so it's not cold for him) I am always checking and cleaning his litter tray as well. I've cleaned where he has sprayed in the room as well.

Am thinking now maybe he has a stress uti and that's what it's so bad.

I think am going have to get an emergency appointment this week to just see a vet for a check over.

Just hope it stops when he is neutered as I can't live with this smell.

As I said I've had a cat before and she god bless her had accidents when she was older and I could deal with the smell.
My husband is even struggling with the smell and he is basically nose blind

That does sound really grim, glad the UV torch and enzyme cleaner are helping though.

Did you speak to any local rescues?

You're doing great

Sorry didn't know I had gotten a response.
Spoke to local rescues and they don't have the facilities to taken on anymore neutering at the moment. They are in on dated as apparently a huge unneuterred cat population in my area.

He is booked in for this Thursday. Thank God as he is desperate to get out and seems a bit depressed.

Luckily am working from home now up until Christmas and then off for a good 2 weeks so can take care of him x

That is great news. Fingers crossed it helps 🤞🏼

Well he's finally neutered (obviously it's too early to see if it's stopped the spraying) I believe it takes a couple months for the hormones to settle down anyway after op. His pee seems less smelly anyway. He already seems more calm and loving. Looking forward to him being able to actually explore the house and settle in properly.

That does sound hopeful!