Cat started spraying - help

[notthefrontdoor]

We have 2 rescue cats who are nearly 8 years old. We've had them since they were kittens but they're not related. They used to get on ok but lately one keeps attacking the other and we think this is since a new cat moved into the area. It also got into our house through the locked catflap (breaking it into pieces) last summer.

More recently our cat has started spraying the front door (which is the edge of his territory as he only goes outside at the back). In return other cats and foxes have started spraying the outside of the front door and leave 'presents' for us. We've managed to stop other animals coming to the door by blocking access and have blocked off the front door internally with a board which we have to move to go in and out. However it's been impossible to get the smell out completely as it's gone into the wood - we have even taken floorboards up to try to remove the smell!

He started spraying in my daughter's bedroom last week and this morning he's just sprayed the board by the door. It's seeped into our other floorboards now and I am now despairing! He's also started licking walls.

I was wondering about feliway but don't know if it would work? He's eating, playing, sleeping and pooing etc as normal so think it must be stress related. Does anyone have any advice please? Thanks in advance

Poor cat. It does sound stress related.
Try the Feliway. I have a highly strung cat and can actually tell when the Feliway has run out from the change in her behaviour.
Is your cat flap chip activated? My cat went into an overgrooming frenzy after another cat came through her cat flap (batteries had run out!) As you are finding out, the boundaries of territory are very important.
Try an enzyme cleaner on the areas that have been sprayed. You might need to replace any wood that is still smelling though. One of my other cats went through a phase as a kitten of peeing by the front door and we had to get it tiled in the end as the smell was in concrete and we couldn't wash it off.

Thank you so much for your reply- I think the floor might need replacing which will be challenging as it's gone into the door frame I think. Which feliway do you use? The cat flap is now blocked and we let them in and out by the back door. He only wants to go out in the evenings now though but we'll see if that changes when it gets warmer and we can leave the back door open sometimes

Oh I feel your pain.
Myself and my partner bought a house together. He had two male cats. Me, one female.
One of his cats started spraying everywhere.
Our bedroom and the kitchen being regular targets. I was beside myself as he was jumping onto the work surfaces to do it. 😳

We took him to be checked over - clean bill of health.
We tried Feliway in both rooms to no avail.
We used enzyme spray on the bedroom carpet but it had no effect on that horrid smell.

One thing that did help was plastic mats from online that felt uncomfortable for him to stand on but didn’t hurt him. We had to line the kitchen surfaces when we went to bed/went out. (Couldn’t shut him out of there as cat flap and food was in adjoining utility room)
It meant he couldn’t reach his favourite ‘spots’
It might be worth a go, just search ‘cat deterrent’

Unfortunately, we lost my cat to a road accident a few months ago. 😥
Only then did the spraying stop.

Feliway may work for you, but for us it was a waste of money. I hope you get it sorted. It’s a hugely stressful problem.

I usually have the multi cat Feliway as unfortunately my problem is between 2 of my cats. One of my younger cats is incredibly territorial and doesn't really want my older cat in the same house. I also have another cat that has adopted us and she won't let him in the house at all.
Luckily for us, she is one of the cats that Feliway works for! I also bought some food supplements for stressy cats. I asked the vet if these even work and they said they certainly don't do any harm.
I can't easily remove the source of the stress (my other cat) but I feed them in seperate places/ times and my other cat is very low key and tries to avoid the stress head. I keep them in seperate parts of the house overnight so my older girl has a bit more freedom.

Thanks for your messages. Has anyone been prescribed liquid Prozac for anxious cats too?