Hey all Cat experts I have a question for you.

My 4 y/o fixed male cat has suddenly started spraying. What can I do about it? He is an indoor cat and recently has taken up spraying by the sliding glass door. I have squirted him a couple of times with a water gun, and that stops him for the moment. Is there anything that I can do to get him to quit? He is an indoor cat and never goes outside.

Thanks Bunches, Sheeple

-- (Sheeple@Greener.Pastures), May 12, 2000

Answers

Sheeple,

Have you introduced another animal into the household? Sometimes that will trigger the marking activity.

He may also have a urinary infection. He associates pain with the litter box so he tries to avoid it by peeing on your possessions. (Notice he never pees on his own). If you can, check to see if there may be blood in his urine.

Male cats are susceptible to bladder stones, so if you haven't already started feeding the urinary formula food (several companies make the stuff) I would switch to using it. We feed one cat the expensive stuff from the vet, but the others just eat the urinary care stuff from Nine Lives.

I hope you can get the spraying stopped. It really gets infuriating in a very short time.

Gene

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), May 12, 2000.

Gene,

Haven't introduced a new animal into the house, but there is a stray that has been coming around some at night. They used to fight thru the window. Maybe that is what it is, or the urinary infection. I guess I should take him to the vet and have him checked out.

Thanks!

-- (Sheeple@Greener.Pastures), May 12, 2000.

I would get rid of the cat. YUCK!

-- helen (home@the.farm), May 13, 2000.

helen,

Your answer dis-qualifies you as a "Cat Person". Please refrain from further answers on this thread, thank you.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), May 13, 2000.

Unk, it's really a reflection that males of whatever species can't be housebroken and should be caged outside next to the beer frig.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), May 18, 2000.

Brooks, it's just all that beer they drink ;-)

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), May 19, 2000.

On a more constructive note... I highly recommend a book called "Twisted Whiskers: Solving Your Cat's Behavior Problems" by Pam Johnson, The Crossing Press. (my copy was $12.95 paperback).

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), May 20, 2000.

Finally--my computer is back from the cleaners! Hi, Sheeple!

PetsMart, Drs. Foster & Smith and, no doubt, other pet places sell pheromone-based liquids which discourage the cat from respraying. Supposedly. It works for a while--I repeat-spray about once a week. The spray also neutralizes any odor. Both PS and F&S have websites and you can order on line.

Male cats mark their territory by spraying; your cat is merely saying to the stray, "This is MY house. Now piss off." (To coin a phrase.) Since my oldest cat died, two of the males have been vying for Top Cat status (technically known as "Despot"--the lowest on the totem pole is "Pariah.") They've been having a pissing contest and the spray has saved their necks. I simply taped a piece of plastic over their favorite spot, making sure to overlap the carpet underneath to catch any runoff, and use the liquid to clean the plastic and discourage their behavior. They're tapering off but I think it's mainly because they've agreed that the big grey one is Despot. Oh--clean the outside of the glass too--the stray has probably been spraying as well. When I found evidence of mice in the attic I used the pheromone spray up there and it seems to have scared off the little varmints, tricked them into thinking cats live up there too. Now if only I could find a spray for bats in the belfry.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), May 22, 2000.

I may not be a cat person, but OG's solution to mice deserves a standing ovation! I shall use it at once. Before the husband comes home with the c-c-cat he asked his boss for...

-- helen (inthesw@amp.today), May 22, 2000.

I have been on a couple different web sites. I am having this same problem. I don't have any other cats. Sammy- my orange male, neutered, declawed, indoor cat just started spraying as well. He only started after 2.5 years. I think he started because he has fully matured. I used to socialize him with two other indoor cats. 3/15/03- He sprayed in my boyfriends parents house where the other two cats are located and I stopped taking him there. About 3 weeks later, I came home from work and there was sammy looking at me spraying an arm chair that my boyfriends parents had given me. After utter shock, I looked at the chair and noticed he had been donig it for a while because it was all over, but it didn't smell. So I got rid of the Chair and he hasn't sprayed anything else in my apartment. I might take him to the vet to have him checked out. I also am going to limit his window view, and keep him away from unfamiliar situations, and other cats. I love my cat soo much but I can't live with an animal peeing on my stuff. It's not healthy. I'll let you know what happens... 4/5/03

-- Jenny (karolewj@hotmail.com), April 07, 2003.

If you find a solution, please let me know. I got my cat from the Animal Rescue League, and now I know why. He is fixed and male, and he pees on briefcases, clothes on the floor and blankets. We thought it was his way of getting back at us for leaving for a weekend every now and then, but recently, there seems to be no reason. Is it just a male cat thing? Will he ever stop?

-- Annie Lenocker (anniegrl1@hotmail.com), November 30, 2004.