Cat spraying

[netibiza]

He is a neutered tom, lives with a spayed female, I've had them both for about 7 yrs, he has complete access at all time to our huge garden , but insists on spraying in the house, and if i don't find it quick enough it stinks. He did it right in front of me yesteday! driving me mad. As soon as I find it I wash it with vinegar and that gets rid of the smell but sometimes it lingers and I can't find it. There are other cats who bully him in our garden

[gallapunk]

It must be a real pain in the bum, there is no worse smell than cat spray. Well not to me anyhow. Sorry if I'm suggesting things you've already tried, but can you chase other cats away when you see them so that he feels more confident in the garden? I know you can't spend your life running in and out, but is there something you could rig up with a sensor that would either spray other cats with water or make a loud (ish) noise to scare them away, but that you can turn off when your cats are in the garden (and not annoy the neighbours lol)? If the other cats that bully your tom belong to neighbours, is there any chance of talking to them to arrange for your cats to be allowed out at different times?

I also read somewhere that if cats are fouling the same places all the time, putting their food there should help because they don't like toileting (or spraying) where they eat.

I'm probably clutching at straws a bit, so hope someone can come up with somethingt useful. Best of luck.

[jules77]

I have no idea if this is right, but I read somewhere that if a tom is not neutered early enough, or before it gets into the habit of spraying, he will continue to do it afterwards.

I think you need to ensure you are washing the area well, I would think that the vinegar smell is almost as unpleasant as the spraying? You can use biological washing powder, and some zoflora will give it a more pleasant aroma, but I would be inclined to buy some specialised cleaner on line specifically for the purpose.

Dont know how to stop him doing it though, sorry.

[netibiza]

Thanks, am going to put him into nappies.

[jelly baby]

I don't think that having them castrated young makes a difference. Our 2 were done at 5 months and still spray from time to time, especially around larger plants. We found they preferred the area around the xmas tree, I guess they thought they were outdoors. Whatever you do don't use bleach to clean where the cat has sprayed, it actually attracts them back!! We had to replace the carpet cos they kept going back to the same place.
I have been advised to use a citrus spray or window cleaning spray to discourage them, and I removed all floor standing plants. This has worked so far! I also kept them out of the room with the xmas tree this time.

[iheartruby]

Buy a product called PetFresh, also known as Urine Off - available online. Bit pricey but it's the best. U need to completely remove his smell or he will top up any traces he can smell.....
galla is right - u need to make him feel more secure or this will continue - I've had it for years from my neutered but very nervous female. Try to stop him looking out of your window into the garden where he can see the other cats.
Good luck - this is a toughie.......

[Katy May]

My neutered male cat did this and it turned out he had cystitis. It can clear up on its own but often doesn't and can be caused by stress. Is he washing his 'bits' a lot? Also, there may be blood in the urine - that's how we realised he wasn't just being annoying and territorial - when it was scarlet **** all down the newly decorated walls! It's easily cured but in some cases can lead to a blockage of the urinary tract which is a very nasty condition - you only have 24 hrs to get them to the vets in that scenario.

We used something called 'odour off' which gets rid of the smell completely.

Good luck