My Cat is a Behavioral Sprayer - WWYD?

[bumblecat]

I am coming to my wits end with my cat and am really at a loss. He is almost 8 years old and I have had him since he was maybe 6 mos. or so. Not sure because he adopted me. Anyway, he has been with me through a lot and I love him so much. I feel a really strong responsibility toward him to take care of him, whatever he needs.

The problem is, he sprays in the house. I had him neutered when I decided to keep him, but it was a bit late already. He never started spraying until I had had him for over a year. We moved to a new place and he started doing it then and has done it ever since. We have moved 3 times since then, most recently 4 months ago. I have ruled out medical reasons - it is definitely behavioral. I have tried everything I can think of and everything I've read about and everything suggested by his vet, but he still does it. At this point I have had to accept that this is his way of dealing with any sort of dissatisfaction. I cannot anticipate and prevent or control everything that is going to make him anxious or unhappy. There is only so much I can do, and when I'm doing all I can, he's still going to get upset about something I can't understand and spray. He's very affectionate and sweet though - this is the only problem we have with him.

Now we are expecting our first baby in October, and I'm having a harder time with it, because I know now that I've tried everything and that as long as we have him, this is going to be happening to some extent. I really don't know if I can continue to live with it, but I also know that if I were to come to the point where I decided I couldn't, he has nowhere to go. Who in their right mind is going to take on an 8 year old cat with a chronic and unresolvable spraying habit? I feel like if I were to give him up, he would only and up being euthanized because of it. And so I feel sentenced to search for and clean up cat pee all over my house for the rest of his life. It feels so hopeless. What would you do?

[heartmama]

I really empathize because this is the very kind of dilemma I most dislike having to think about handling.

I do not think you are obligated to live with the spraying. I know I would not be able to handle it.

You have ruled out all possible medical causes and done all you can on the behavior end?

I suppose to be blunt, your choices are to confine the cat to a small area, to make him an outdoor cat, to euthanize him, or rehome him. People are going to agree or disagree with some or all of those choices--I am just laying out the only options that come to mind.

I suppose that for me, personally, I would do a combination of confining in the home and creating outdoor access. I don't know that I would let the cat roam free outside--I would do my best to create some kind of enclosure. I am just thinking 'out loud'. But yes some kind of limited indoor access and some outside access would be the best compromise for my particular values regarding pet ownership. Although I totally agree with the indoor cat movement (and my own cats are indoor-only) I do not go so far as to say that being outdoors is worse than being euthanized. If the cat does well outdoors, with limited indoor access--well, I would probably give it a try.

I could not euthanize for this although I understand others could. But for me, I couldn't 'pull the trigger' even if I theoretically saw the logic (and I do understand the logic). Realistically, I can't see myself going through with it if the cat was otherwise perfectly healthy and well behaved.

Rehoming would be perfect, but like you said, not easy.

[bumblecat]

Thanks and i agree with you. I have 2 cats and the other one is FIV positive (though sympton free) so he cannot go outside except in an enclosure so that he doesn't have contact with other cats. I used to let the spraying cat roam free outside before I moved to my new house because I didn't really have another option since I was living with 3 roommates and was renting and didn't have the resources to create an enclosure. If he wasn't allowed out, he would make everyone miserable not only with spraying but also yowling. I couldn't ask my roommates to deal with that so I let himgo out even though I hated to.

In the new house we have the backyard enclosed and they do not escape. It's great for the FIV one since he couldn't go out at all since he was diagnosed a couple years ago. The spraying one however can't seem to get over his desire to get out in the neighborhood and roam like he used to. The backyard is just grass at this point and we are working on doing some landscaping - adding plants and maybe even a small pond and things that might help make it more interesting for him back there. And the back door leads in to a landing where you can either come up in to the main floor or go to the basement, which we may build a wall in the basement so they can go down there but not have access to the laundry area etc. So in the near future, having a cat door in the back door and leaving the door shut to the main floor could be something I could feel ok about. They'd have access to the backyard and half of the basement and we could let them into the rest of the house when we are available to pay attention to them. I think that might work. In the mean time, I just have to figure out how to get the pee smell out of the side of my couch. Arrgghh.

[annekevdbroek]

We had a cat who sprayed *everything* including us while we were sleeping. It destroyed the house. My husband and I had huge arguments about it (he refused to do anything about the problem but screamed at me about the odor.). I was eventually able to rehome the cat with full honesty about his issues. If I had not been able to rehome him I would have taken him to an animal shelter.

I would try the outside access and see if that works. If not, maybe you can find a farm home for him?

[phatchristy]

Generally, getting a male neutered before sexual maturity eliminates this possibility. However, still 90% of males who are neutered after sexual maturity will still stop spraying. It may be that you have one of those 10%.

My Chance is a retired showcat and breeder. I was a little worried at first--this guy sprayed all the time in his cage and would roll in it. His breeder had him neutered and we waited 5 weeks until I brought him home. He stopped spraying about 2 weeks after his neutering and has NOT sprayed (knock on wood) in the years he's been with me.

However, she has had cats who continued. They are not rehomable. Generally they live the rest of their lives in a cattery situation. Where the floors/sometimes halfway up the walls have tile/linoleum for easy cleanup. If it were me, if I had an outdoor enclosed run, as you do, I would definitely consider that as the option. Unless you have a completely sealed indoor room (tile, etc.) I don't see another sane option.

Another caution to you, if he is indoor, make sure to have the outlet covers on. Because I have heard of one breeder who had a fire drom a male spraying into an outlet.

[heartmama]

I did think of one other option you didn't mention--medication. Not sure if it would help or not, but if the spraying is anxiety induced, or something similar, medication is another option I thought about...

[sarafi]

you might be surprised

If you lay out all that you have done, what your living situations have been like, what seems to trigger (if you can pinpoint it), etc.

Rehoming may be an option, maybe this cat needs a single person no other animal situation to stop spraying and be at peace. Contact a rescue, work with them. They will probably have you do things you have already, but if it really is unbearable they may be able to find a home that will fit your cat.

Please be patient, rescues get a lot of people that have done "everything" and their resources are slim but if you work with them they will work with you. IME

[bumblecat]

Originally Posted by heartmama

I did think of one other option you didn't mention--medication. Not sure if it would help or not, but if the spraying is anxiety induced, or something similar, medication is another option I thought about...

Yes, this is the one thing I have not tried with him and I have been thinking about trying it. I think we are going to have the backyard ready for him soon though and then we'll work on getting a wall built in the basement to separate the laundry area and another cat-free area for storage and then i'll make the rest of it a nicer place for them to be. If they do ok being outside/in the basement when we're not here or too busy to pay attention to them, meaning if he doesn't cry to come in constantly, or to get out of the yard, then I think that will work. If he still seems restless all the time I might consider an anti-anxiety for him. I just don't want to zombify him.

[larzanna]

I have having my own cat pee problem currently. My 8 year old cat has decided that she does not like the new baby (4 months old). Ohhh at least i think its her as i have 6 of them.
Anyway, in the past i have had success with the anxiety meds, i would for sure try that! Thats the next step on my list with mine....

You want a 2nd peeing cat??

[Kristin0105]

I am wondering what things you have tried? Not to hijack your thread but our 12 year old cat started spraying this year after we rescued another cat. He does it when he wants to go outside and we don't let him out immediately. I try to keep him in during the day but he wants to be an outdoor cat so he will meow to go out and if we don't let him out right away he pees. gross! : I am not sure what to do to stop this behavior. Right now what we do is put him in the garage where his litter box and food are kept. So he gets the idea if he pees inside he cannot go out where he really wants to be. Any advice is welcome. again sorry to hijack your thread.

[2cutiekitties]

this is the reason we have yet to add another cat to a household with an established 9 yr old cat. We are scared to death of peeing from any cats.

[bumblecat]

Originally Posted by Kristin0105

He does it when he wants to go outside and we don't let him out immediately.

This is the biggest trigger for my cat too, although there are a host of other things that will set him off as well. I have chosen not to let him out the front door to roam free since we moved 5 months ago. He still cries to go out the front door, even though we have never let him, because he was used to being allowed to at the old house. I also have resorted to shutting him in the basement for awhile after catching him in the act, but I have no idea what effect this might have on the behavior, I just get pissed and don't want to see him for awhile. I don't know if a cat can learn from a negative consequence like that, but he does run under our bed now when he knows I've seen him spray something.

Anyway, our attempt at a solution is in the works and hopefully will be effective. We just built a new wood fence completely around our backyard, and we screwed in L brackets at the top of the fence every 8 ft or so which we will be attaching a wire mesh strip that will come in about 1.5 ft at a right angle. This worked when we had the wire fence so hopefully it will still work with the new wood fence to keep them in the yard. I ordered a cat flap door which should come any day which we'll put in the back door for them.

All summer, we had the wire fence with the enclosure top and left the door open for them when we were home since we hadn't bought a cat flap yet. They would spend a lot of time out there, and one of them seemed perfectly content with that arrangement. However, the other one would still come in to cry at the front door. The backyard bored him after awhile. So now, we have consulted with a landscaper and made plans for the backyard to get much more interesting with different areas and plant beds and things for them to explore. We aren't doing that for the cats, but for us and the new baby. But I expect it will help with the cats as well so they will enjoy being out there more. We plan on having a cat garden in a raised bed covered with wide mesh so plants can grow through, but the cats can't get at the roots, and we'll plant things in it that are supposed to be attractive to them like catnip, thyme, dittany of crete, baby blue eyes, & alyssium.

I feel really lucky to be able to do all this and I realize that a lot of people wouldn't be able to make their space work this way. The thing with behavioral spraying is that IME the only thing that prevents it is addressing the reason they are doing it. In the case that it's because the cat wants to go outside and is not allowed... it's tough. I am hoping that my backyard solution will appease my cat and he will stop being so focused on going out the front to roam. But if not, I will have to keep him out of the house when I will not be able to pay attention to him (keep an eye on him). If the only space you can make for your cat to be out of the house is in the garage, that doesn't sound like a good plan for him. If you feel strongly about not letting him outside and you don't have a backyard that could be enclosed, then he may keep peeing.

If the behavior change is just because of the new cat and he has never been an outside cat and never been so interested in going out before, then maybe there are dominance issues that could be addressed. Make sure you honor your cat's hierarchy. Here aresome ways I know of to do that:

*Pay attention to (greet and pet) the dominant cat first upon entering a space where they both are.

*If the dominant cat attempts to engage your attention while you are paying attention to the other cat (the submissive) then let him interrupt even if it means physically putting the submissive cat aside to engage the dominant cat.

*If there are spots the dominant cat prefers to sit or sleep (a window ledge or piece of furniture or position on the bed, etc.) do not allow the submissive cat to use those spots, especially when the dominant cat is present.

*If the cats are allowed to sleep on your bed, do not allow the new cat to lay closer to the head of the bed than the dominant cat.

*At feeding time, make sure the dominant cat gets a chance to start eating first.

Basically, any time there is any sort of privilege, make sure the dominant cat is first. The new cat should accept its status as the submissive. If it seems to be trying to assert dominance over your old cat, that needs to be stopped. I don't know if you can really make a cat accept a submissive position if it isn't willing to. All I know is how to reinforce your dominant cat's confidence in his position if he feels it is threatened.

You can also try Feliway outlet diffusers, as they're supposed to help cats feel more at ease. I tried them with little success, but I have heard other people's stories that they worked. Some people also think Rescue Remedy can help cats feel at ease if you rub it on their ears or put a few drops in their water. Flower Essence remedies are homeopathic and I personally don't believe in homeopathic treatments beyond use as a placebo, and placebos don't work on animals, but that's only my opinion. My vet has recommended trying it and I know a lot of people who use flower essences on themselves and their pets and feel that they help, so you can try it if that's your thing.

If you can't make a safe outdoor space, you could try having some potted plants at the cat's level that they will like - that might help if he wants to go out due to restlessness. Catnip riles them up when they smell it, but calms them down when they eat it. There are other plants they are attracted to that have various effects.

Also, if you are there when he is crying to go out, you can try to distract him with a toy. I have a drawstring that I pulled out of a skirt I didn't want and tied it on the end of a wooden dowel. I just find various bits of things to tie to the end of it, and if I have a free hand when he starts yowling, I dangle it in front of him and he often gets mesmerized and calms down for awhile.

Mind you, it might sound like I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve, but I still have the problem, so there are no guarantees. That's why I'm working on the option of safely excluding him from the main part of the house when necessary, while providing him a decent place to be at those times.

[bumblecat]

holy cow, that was long. oh well, it's a complicated problem. I hope it helps!