How can neutered cats still spray

There are also natural remedies to help with spraying behavior, which should be discussed with a veterinarian prior to using. It also is important to thoroughly scrub the area where the cat has urinated, cleaning it with enzymatic deodorizers to get rid of the smell , which your cat can find appealing. Working with your vet, you should be able to solve the problem in a way that makes everyone happy. In all cases, cats should be spayed and neutered to prevent the hormonal influence as well as for the health of the cat , Dr.

Cox notes. Home Cat Care Center. Do Female Cats Spray? Written by: PetMD Editorial. Published: June 10, What Exactly is Cat Spraying? Nosy neighbors Sometimes the stressor is literally outside your window in the form of stray or neighboring outdoor cats. See Also:. Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Yes No. Share this article. What did you find helpful? What was not helpful? The litter should be cleaned daily and changed at least once a week, and proper odor neutralizing products should be used on any sprayed sites.

In addition any factors that might be causing the cat to avoid the use of its litter should be considered. If marking appears to be stimulated by cats outside of the home, then the best options are to find a way to deter the cats from coming onto the property or prevent the indoor cat from seeing, smelling or hearing these cats.

It may be helpful to house your cat in a room away from windows and doors to the outdoors, or it may be possible to block visual access to windows.

When you are home and supervising you can allow your cat limited access to these areas. It also may be necessary to keep windows closed to prevent the inside cat from smelling the cats outside, and to use odor neutralizers on any areas where the outdoor cats have eliminated or sprayed. If the problem is due to social interactions inside the home, it may be necessary to determine which cats do not get along.

Keep these cats in separate parts of the home with their own litter and sleeping areas. Reintroduction of the cats may be possible when they are properly supervised. Allowing the cats together for positive experiences such as feeding, treats and play sessions, helps them to get used to the presence of each other, at least on a limited basis.

However, when numbers of cats in a home reach cats you will often have spraying and marking. What else can be done to reduce the problem? Cleaning alone does little to reduce spraying. Cats that mark in one or two particular areas may cease if the function of the area is changed. It is unlikely that cats will spray in their feeding, sleeping or scratching areas. It has also been shown that cats that mark an area with cheek glands are less likely to mark in other ways such as with urine.

In fact it might be said that cats that use their cheek glands are marking in a more calm, familiar manner while those that urine mark are doing so in a more reactive, anxious manner. A commercial product containing synthetic facial pheromone Feliway has proven to be an effective way of reducing urine marking in some cats.

When sprayed on areas where cats have sprayed urine or on those areas where it can be anticipated that the cat is likely to spray, it may decrease the likelihood of additional spraying in those areas. The scent of the pheromone may stimulate cheek gland marking bunting , rather than urine spraying. It has also been used to calm cats in new environments including the veterinary hospital and to help familiarize the cat with a new cage or cat carrier. Manhattan Cat Specialists carries this product.

Over the years many pharmacological means have been tried to control spraying behaviors. The choices have focused on the theory that one of the underlying causes for spraying and marking behaviors is anxiety. For that reason, anti-anxiety drugs have been tried with varying degrees of success.

If your pet feels stressed by other cats they may be urine marking out of anxiety or to show their territory. Outside cats, who may be visiting your garden or walking by, can cause a lot of stress for indoor cats. If this is a factor, you can try to stop other cats from visiting or close curtains and blinds to stop your kitty from seeing them.

If you have any existing spray marks in your home, make sure you clean these as soon as possible! Otherwise, the scent of the marks will be a strong reminder to your kitty to come back and spray again!

Make sure you use an enzyme-based cleaner never one that contains ammonia to clean any spray sites and keep your home feeling fresh.

Some health problems can cause your pet to urinate or mark outside of their litter box, so be sure to get them checked for any underlying problems. Does your cat have a calm, positive environment they can escape to? Our kitties like the reassurance of a controlled, structured environment with a clear routine - without it, they may spray out of stress or anxiety. To create a reassuring space, make sure you feed your cat at a similar time each day, provide regular play sessions, and give them lots of regular attention!

You should also try to limit any stress factors where possible. New people, new pets or even changes in your home such as decorating may all cause kitty stress.