I have an almost 3 year old male cat who will not stop spraying in my house.
Itās in every room over beds, sofas, carpets even up the walls!
The smell is absolutely awful even after cleaning with enzyme spray.
Iāve tried Feliway and itās made absolutely no difference, taken him to the vets and thereās nothing wrong with him.
Thereās multiple litter boxes in the house with different types of litter in and he goes outside and heās neutered.
This is a daily occurrence and Iāve already had to replace so much furniture, the smell is making me feel ill and I actually donāt know how much more of this I can take, itās been going on for the last 2 years and my house is getting to the point of no return.
Brief Answer:
Your situation involves severe, chronic, widespread stress-induced marking that has become a deeply ingrained habit, overriding typical solutions.
Since your cat is neutered, medically clear, and you have tried Feliway and multiple litter boxes without success, the problem is not a simple fix, but a complex interaction between his environment, deeply learned behavior, and likely, the lingering presence of undetected marking pheromones despite your cleaning efforts.
The critical next steps are an aggressive, targeted clean-up and a fundamental re-engineering of your cat’s environment using a professional behavioral framework.
You must use a UV blacklight to find all previous spray sites (including on walls) and use industrial-strength enzymatic cleaning, soaking the areas thoroughly.
Since Feliway failed, it was likely used incorrectly or the stress is too high; you need to re-evaluate placement and use the Feliway Classic, not MultiCat.
I strongly recommend immediately implementing the structured, systematic, “Taste, Touch, Smell” approach found in Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse.
This program is designed for precisely these entrenched, frustrating cases and will provide the comprehensive plan you need to break this two-year habit and save your home.
Detailed Answer:
It is deeply distressing to face two years of constant spraying that is making you ill and destroying your property; your frustration is completely valid.
The fact that the spraying is so widespread – on beds, sofas, carpets, and walls – indicates your cat feels his entire world is constantly under threat, or he perceives his scent-marks are not surviving, compelling him to remark constantly.
Since he is neutered and medically clear, the cause is purely behavioral, and the solution must be equally comprehensive.
Your previous attempts failed likely due to two reasons: the incomplete removal of odor and a non-specific behavioral plan.
First, Aggressive Cleaning Protocol.
Your current enzyme spray is likely not getting to the root of the problem, especially on porous surfaces like sofas and carpets, where urine soaks deep into the padding.
This is a cost-effective necessity to save the remaining structural integrity of your home.
You must purchase a powerful UV Blacklight to inspect every single room, including high up the walls and underneath furniture.
Cat urine stains glow under UV light, revealing every missed spot.
Once located, you need to use a high-concentration, industrial-strength enzymatic cleaner (you may need to try a different brand like Anti-Icky Poo or a professional pet-grade enzyme solution) and saturate the area far beyond the visible stain.
For furniture and carpets, you often need to treat the padding beneath to fully break down the odor-causing uric acid crystals and powerful marking pheromones.
If the smell is making you ill, the odors are chemically bonded to surfaces and demanding remarking.
Second, Systematic Behavioral Overhaul.
Since Feliway failed, you need to review its use.
Was it the Classic (calming) or MultiCat (social) version?
Was it placed in a high-traffic area, or near a window?
You may need to use multiple Feliway Classic diffusers simultaneously in the rooms he marks most often to create an undeniable atmosphere of security.
Given the complexity and chronicity, you need a highly structured, non-generic plan.
This is where a resource like Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse becomes invaluable.
It is not just another product; it’s a comprehensive guide to understanding why your cat’s environment is causing this, addressing the “Taste, Touch, Smell” factors that trigger a cat’s instinctual marking.
It will guide you through creating high-value territory, eliminating triggers, and systematically breaking the two-year habit with personalized strategies, proving to be the most cost-effective solution against replacing more 100s or 1000s worth of belongings.
Third, Litter Box Re-evaluation.
While you have multiple boxes, check the size, depth of litter, and location.
They must be large, uncovered, and placed in quiet, low-traffic areas of the houseānot near food, water, or noisy appliances.
Since he goes outside, ensure he is not stressed by anything related to the outdoor access (e.g., stray cats, noise) that he is then bringing the anxiety inside to mark.
You need to combine the behavioral plan with the cleaning to finally break this destructive cycle.
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