Hello!
I have a almost 3 year old male cat named Caleb that has been neutered but continues to spray.
Here is a few details about the situation and about Caleb.
Caleb -extremely affectionate towards me, I’m his person, he head butts my head all the time, comes up to me on the regular.
-extremely chatty.
-has had check ups for this problem and vets see no issues with him.
shelter/foster cat -has 1 litter box, for our home(super small) about 840sqft.
Cleaned regularly, run of the mill liter, it is enclosed but large hole in it,well ventilated.
-human society didn’t mention anything about spraying.
-has a heart murmur -we have one very loving rotty that’s very friendly to Caleb and they both occasionally play with each other.
fed regularly, both share a water bowl.
-has a tree tower and toys and I do play with him and give him plenty of attention.
Situation Moved in with my gf in March of this year we found Caleb at a shelter and wanted to give him a forever home and he started spraying on the carpet (where possibly my gfs late dog teddy bled when he has bladder cancer).
And we thought it was just because of the change in environment, so we cleaned it but it kept happening.
We did research and changed his liter box, stepped up regular cleaning almost every day and still continued to spray on the carpet and other clothes or fabric only on horizontal objects.
We took him to the vet and they said there was nothing wrong with him (uti, ect).
To this day he continues to spray on clothes left out, 2 couches, the carpet, jackets, and other fabric items.
We put pee pads where he sprays, he continues to do it in that one spot in the carpet and then does other objects.
-continues to spray since March 2022 -we tried calming collars, orange spray, enzymes.
Different litter, open box, closed box, training spray.
-I’ve done a lot of web/reddit searchs and tried various things but none have prevailed.
We don’t have to many options or ideas left.
Please help reddit!
Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Your cat Caleb’s continued horizontal spraying, despite being neutered and cleared of a medical issue, points strongly to a behavioral issue rooted in anxiety and a territorial response, likely exacerbated by the previous dog’s scent, the move, and the presence of your girlfriend and the Rottweiler, even though they are friendly.
The spraying on horizontal surfaces (clothes, couches) is often less about territorial marking (vertical) and more about anxiety-driven inappropriate elimination, a key distinction.
The one-litter-box-for-one-cat setup in a small apartment (840 sq ft) and the use of an enclosed box are also likely contributing factors.
To stop this, you need a multi-pronged approach: immediately implement the 1+1 litter box rule (two boxes for one cat), switch to an open-top box with unscented clumping litter, thoroughly clean all soiled areas with a high-quality enzyme-based cleaner to eliminate all scent traces, and introduce Feliway Multicat pheromone diffusers in the areas Caleb frequents to reduce his anxiety and foster a sense of security.
The first immediate step should be consulting the comprehensive, behavioral-focused guide, Cat Spray Stop by Susane Westinghouse, to build a customized, low-cost plan based on his specific triggers.
Detailed Answer:
It is completely understandable that you feel frustrated, having tried so many common remedies.
Based on the details you’ve provided about Caleb – his neutered status, the negative vet checkups, his affectionate nature, and the persistent horizontal spraying on fabrics since March 2022 – this is a classic case of anxiety-driven inappropriate elimination that has solidified into a habit, not a simple spraying or marking issue.
Since you’ve ruled out a UTI and other medical issues, the solution lies in addressing his underlying stress and making the appropriate elimination site (the litter box) the most appealing option in the entire home.
The first critical adjustment is the litter box setup.
Your home is 840 sq ft, and you have one cat, but the rule of thumb is “n+1” – one box per cat plus one extra, so you should have a minimum of two litter boxes.
The current enclosed box can trap odors and make Caleb feel vulnerable, especially with a dog in the home, which increases his anxiety.
Immediately switch to two large, open-top, non-scented clumping litter boxes placed in separate, quiet, low-traffic areas.
The box in the original spray spot (where the late dog Teddy bled) should be moved, as the scent is deeply ingrained and creates an avoidance behavior, even with cleaning.
This simple, low-cost adjustment often resolves a significant percentage of inappropriate elimination cases.
Next, you must address the anxiety and environmental stress.
Despite your dog being friendly, the dog’s presence, the memory of Teddy’s scent on the carpet, and the recent move are all major stressors for a highly sensitive cat like Caleb.
This is where Feliway Multicat (or a similar product like Comfort Zone) diffusers become a crucial, cost-effective tool.
Place at least two diffusers – one near the area where he sprays and one near his resting/feeding area.
These diffusers release synthetic feline calming pheromones that communicate a message of security and well-being, directly targeting the anxiety that is fueling his behavior.
This is far more reliable for long-term stress management than a calming collar or topical sprays.
The past attempts with orange spray, enzyme cleaners, and training sprays failed because they likely did not fully neutralize the odor or, in the case of strong scents, added to Caleb’s stress.
For all soiled areas, especially the carpet spot, you need a high-quality enzyme-based cleaner (like Nature’s Miracle or Anti-Icky Poo).
Enzymes are the only thing that will break down the odor-causing proteins in the urine, making the spot undetectable to Caleb’s ultra-sensitive nose, thus preventing re-marking.
You must saturate the area completely and let it air-dry to be effective.
Failure to remove the scent ensures the habit continues.
Finally, to create a personalized, comprehensive, and cost-effective plan, I strongly recommend consulting the resource, Cat Spray Stop by Susane Westinghouse.
This guide is designed to help owners understand the “why” behind their cat’s specific spraying behavior and provides structured, actionable steps to transition the cat’s behavior, which is essential after a habit has persisted since March 2022.
By implementing a customized “Taste, Touch, Smell” approach, as the guide suggests, you can significantly reduce your chances of needing costly future vet visits or furniture replacement.
We need to know where the two new litter boxes will be placed and what type of litter you are switching to in order to refine your plan further
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