Female cat 2 years old and fixed.
We did get another cat not long ago.
That’s when the spraying started.
She was given her own space and litter box.
We eventually had to move her outside because of the ongoing issue.
She sprays so much that the whole outside of our house smells bad.
She’s been to the vet and nothing is wrong with her medical wise.
She was put on meds and that hasn’t even helped the issue.
She’s also a very violent cat and has never been sweet.
I’m at a loss and would like to see if there’s anyone who’s been in the same situation and what could work.
I don’t want to rehome her because she’s sweet with me for the most part.
Brief Answer:
Your 2-year-old fixed female cat’s severe, continuous spraying is an extreme manifestation of territorial and social anxiety triggered by the introduction of the new cat.
Female cats that spray are typically dealing with intense stress.
Moving her outside was an understandable reaction, but it did not solve the problem and actually compounded her stress and territorial panic, shifting the marking location from inside to the exterior of the house, which she now views as her entire threatened territory.
The failed medication suggests the dose or type was insufficient, or it was not coupled with critical environmental changes.
Rehoming her outside is not a solution as it merely moves the problem and exposes her to more stressors.
The only path forward is a structured, behavioral intervention: immediately moving her back into a single, secure sanctuary room indoors, saturating that room with Feliway Classic diffusers to reduce her anxiety, and rigorously following the Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse method to manage the reintroduction process and utilize her attachment to you to build confidence.
Detailed Answer:
Your situation is severe but manageable, focusing on the root cause: extreme, persistent anxiety and territorial distress.
The “violence” and lack of sweetness are often expressions of this profound insecurity.
Since the spraying began upon the arrival of the new cat, that is unequivocally the stress trigger.
Moving her outside inadvertently created a situation where her territory went from a manageable indoor area to the vast, threatening, open space of your home’s exterior, leading to the continuous, widespread spraying you are observing now.
The first, non-negotiable step is to bring her back inside immediately into a single, secure, easily cleaned sanctuary room (e.g., a spare bathroom).
This drastic reduction in territory is a cost-effective way to reduce her immediate urge to mark.
The outside environment is only escalating her territorial fight-or-flight response.
The room must contain all her resources and be completely separate from the new cat.
Next, you must provide continuous chemical support.
Since the previous medication failed, her anxiety level is likely very high.
Immediately plug in Feliway Classic diffusers in her room, and consider discussing with your veterinarian the need for a higher dose or a different type of anxiety medication (like a prescription SSRI) to effectively lower her threshold for stress while you implement behavioral changes.
The key is that medication alone is rarely effective; it must be used as a tool to make the cat calm enough for behavioral modification to work.
The core of the long-term, cost-effective solution lies in the structured approach of the Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse guide.
You must stop the direct reintroduction attempts and focus solely on rebuilding her sense of security and utilizing her bond with you.
This involves:
Environmental Enrichment: In her safe room, provide ample vertical space (cat trees, shelves) and hiding spots (tunnels, boxes) so she can control her visual exposure, reducing her feeling of vulnerability.
Scent Communication: After a week of calm, begin scent swapping (rubbing a cloth on the new cat’s cheeks and placing it near her food bowl, and vice-versa) to slowly acclimatize her to the other cat’s presence without threat.
Meticulous Cleaning: Every previously sprayed spot on the exterior and interior of the house must be thoroughly cleaned with an enzyme cleaner to eliminate the old odor markers that encourage continued spraying.
Do not attempt visual contact between the cats until the spraying has been stopped for several weeks and her “violent” behavior has dramatically subsided.
Her attachment to you is your greatest asset; use structured play and positive interaction to reinforce her sense of security only when she is inside and calm.
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