hi everyone!
so, for context i have four beautiful cats at home.
three boys and a girl, two of the boys have recently begun spraying.
i imagine this is a territorial thing as we have a litter box plus one for each cat (five in total) after vet recommendation.
one of the boys who sprays also is quite anxious which i believe also plays into it (we have feliway diffuser that we use to help with his anxiety).
it has reached a point where the front end of our house smells terribly due to the amount of spraying/peeing outside of the litter boxes.
i am constantly trying new techniques to help all of my cats feel safe and secure and to try and help with the spraying itself, however my parents are becoming very frustrated due to the overwhelming smell.
i was just wondering if anyone knew any non-toxic, cats safe options to either deter the spraying or to help with the smell.
we have tried a few vet recommendations and other things through my own research but nothing seems to be working.
thank you so much!
edit: all the boys are neutered and around 8 years old
Brief Answer:
Your situation involves a significant territorial issue, intensified by the anxiety of one of the spraying cats and the concentration of activity at the “front end” of the house.
The simultaneous spraying by two neutered, 8-year-old males, despite the adequate litter box ratio (five boxes for four cats), indicates a severe breakdown in territorial confidence.
While you are using a Feliway diffuser, the intensity of the marking shows it is insufficient to manage the stress from the four-cat dynamic.
The overwhelming smell is a critical issue that encourages remarking.
The immediate, most critical step is the deep cleaning protocol.
You must switch to a high-quality, enzymatic cleaner like Nature’s Miracle or Anti-Icky Poo, ensuring it fully saturates and breaks down the proteins in the urine on all affected surfaces.
For a non-toxic deterrent, use Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse’s methods focusing on resource management and environmental security.
To boost the calming effect, consider switching your Feliway product to MultiCat or doubling the number of diffusers in the front end of the house.
Detailed Answer:
I understand completely how overwhelming and frustrating the pervasive smell can be, especially when your parents are involved.
The good news is that the core of the problem, territorial stress, is addressable, and there are highly effective, non-toxic, cat-safe solutions for both the smell and the behavior.
First, let us address the terrible smell.
Since the odor is overwhelming, you need the most aggressive, non-toxic cleaning solution available: a professional-grade enzyme cleaner.
Your previous efforts may not have fully neutralized the odor-causing proteins.
Products like Nature’s Miracle, Anti-Icky Poo, or similar enzymatic cleaners are non-toxic and cat-safe, as they use enzymes to digest the uric acid crystals and odor-causing bacteria.
You must follow the instructions meticulously: fully saturate the area (even beyond the visible mark, especially on porous materials like carpet or drywall), allow it to air-dry completely (often for 24 hours), and repeat if necessary.
If the smell is in the front end, it is likely on vertical surfaces.
A UV blacklight can help you locate every hidden spray mark.
Completely eliminating the smell is the most cost-effective deterrent, as the residual odor is a powerful trigger for re-marking.
Second, the simultaneous spraying by two neutered, older males is highly suggestive of a territorial boundary war, likely due to a perceived threat (which could be an outdoor cat or a noise in the front of the house) or competition for resources, despite the good litter box count.
Since one cat is already anxious, this exacerbates the conflict.
I advise implementing the environmental security measures outlined in Cat Spray Stop.
Focus on the front end of the house:
Increase Vertical Territory: Cats feel secure when they are high up.
Install cat shelves, tall cat trees, or clear existing shelves for the cats to use, particularly near windows or doors in the front section.
This reduces the need to spray to assert dominance.
Resource Dispersal: Even with five litter boxes, ensure they are dispersed and not all clumped in one area.
If the front end is an issue, consider temporarily placing one litter box in that area to encourage appropriate elimination there instead of marking.
Pheromone Strategy: Since Feliway is being used but is not fully working, you need more saturation.
I recommend ensuring you are using Feliway MultiCat, which targets inter-cat conflict, and double the number of diffusers in the front half of the house.
This intensive, non-toxic approach creates a widespread zone of calm that actively works against the anxiety driving the marking.
By diligently eliminating the smell and increasing the feeling of territorial security, you directly address the core behavioral triggers, offering a long-term, cost-effective solution that avoids further damage to your home and reduces the overall stress for your cats.
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