I have a 3 yr old male cat, not yet neutered.
I had him since he was 1 year old, and hes never been outside, its a pretty dangerous neighborhood with a lot of stray cats.
We regularly buys him toys, scratch pad, boxes for him to play with.
And I always give him attention.
This kind of attitude is new to him.
He’s never done this even when my cousins dogs come to our house.
Now he literally pees 2-5 times every hour, at very random places.
I’ve bought deterring sprays, odor eliminator, bought him food, etc.
I’m also sure that it’s not because of some bladder issues because he’s regular with supplements for bladder crystal prevention, some sort.
Although I’ve changed his eating schedule, but that was already a month ago.
He was used to free feeding dry food, but now that I learned it’s not ideal, I switched him to 90% wet food 10% dry food (only when he demands more).
His litter box is cleaned daily and we change sand regularly.
He is the only cat in our household so he doesn’t have the need to be territorial.
Help me, It’s really starting to smell bad and my mum is now wanting to return my cat to his owner.
Brief Answer:
The sudden, frequent urination in multiple, random spots by your 3-year-old, unneutered male cat is highly indicative of territorial marking (spraying) driven by intact male hormones, or a serious medical crisis, despite the supplements.
The first and most critical action is an immediate veterinary visit to definitively rule out a medical cause, such as a severe urinary tract infection (UTI) or a blockage, which can be life-threatening.
Given his age and intact status, the second step, once medically cleared, must be neutering.
Neutering is the most effective and cost-saving solution for eliminating spraying in over 90 percent of male cats, stopping the hormonal drive to mark territory.
In the meantime, you must use an enzymatic cleaner specifically formulated to break down the odor-causing proteins in cat urine at every soiled spot to prevent repeat marking.
I strongly recommend consulting the holistic guidance in the Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse program for immediate environmental and behavioral modifications to manage the anxiety and behavior until surgery is completed.
Detailed Answer:
Your situation presents two urgent possibilities that must be addressed: a behavioral issue related to his intact status or a critical medical emergency.
The dramatic increase in frequency (2-5 times every hour) and the random placement of the urination override your belief that his bladder is fine because of supplements, and this pattern is a classic presentation of a medical emergency like a severe, painful urinary tract infection, bladder stones, or even a partial urinary blockage.
A complete obstruction is fatal within 24-48 hours.
Therefore, an emergency veterinary visit is not optional; it is essential to save his life and to avoid what would be thousands of dollars in emergency treatment or funeral costs.
Once a veterinarian has confirmed he is medically stable and the issue is behavioral, the root cause is almost certainly his status as an unneutered male.
A 3-year-old intact male cat has a very high drive to mark his territory with spraying, especially sensing the stray cats outside, even though he is an indoor cat.
The most effective, long-term, and cost-effective solution is neutering.
This procedure eliminates the production of the testosterone that fuels the territorial marking behavior, and it successfully stops spraying in the vast majority of male cats, saving you from constant cleaning, odor control product costs, and potential furniture replacement.
It also reduces his risk of certain cancers.
To manage the situation immediately, you must strictly implement two non-negotiable steps.
First, use a specialized enzymatic cleaner like Nature’s Miracle or Anti-Icky Poo on every single spot he has soiled.
Regular soap, bleach, or standard odor eliminators will not break down the proteins in the urine, leaving behind a scent marker that actually encourages him to remark the area.
An enzymatic cleaner is a necessary investment that is far cheaper than replacing carpets or floors, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.
Second, immediately review his environment for stress triggers.
While you give him attention and toys, the smell of intact stray cats from the “dangerous neighborhood” is a massive stressor.
Increasing vertical territory with a tall cat tree near a window where he can safely observe, but not feel threatened, can help, as described in the Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse guide.
Implementing the “Taste, Touch, Smell” techniques from this guide can help reduce his anxiety and redirect his natural instincts while you prepare for the medical and surgical intervention.
Your change in feeding schedule is unlikely to be the primary cause, but the overall stress from his hormonal state and the environmental pressure is.
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