A year ago we found a female (spayed) stray cat.
Initially, she had a tendency to pee right outside the box but some cats are like that and thought she just needs time to adjust.
We do have 2 other cats and multiple boxes throughout the house.
This cat also has more of an anxious personality and is very clingy (we think she was dumped and abandoned).
Over a month ago she started spraying and had other common uti symptoms.
We took her to the vet.
Blood work was normal but a urine sample showed crystals.
After a round of antibiotics she was put on prescription diet to help with the crystals.
For about a week the spraying decreased and it seemed she was going more frequently in the box a normal amount.
Within the last few days the spraying has picked back up, full force, everywhere and I rarely think she goes in the boxes.
This morning alone there were 5 separate spray spots all over the house.
I’m nervous she’s developing it as a habit now.
I’ve tried blocking off common areas but she either sprays the block, finds a way around it, or goes to a new spot.
I’ve tried putting her near the box when I think she’s about to do it or stopping her but that makes it worse.
I’ve tried distracting her with play but she gets overstimulated easily so I think it only helps temporarily.
I’m nervous to use the motion detector to deter her due to her anxiety.
I fear that may push her over the edge.
I’m not sure if she’s going through a bout of anxiety or if maybe she has stones moving around or needs more antibiotics.
She has been on Prozac when we initially got her but that made her more like a zombie and decided it may be best to let her slowly adjust on her own terms.
We would prefer not having to put her on something as harsh as Prozac again.
We do have a Feliway Multicat diffuser but I notice little difference with it.
Im a clean freak so having to clean up after her constantly and never feeling clean has been a nightmare.
I’ve used a variety of different cleaners.
On the carpeted areas specifically I’m worried it’s starting to get that over shampoo feeling after putting too much on the same spots.
I also think the cleaning smells makes her want to do it again but I can’t not clean an area.
Double edge sword.
I’m now paranoid my house and myself constantly smell like cat pee.
The vet had already requested another urine sample and we plan to discuss further options with the vet.
She has to be lightly sedated and doesn’t take being at the vet well so we try to not force her there too much.
For the time being, any advice on having a cat with urine crystals (anything I can do around my house to help her?), tips to get her to quit spraying, and/or best cleaning methods would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
TL/DR My cat with urine crystals has pretty much stopped using the litter box and won’t quit spraying in the house.
Brief Answer:
The rapid return to spraying, despite the diet and initial antibiotic success, strongly indicates that your spayed female cat’s issue is a complex interaction between lingering medical concerns (the crystals/stones) and profound, multi-cat related anxiety that is now manifesting as a learned behavioral habit.
The most immediate and critical step is to follow up on the veterinarian’s request for a new urine sample to rule out a medical relapse – a new infection, stone movement, or inadequate diet control – as the primary driver for the increased spraying.
Given her anxiety, a behavioral-first approach is necessary, but only after medical clearance.
You must implement a multi-faceted strategy focusing on immediate stress reduction and territorial security to break the habit.
I recommend a combination of the highly targeted Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse program, which uses a sensory approach to address the underlying territorial cause, alongside a professional-grade enzyme cleaner like Nature’s Miracle or Anti-Icky Poo to completely neutralize existing odor marks and halt the remarking cycle.
The Cat Spray Stop guide will help you identify and address the specific anxiety triggers in your multi-cat household that the Feliway is not fully managing, offering strategies that are gentler than the Prozac that caused the ‘zombie’ effect.
Your cleaning methods need to shift immediately to specialized enzyme cleaners to avoid the “cleaning smell” remarking cycle.
Detailed Answer:
Your situation is extremely common when dealing with a formerly stray cat with an anxious personality and a history of lower urinary tract issues like crystals, especially in a multi-cat household.
The key to stopping this destructive cycle is understanding that the initial spraying was likely triggered by the pain and discomfort of the crystals or a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), but the continued spraying is now a stress-induced, learned coping mechanism or a territorial response exacerbated by the persistent smell of previous marks and the anxiety of sharing space.
First, you must prioritize the veterinary follow-up.
It is essential to get that second urine sample to check for a recurrence of infection, the status of the crystals, or the possibility of developing stones.
The anxiety and stress of the multi-cat environment can actually contribute to the formation of crystals – a condition known as Feline Idiopathic Cystitis or FIC – making it a true double-edged sword.
If her bladder is still inflamed or painful, no amount of behavioral modification will stop the spraying.
While you prefer to avoid the vet due to her stress, a mild sedation is a better option than letting a painful condition worsen and the spraying habit become more entrenched.
Discuss gentle, short-term anti-anxiety medication (like Gabapentin) to use just for the vet visit or transport to reduce her overall trauma.
While waiting for the vet results, you must implement a radical behavioral and environmental change.
This is where the Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse guide is particularly valuable for your situation.
The guide’s focus is on utilizing your cat’s natural instincts through a “Taste, Touch, Smell” approach to redirect marking.
For an anxious, previously abandoned cat in a multi-cat home, this means:
Territorial Security: The Cat Spray Stop program emphasizes ensuring every cat has guaranteed access to all core resources (food, water, resting, scratching, and litter boxes) without having to cross a path where they might encounter a higher-status cat.
Because your cat is anxious and clingy, she may feel safe only near you but insecure elsewhere, causing her to spray to mark her path.
You need to create more “safe zones” with vertical space and hiding spots.
Addressing the Pheromone Failure: Since the Feliway Multicat diffuser isn’t making a difference, you need a different strategy.
The Feliway MultiCat is designed to foster harmony between cats, but your cat’s anxiety may be internal.
The Cat Spray Stop method will help you find the specific environmental spots she feels compelled to mark and use natural, safe, scent-based deterrents to interrupt that cycle without resorting to harsh, fear-inducing motion detectors.
Finally, your cleaning protocol is critical and is likely feeding the cycle.
Standard cleaners, especially those with ammonia or strong floral scents, actually smell like another cat to your anxious cat, triggering her to remark over the spot.
The “over-shampooed” feeling is a residue of chemicals and urine that is still not truly clean.
You must exclusively use a high-quality enzymatic cleaner (like Anti-Icky Poo, Nature’s Miracle, or similar products) on all affected carpet spots.
An enzymatic cleaner is a cost-effective solution in the long run because it biologically breaks down the odor-causing uric acid proteins, fully eliminating the scent cue that prompts your cat to spray again and saving you the cost of carpet replacement.
Saturate the area, let it sit for the time recommended on the bottle (often 10-15 minutes), and then blot it thoroughly.
This will eliminate the odor, reduce her urge to remark, and help you get past the feeling that your house constantly smells of cat pee.
You need to focus on gentle, positive redirection and making your home a predictable, secure environment to reduce the anxiety that is fueling both her spraying behavior and potentially her crystal formation.
Start by implementing the environmental changes, switching to the enzyme cleaner, and then getting the medical all-clear from your vet.
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