I am at an utter loss.
Let me start by saying that I’ve had a bunch of cats throughout my life.
I currently have a 7 year old boy Monty, who has been a dream of a cat man.
Well we rescued the sweetest lil guy at the beginning of August (named Grogu).
We adopted him and a puppy that is right around the same age.
Since they are rescues we aren’t 100% on their ages, but we think they were 8 weeks old at the time we brought them home.
Unfortunately, Monty does not like the puppy or the kitty…
like at all 🙁
Grogu has had a major propensity to peeing on the floor.
We clean the box daily, if not multiple times a day.
We used to take him and stick him in the box after he napped, and after he ate, and that seemed to help…
We’ve taken all the measures I know to take.
It seemed to be getting better…
until the past month, where he began spraying.
The vet told us to wait till he was 4 months to get him neutered.
Well we got it done 2 weeks ago tomorrow, and he has straight up INCREASED his peeing on the floor.
He also sprays still.
I don’t know what to do.
Never in my life have I had a cat pee outside of the box like this, unless they were sick.
We are cleaning up pee like 2-6 times per day, no exaggeration.
My bf wants to make him an outside cat at this point.
I’m terribly sad and frustrated by it all.
I love Grogu’s personality and I don’t just want to give up…
but it’s just beyond frustrating at this point.
I don’t know how I could possibly try and find a new home for him either without full disclosure.
Is he too young to go outside?
Is he stressed out here and maybe wouldn’t do it if he lived with someone else?
Him and the puppy also seem like the best of friends, I would hate to separate them.
I would love some feedback from my fellow cat lovers.
Brief Answer:
It is completely understandable that you are frustrated, but please know that Grogu’s continued and even increased spraying post-neuter is a very strong indicator of severe, ongoing stress and territorial insecurity, not a simple litter box training failure.
While neutering eliminates the majority of hormonal spraying, it takes several weeks for hormone levels to drop, and it does not instantly resolve spraying behavior that is rooted in anxiety and territorial threats.
Grogu is likely terrified by the lack of harmony with Monty (your 7-year-old cat) and the general upheaval of a multi-species household.
The primary, immediate focus must be shifting his environment to one of security.
This involves immediately implementing a rigorous, multi-faceted stress reduction plan and a strict enzymatic cleaning protocol.
You must ensure all urine is cleaned with a specialized enzyme cleaner, as any residual scent perpetuates the marking cycle.
I strongly advise against making him an outside cat, as he is far too young, bonded with the puppy, and this would expose him to significant danger and not solve the underlying behavioral issues.
Detailed Answer:
Your situation involves a significant amount of social and environmental pressure on a very young cat, Grogu.
He was brought into a home simultaneously with a puppy, and your existing, established cat, Monty, is actively unhappy with both.
This multi-species conflict creates a high-stress, unpredictable environment for Grogu, leading him to rely on spraying—a coping mechanism—to make his territory smell secure in the face of perceived threats.
The fact that the spraying increased post-neuter indicates that the behavioral habit and the environmental stress are now the primary drivers, not just hormones.
The effects of neutering are not immediate; it can take four to eight weeks for the residual hormones to dissipate and for the behavior to subside.
The most detrimental practice is still taking him and putting him in the litter box after an accident.
Although done with good intentions, this is a form of punishment that increases his fear and anxiety toward the box, further entrenching the litter box aversion.
You must stop this immediately.
The two-pronged solution is focused on security and clean-up:
First, Environmental and Stress Management.
You must create dedicated, safe vertical space and separation.
Grogu needs his own high, secure area (like a tall cat tree or shelf) where he can retreat from Monty and the puppy.
I recommend using Feliway MultiCat Diffusers in the areas where the spraying is most frequent and where the pets interact.
This pheromone is proven to reduce conflict and social stress among household pets, providing a non-toxic, safe way to communicate a sense of calm to Grogu and Monty.
Since Monty “does not like” the new pets, you need to implement slow, structured introductions and separation, especially for feeding and resting, to reduce his perceived threat level.
A low-cost, high-impact resource like the Cat Spray Stop guide by Susan Westinghouse would be excellent for providing a structured, step-by-step approach to managing this territorial dynamic using his natural instincts.
Second, Cleaning Protocol.
Your efforts to clean daily are commendable, but standard cleaners will not work.
Cat urine contains uric acid crystals that only an enzyme-based cleaner (such as Nature’s Miracle or Anti-Icky Poo) can break down.
You must saturate every area where he has sprayed or peed with a generous amount of an enzymatic cleaner and allow it to air dry.
Failure to do this means the scent remains at a level that only Grogu can detect, acting as a strong signal to remark, leading to the 2-6 accidents you are currently experiencing.
Using the correct cleaning product is an immediate, cost-effective way to stop the feedback loop of remarking.
Please reassure your boyfriend that Grogu is not willfully being difficult, and making him an outdoor cat would be detrimental to his safety and well-being, especially at such a young age and with his current high-stress state.
Focus on the behavioral and environmental fixes now, and you can successfully resolve this issue and save your home from further damage.
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