Around July I adopted a neutered cat from a family who couldn’t deal with his spraying anymore.
They had him for 8 years and once they started having kids (they had 3 under 3) I guess he started spraying everywhere.
I understand this to be maybe a territorial issue so I took him in because I live in a tiny place with a 6 yr old and her father.
Minimal noise just a very quiet household.
Things were going great until I couldn’t control the crazy cat lady inside me and adopted a kitten.
At first, Jasper was spraying but now they get along and totally love each other (I also have another senior girl but there was never any issues they don’t care for each other but don’t fight or anything) Even though they’re getting along now though, he is still spraying in one spot…
By the living room window overlooking the front porch where I feed about 6 outside cats..
so now the issue seems to be the outside cats.
His previous owners did say their vet wanted to put him in Prozac but the husband just didn’t want to deal with it anymore.
If he absolutely needs that, I’d take him but does anyone have any experience with something called zylkene??
I wanted to try that out first because why all of a sudden are the outsiders an issue when they’ve been here the entire time?
Also, how do I limit access to him seeing them when it’s one of my only windows.
He does have a leash but I live in the city so I don’t exactly love the idea of taking him out on the dirty streets but if that would help…
Appreciate any advice!
Cat tax in the comments 🤪
Brief Answer:
Your 8-year-old neutered male cat, Jasper, is displaying classic territorial reactional spraying directly tied to the highly visible presence of the six outdoor cats.
While the outdoor cats have always been there, the recent introduction of the kitten likely heightened Jasper’s baseline anxiety and territorial awareness.
Now, the outdoor cats are perceived as a more significant threat to the security of his territory, which he is desperately trying to defend by marking near the intrusion point (the window).
The previous spraying was due to the stress of children, and the current spraying is an escalation of territorial anxiety.
Before resorting to prescription medication like Prozac, I recommend a multi-pronged, cost-effective approach: physical obstruction of the view, using Feliway Classic diffusers, and trying the supplement Zylkene.
Zylkene is an over-the-counter nutraceutical derived from milk protein that is highly effective for reducing anxiety without the side effects or commitment of prescription drugs, making it an excellent first-line defense.
You must also implement the Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse method to create a distraction and new territorial focus away from the window.
Detailed Answer:
The timing of the spraying—starting after the kitten’s adoption—is the key to understanding the current issue.
Although Jasper and the kitten now get along, the introduction of any new animal, regardless of eventual harmony, creates a period of elevated social and territorial stress for the resident cat.
This stress lowered Jasper’s threshold for tolerance.
Before, the outdoor cats were an annoyance; now, after internal stress from the kitten, they are an intolerable threat to his already tenuous control over his territory.
He is marking the window area to chemically reinforce his claim and deter the visual “invaders.”
Addressing the root cause requires removing the trigger.
The most cost-effective and immediate solution to stop the window spraying is visual access denial.
Since you have only one window, you must block the view completely up to cat-eye level.
Apply opaque privacy film (a low-cost roll from a hardware store) or use strategically placed furniture, such as a tall shelving unit or a cat tree turned sideways, to obstruct his direct sightline of the front porch.
If he cannot see them, the immediate, high-intensity visual trigger for spraying is eliminated.
Regarding the stress management options, your interest in Zylkene is well-placed.
Zylkene (alpha-casozepine) is a hydrolyzed milk protein that acts on GABA receptors in the brain to produce a calming effect.
Compared to Prozac (Fluoxetine), which is a prescription Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) and requires veterinary monitoring, Zylkene is an accessible, non-sedating nutraceutical with no reported side effects.
It is a highly recommended initial step for mild to moderate anxiety.
You can administer it daily, and if after 4-6 weeks you see no improvement, then discussing Prozac with your veterinarian would be the next step.
Starting with Zylkene saves you the cost and time of complex vet consultations and monitoring required for prescription psychotropic medication.
In conjunction with Zylkene and the visual block, plug a Feliway Classic diffuser near the window area and/or his favorite resting spot.
This calming pheromone works synergistically with Zylkene to reduce environmental stress.
Finally, the Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse approach will guide you in redirecting his territorial behavior.
Instead of a negative outlet (spraying), create a positive one: place a new, high-value scratching post or a food puzzle far away from the window.
The post allows him to mark safely with his paws (releasing pheromones from his pads), and the puzzle provides mental enrichment, both of which reduce anxiety and shift his focus away from the window.
Do not take him out on a leash; this may actually heighten his territorial aggression by exposing him to the outside scents, which is counterproductive.
The solution is to make his indoor territory feel completely secure.
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