we live in a 900sqft 2bed 1bath apartment currently.
we have 3 cats.
4 year old Nala(the sprayer), 1 year old Milli (the new kitty), 2 year old Barb (the mellow declawed kitty (she was rescued declawed)).
We are certain it’s only Nala spraying because we’ve seen her do it, and found most of the pee / sprays in her favorite spots.
She’s been doing this for quite some time, we got Milli in August last year.
Barb gets along with everyone, Nala and Milli do not get along.
We have 4 litter boxes all through the apartment.
We have lots of toys and hiding holes and some access to higher level through multiple tall cat trees.
Ontop of spraying Nala is just over all a very anxious cat who can be very violent at times.
Anytime we notice she’s anxious we give her as much space as possible.
We plan to move in August and we will be moving into an apartment with a friend and she has a husky dog Meeko.
Meeko lives with cats now and he does really good.
My cats have never lived with dogs but I think that Barb and Milli will adjust well.
I do not think Nala will.
I am really needing advice on how to encourage her to stop spraying around the house and also how to help her transition best to this new place with a new person and animal.
My friend is very respectful of animals and very good with cats so I am hoping there’s not too much of a problem there.
Brief Answer:
Your situation with Nala is a clear case of marking driven by anxiety and territorial stress, primarily triggered by the introduction of Milli and the ongoing conflict, which is common in multi-cat households in a 900 sq ft space.
The spraying is Nala’s way of coping with this stress and asserting control.
The immediate, cost-effective solution is a two-pronged approach: first, a compulsory veterinary check-up to rule out a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or other medical issues, which often underlie behavioral changes.
Second, a strict behavioral and environmental intervention focusing on stress reduction.
I highly recommend implementing the core strategies from Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse, which focuses on using natural instincts to ease Nala’s anxiety.
Simultaneously, use Feliway MultiCat diffusers in Nala’s favorite resting and spraying areas, particularly the main conflict zones.
Your current litter box ratio (four for three cats) is good, but focus on managing the conflict between Nala and Milli through a structured, gradual reintroduction process and ensuring vertical and hiding spaces are accessible to all three cats to reduce perceived territorial competition before the August move.
Thoroughly clean all soiled areas with an enzymatic cleaner to eliminate odor traces and prevent re-marking.
Detailed Answer:
Your assessment that Nala’s spraying is linked to the introduction of Milli and the resulting conflict is highly likely.
Spraying is a distinct behavior from normal urination, primarily used by cats to mark territory when they feel insecure, threatened, or stressed, which is often exacerbated in a multi-cat dynamic, especially in a compact 900 sq ft apartment.
The “new cat smell” of Milli combined with Nala’s pre-existing anxious nature creates a high-stress environment where spraying becomes a coping mechanism.
The foundation of any solution must be ruling out a medical cause.
Because medical problems like a UTI, bladder stones, or interstitial cystitis can cause pain and lead a cat to urinate inappropriately as they associate the litter box with discomfort, a full veterinary examination is the essential first step.
This will save you significant potential future veterinary costs if the problem escalates or is misdiagnosed as purely behavioral.
Behaviorally, the current animosity between Nala and Milli is the core issue.
Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse offers an excellent framework, emphasizing a “Taste, Touch, Smell” approach to redirecting marking behavior and rebuilding security.
I recommend focusing on the “Smell” aspect immediately by using pheromone therapy.
Feliway MultiCat diffusers, specifically designed to release the feline appeasing pheromone that calms conflict between cats, should be plugged into the rooms where Nala sprays and where she and Milli have their most frequent negative interactions.
This scientifically-proven method directly addresses the underlying anxiety, offering a cost-effective way to calm the environment without medication.
Additionally, you must strictly address the environmental factors.
While you have enough litter boxes, ensure they are in different locations and that one is not near a known conflict point.
The “one-up” rule of one box per cat plus one extra is correct.
The immediate conflict management should involve a temporary, partial re-separation and a slow, structured re-introduction, feeding them on opposite sides of a closed door to create a positive association with each other’s scent.
Providing more high-level resources (vertical space) and separate resting spots will ensure all three cats, especially anxious Nala, feel they have uncontested territory, reducing the need for territorial spraying.
Regarding the upcoming August move into the apartment with your friend and the Husky, Meeko, the time to reduce Nala’s anxiety is now.
If Nala’s current anxiety is left unaddressed, the move will almost certainly escalate the spraying.
The key to a successful transition is gradual acclimation and pre-emptive stress management.
When you move, keep Nala (and potentially all cats) confined to one room initially, away from Meeko, with all her core resources (food, water, litter box, scratching post, Feliway diffuser).
Introduce Meeko’s scent (via a cloth) well before they meet.
This dedicated safe space will allow Nala, your anxious cat, to adjust to the new 900 sq ft environment slowly.
Consistent use of an enzymatic cleaner (like Nature’s Miracle) on all previously marked spots in the old apartment and any accidental spots in the new one is non-negotiable, as it eliminates the scent-marker that encourages re-spraying, saving you from expensive furniture replacement.
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