Hi everyone.
Little back story I have 3 adult boy cats.
The one in question has been fixed for at least 4/5 years at this point.
We just recently adopted a female kitten.
We noticed he’s starting to spray.
Hoping someone has had some experience with this.
Going to get the female spayed asap but she’s only approximately 8/9 weeks.
Will he stop when she is spayed to?
Brief Answer:
Your situation involves a sudden onset of spraying in an established, fixed male cat, triggered by the introduction of a female kitten.
This is a classic case of territorial marking driven by social instability and perceived threat, magnified by the presence of a new, high-energy, and un-fixed kitten.
While your urgency to spay the kitten is excellent, neutering her will not instantly stop his spraying.
His behavior is primarily a stress response to the disruption of his three-cat hierarchy and the novel, potentially alluring scent of the un-fixed female.
The primary solution is a dual focus on immediate stress reduction and scent elimination.
You must initiate a gradual, controlled re-introduction process for the kitten, maintaining separation and supervised interaction to reduce your adult male’s territorial anxiety.
Crucially, you need to plug in a Feliway MultiCat Diffuser in the main areas where they interact and where he is spraying.
This calming pheromone is essential for addressing the underlying social conflict and stress, which, combined with the kitten’s eventual spaying and a strict enzymatic cleaning regimen, offers the most cost-effective and reliable path to stopping the spraying.
Detailed Answer:
It is a common scenario for an established, fixed adult cat to begin spraying when a new cat, particularly an un-fixed one, is introduced, regardless of the adult cat’s neuter status.
While his spraying is not driven by the need to mate, it is profoundly driven by the need to re-establish a stable, secure territory.
The kitten, despite being young, represents a significant upheaval to his territory and the existing social structure of your three adult boys.
While the kitten’s upcoming spaying is highly recommended and will remove any hormonal attraction or stress factor she might be emitting, it will likely not be the instant cure for the male cat’s spraying.
The spraying is now a behavioral habit rooted in his current stress level.
It may decrease once she is spayed, but you must actively manage the underlying anxiety.
The most effective, multi-pronged strategy to address this stress-induced marking is as follows:
First, Intensify Stress Relief with Pheromones.
Immediately place a Feliway MultiCat Diffuser in the central area of your home and near any spots he has marked.
This product releases the feline appeasing pheromone, which is specifically designed to reduce tension and conflict in multi-cat households.
This is a non-toxic way to provide widespread relief from his anxiety and is a low-cost investment compared to the damage from continued spraying.
Second, Return to a Formal Introduction.
Even if the cats seem tolerant, his spraying indicates he is not comfortable.
You need to immediately implement a controlled, gradual introduction.
Keep the kitten in a separate room (her sanctuary) and allow the adult cats to only interact via scent swapping (rubbing a cloth on one and letting the other smell it) and under-the-door feedings for at least one week.
Brief, supervised visual interactions can follow.
This slow, predictable process reduces the perceived threat and allows the adult male to gradually accept her presence.
Third, Immediate and Thorough Cleaning.
Every area he has sprayed must be cleaned meticulously with a non-toxic enzymatic cleaner (like Nature’s Miracle) to completely break down the urine proteins and pheromones.
If any trace of his mark remains, it will serve as a constant reminder and trigger for him to spray again, maintaining the habit.
A comprehensive guide, such as Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse, can offer detailed instructions for this re-introduction and environmental management process, ensuring you cover all behavioral bases and stop the costly cycle of cleaning and spraying.
Consistency in these steps is vital to re-establish stability and eliminate the need for him to mark.
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