My 3 and a half year old male cat (Alfie) has been the baby of the family since we got him at 8 weeks old.
On the 1st of December my mother got a new kitten, a nine week old female (Willow) At first he was quite wary of her but warmed up to her super quickly.
Now he greats her with snuggles and loves playing with her.
Just now he came up to me in bed, sprayed me with pee then walked away.
This is new behaviour and the reason must be the new kitten.
He has had jealousy issues in the past.
When I first got together with my partner Alfie would bite him whenever he got near me (he now loves him).
What do you think?
I’m already making sure he’s getting just as much loves and attention as before.
I thought he was adjusting nicely but now I’m so worried.
Thanks for input and advice!Brief Answer:
The sudden act of Alfie spraying you directly in bed is highly unusual and suggests extreme, acute stress or territorial distress, likely related to the introduction of the new kitten, Willow.
While spraying is typically directed at objects to mark territory, spraying a primary human caregiver is an intense form of marking, signaling a profound sense of insecurity or a perceived threat to his access to you, his most valued resource.
Your past experience with his jealousy toward your partner reinforces this interpretation: he is struggling to cope with the disruption to his established social order and territory.
Even though he appears friendly with Willow, his underlying anxiety is surfacing.
The immediate next step is an urgent veterinary checkup to rule out a medical cause, as stress-induced conditions like cystitis can lead to inappropriate urination and must be treated.
Simultaneously, you must halt all direct, unsupervised interaction between the cats and implement a structured, gradual re-introduction plan using controlled feeding and scent swapping to reduce his stress and insecurity, which is the most cost-effective solution to eliminate this new behavior.
Detailed Answer:
Your assessment that this new behavior is tied to the arrival of Willow is very strong, especially given Alfie’s history of expressing anxiety and jealousy through targeted negative behaviors.
The fact that he sprayed you, his primary caregiver, is not typical marking of a wall, but a desperate, acute plea for attention and security, or an attempt to “mark” you as his territory, which he feels is threatened by the kitten’s presence.
He may be acting friendly with Willow, but internally, his anxiety about his status in the home is at a breaking point.
Before proceeding with behavioral strategies, the number one priority is a veterinary visit for Alfie.
Sudden, intense inappropriate urination, even if targeted, can be symptomatic of a stress-induced lower urinary tract disease (e.g., cystitis).
The stress from the kitten’s arrival can cause a physical reaction in his bladder, leading to a strong urge to urinate that he cannot control or that he associates with his distress.
Addressing a potential medical issue immediately is the most reliable way to prevent the behavior from becoming chronic and to save on future, much costlier veterinary bills.
Behaviorally, even though the cats seem to be getting along, the introduction process was likely too fast for Alfie.
You must immediately revert to a strict, gradual introduction protocol, essentially taking a few steps back to build a solid foundation of acceptance and comfort.
Separate the cats completely into different areas of the house, ensuring Alfie has full, undisturbed access to his core territory, especially your bedroom, and his resources.
Use a technique like “site swapping” and “scent swapping” (rubbing a cloth on one cat and letting the other smell it) to allow them to acclimate to each other’s presence without physical confrontation.
Feed them on opposite sides of a closed door to create a positive association (food) with the kitten’s smell.
This controlled process is free and profoundly effective at reducing territorial stress.
To manage Alfie’s anxiety, consider purchasing a Cat Spray Stop guide by Susan Westinghouse, which provides a comprehensive, multi-sensory plan to address territoriality using his natural instincts, which is highly relevant to your situation.
You should also ensure Alfie has high, secure vertical spaces (cat trees, shelves) to retreat to, as height is a key component of feline security and will help him feel less threatened by the new, lower-status cat.
Finally, you must clean your bedding and mattress using an enzymatic cleaner to completely neutralize the odor and pheromones, preventing future marking in that highly specific, sensitive location.
This multifaceted, non-confrontational approach will directly target the root cause of his stress and is the most cost-effective path to resolving this shocking new behavior.
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