My girlfriend and her cat moved in around April and we had zero problems.
But recently in the last 2 months he has been spraying or peeing in the house.
Right in front of me.
We have a cat door that he knows how to use.
Why all of a sudden and how do I stop this.
I can’t put up with this and I will disappear this cat although I don’t want t to.
Don’t judge just looking for help.
Brief Answer:
I hear your frustration and the stress this is causing; please be assured that this behavior is highly addressable.
The key is to understand that this is almost certainly stress or territorial anxiety, and not spite.
The sudden onset two months after the move, combined with the act being performed in your presence, strongly suggests this is anxiety-driven territorial marking.
Your cat is using his scent to communicate his insecurity, likely stemming from the change in dynamics or sensing outdoor cats through the cat door.
The very first steps are medical and cleaning: schedule an immediate vet check to rule out underlying pain or illness (e.g., Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease), and rigorously clean all affected areas with a high-quality enzymatic cleaner to eliminate the pheromone markers.
The primary behavioral solution involves reducing his anxiety and competition: install Feliway Optimum diffusers in the central living space, and temporarily restrict or remove the cat door to eliminate contact with outdoor stressors.
Detailed Answer:
Your situation is extremely common and is a classic example of territorial anxiety manifesting as spraying, which can occur even in a house-trained, neutered male.
The critical distinction is that regular urination involves squatting and a large volume on a horizontal surface, while spraying is typically a small, vertical deposit with a raised, quivering tail.
Since it started two months after the move (April to recent) and happens in front of you, the likely cause is an increase in territorial stress triggered by a specific event.
This trigger could be the presence of a new neighborhood cat outside your window or near the cat door, the stress of a shared territory with a new person (you), or the cat door itself, which allows the scent of the outside world in.
To stop this behavior, you must apply a comprehensive, zero-tolerance approach based on three pillars: Medical, Environmental, and Behavioral.
First, the Medical Step: You must schedule a non-negotiable veterinary visit immediately.
A cat that urinates suddenly outside the box often has an underlying medical issue, even if it seems purely behavioral.
Pain or inflammation in the urinary tract can cause them to associate the litter box with discomfort, or simply lead to a loss of control.
Rule out Feline Idiopathic Cystitis or a UTI first.
This is a cost-effective precaution that prevents escalation.
Second, the Environmental/Cleaning Step: Your cleanup must be perfect.
Any lingering odor is an invitation for your cat to remark.
Do not use ammonia or bleach, as these odors are similar to urine and attract cats back to the spot.
Invest in a professional-grade enzyme cleaner, such as Nature’s Miracle or Anti-Icky Poo.
This cleaner biologically breaks down the odor-causing proteins and pheromones.
Clean the spots thoroughly, repeatedly.
This is a critical investment to save your home and furniture.
Third, the Behavioral/Anxiety Step: Because this is stress-induced, you need to reduce his perception of threat.
I highly recommend installing Feliway Optimum diffusers in the rooms where the cat sprays and where he spends the most time.
This product releases synthetic calming pheromones that mimic a cat’s natural facial marking and creates a feeling of security and safety, effectively lowering his stress and reducing the need to spray.
Feliway is scientifically proven to reduce marking behavior and is a highly cost-effective solution compared to behavioral damage.
Furthermore, you must address the cat door immediately.
If he is seeing, hearing, or smelling rival cats outside, the cat door acts as a continuous source of anxiety.
Temporarily block or remove the cat door entirely for several weeks to create a closed, safe territory.
You also need to increase environmental enrichment, such as providing vertical climbing space (cat trees) and interactive play, especially with your girlfriend, to reaffirm his safety and belonging in the shared territory.
By systematically addressing the medical, environmental, and emotional components, you dramatically increase the chances of eliminating this spraying behavior and saving your relationship with the cat.
If these steps do not yield a rapid reduction, consulting the Cat Spray Stop guide can provide further tailored behavioral modification techniques.
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