We have newly adopted a 2yo neutered male and our 12yo neutered male is acting up and has started spraying in our house.
We are currently trying to introduce them but it’s not going well as we’ve experienced before.
The 12yo previously lived perfectly fine with another unrelated neutered male but that cat passed away earlier this year.
So we thought he’d be ok with a new cat.
To start with he showed no signs of bother, is happy with the scent swapping and they have sniffed noses a number of times.
He even showed interest in the other cat through the glass door like he wanted to say hello to him.
But now that we have progressed to face to face meetups, the 12 yo is really bothered with the new cat and has started spraying in the house.
He’s never sprayed in the house before so this is new behaviour and we’re now pretty much following him around everywhere to cleaning up behind him.
He only does this when the new cat is in his presence or when he’s in the new cat’s space.
When they are separated he is back to his old self.
I’m guessing this is territorial behaviour.
And it’s having a negative affect on the introduction process because now the new cat gets hackles up when the old cats starts running around spraying.
What can we do to stop this and help our older cat feel less threatened?
Does this also mean having to start intros from scratch again?
Brief Answer:
Your assessment is correct: this is classic stress-induced, territorial marking triggered by the abrupt escalation of the introduction process.
The 12-year-old cat is spraying to desperately fortify his territory against the perceived threat of the 2-year-old male.
The initial positive signs during scent swapping and through the glass door indicate potential compatibility, but the face-to-face meetups progressed too quickly, overwhelming the older cat.
You must immediately halt all direct, unsupervised face-to-face contact and revert to the beginning stages of introduction.
This will calm your older cat, stop the spraying, and prevent the new cat from developing fear-based aggression.
Immediately clean all spray spots with an enzymatic cleaner and incorporate the “Cat Spray Stop” principles of creating a secure, resource-rich environment for the older cat.
Pheromone diffusers, particularly those designed for multi-cat households (like Feliway Multicat), should be placed in the older cat’s core territory and the transition area to lower the overall anxiety and territorial tension.
Detailed Answer:
It is a very common mistake to accelerate introductions when the initial scent-swapping goes well.
For an older cat who recently lost a companion and is dealing with the high-energy presence of a young male, the face-to-face meeting was too intense and triggered a panic-fueled territorial response, leading to the spraying.
The key to stopping the spraying and resuming a successful introduction is de-escalation and reducing the older cat’s anxiety.
Yes, you absolutely must restart the introduction process from scratch, going back to complete separation.
The two cats should only interact via scent and sound, not sight, until the spraying stops entirely and your 12-year-old cat is consistently calm and back to his baseline behavior for at least a week.
The spraying is a massive setback because the strong, negative smell is now associated with the new cat, making both cats agitated and defensive.
The most critical step to stop the spraying is eliminating the scent of the cat spray from the environment.
You must meticulously clean every marked spot using a true enzymatic cleaner (e.g., Nature’s Miracle, Anti-Icky Poo).
Standard cleaners will not break down the proteins in the urine, leaving a residual odor that encourages the older cat to remark and solidifies the new cat’s defensive reaction.
This is a low-cost step that saves you from repeated professional cleaning fees.
Next, apply the principles of the “Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse” guide, specifically focusing on building the older cat’s confidence.
Ensure all his core resources (litter box, food, water, resting spots) are separated from the new cat’s space and are located in areas where the older cat feels safe, ideally elevated.
Begin counter-conditioning by feeding both cats high-value treats on opposite sides of a closed door.
This teaches the older cat, “The presence of the new cat results in good things (food, not stress).” Use a Feliway Multicat diffuser in the main living areas to spread a calming pheromone that specifically addresses inter-cat conflict.
The combination of complete separation, deep enzymatic cleaning, and pheromonal support is the most effective and cost-saving strategy to manage this high-stress territorial crisis and pave the way for a successful, eventual cohabitation.
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