Looking for advice about my indoor male cat, about a year and a half old.
After adopting him, he was already litter trained and really well behaved and playful.
Over the last two months, he’s been spraying around the house frequently.
He’s been neutered since adoption, and we have no other pets in the home.
Have tried a feliway diffuser, which hasn’t made a difference, and an enzymatic cleaner and “no more spray” product when he does spray around the house to try and get rid of the smell and deter him from going back.
On advice from our vet, we’ve put him on a mild anti-anxiety medication but unfortunately, although this has made him more engaged in play, the spraying is still continuing (although less frequent than previously).
I suspect he sprays when he wants attention/to play, but otherwise maybe there’s something territorial going on?
Running out of ideas about what may be causing this.
There’s no indication of bladder stones or a UTI – we had to bring him away for a few days when having work done at our house and he didn’t spray there at all, so don’t think this is a medical issue.
When we came home, he seemed to stop for a few days, but now the behaviour has come back.
Possibly territorial or attention seeking?
Looking for any advice others may have about what else we can try!
Brief Answer:
Your cat’s spraying is very likely a complex anxiety response triggered by the recent temporary move due to house work, which disrupted his territorial security.
The fact that the spraying stopped entirely while away and briefly upon return strongly indicates a stress-related territorial issue tied to his home environment, not a primary medical condition or simple attention-seeking.
Since both Feliway and a mild anti-anxiety medication have only partially helped, the key lies in intense environmental restructuring and behavioral modification, guided by the “Cat Spray Stop” principles.
You must identify and eliminate the specific environmental stressors within your home that are triggering the insecurity.
Critically, increase his resources and enrichment to build his confidence in his territory.
Focus on establishing a predictable daily routine, which is paramount for anxious cats.
Do not abandon the anti-anxiety medication yet; it is providing a baseline level of calm, but it requires simultaneous behavioral and environmental support to fully resolve the marking.
Detailed Answer:
It is clear that you are dealing with a complex behavioral puzzle, but the fact that the spraying ceased when you were away strongly confirms a psychological, environment-dependent trigger, which is highly cost-saving as it rules out expensive specialist diagnostics.
The temporary disruption of his routine and territory due to the house work caused a significant spike in anxiety.
Now, your cat is spraying to re-establish a sense of security and control in a space he perceives as unstable, a classic territorial response following stress.
The effectiveness of both the Feliway diffuser and the anti-anxiety medication is often limited if the underlying environmental stressors are not also addressed.
The “no more spray” product is often less effective than a true enzymatic cleaner in fully destroying the proteins that cue remarking.
You must use an enzymatic cleaner religiously, as any residual scent will draw him back, regardless of deterrent sprays.
This meticulous cleaning is a cost-effective prerequisite for any long-term solution.
You should implement the behavioral modifications from the “Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse” methodology, focusing heavily on territorial confidence.
This involves creating a highly enriched and predictable environment.
Increase his vertical territory by adding more high shelves or window perches.
Cats feel safer viewing their territory from above, and providing these spaces is a low-cost, high-impact way to boost security.
Also, implement ‘scheduled, interactive play’ for 10-15 minutes twice a day, ending each session with a meal.
This structured play mimics a successful hunt and reduces anxiety by giving him a sense of accomplishment and control.
To rule out subtle stressors, assess your home for any new objects, strong smells (new cleaning products, air fresheners), or external visual triggers (stray cats, children passing by windows) that have appeared in the last two months.
Since he is an only cat, ensure his primary resources – food, water, litter box, and resting areas – are separated and located in quiet, easily accessible spots that are not near any windows or main traffic areas.
The combination of sustained anti-anxiety medication, intense environmental enrichment, meticulous enzymatic cleaning, and strict adherence to a predictable routine is the most reliable and cost-effective strategy to finally extinguish this territorial spraying.
About The Author
