Back in December 2023, a very sweet and handsome stray came to my house begging for food.
It was immediately clear he was used to getting attention from people, so my son and I were convinced he had to have a family nearby looking for him.
For weeks we talked with neighbors and made “found cat” posts online, in the hopes of finding his people.
I even put a paper collar on him with my contact information on it, in case he was still going back to his place when he wasn’t getting food or love from me.
Sadly, no one ever claimed him, so I eventually took him to the vet to see if he was microchipped.
He wasn’t, and he also wasn’t neutered.
No microchip, no collar, no neuter, no one actively looking for him all added up to the growing possibility he’d been abandoned or dumped.
It was then my son and I determined he had already found a home – ours.
So we got him neutered, dewormed, fully vaccinated, and chipped.
Over the next few weeks, we slowly introduced him (Angel) to our four existing indoor cats (all spayed females who are rescues/former ferals).
Things seemed to be going fairly well, but for WEEKS post-neuter Angel sprayed in the house!
I kept hoping once the testosterone was completely out of his system he’d stop, but it’s been over two years now, and he STILL occasionally sprays.
I’ve taken him to the vet to rule out UTIs, bladder infections, kidney infections, you name it.
I’ve tried both Relaxivet and Feliway pheromone diffusers.
I play with him, pet him, he’s the only cat who cuddles with me at night, and I make sure all of the cats have ample resources (food bowls, water bowls, litter boxes, beds, toys, three large cat towers, scratching posts…).
Every time he sprays, I immediately wipe it up and spray the area down with Nature’s Miracle Advanced Enzyme spray for cats (or run the item through the laundry on the sanitary cycle).
My vet put him on a prescription for Fluoxetine to see if he’d respond to an anti anxiety medication, but I’m having trouble getting Angel to actually take it; it must taste super nasty, because he won’t eat the canned food I crush the pills up in.
As much as I love Angel, I’m at my wit’s end.
I’ve told my son it’s at the point that if our vet can’t come up with a solution soon, we might not have an option other than surrendering him to a no-kill shelter.
I’m hoping someone in this community can offer ideas to discuss with my vet, because the thought of Angel languishing in a shelter breaks my heart!
And how will I know he’ll end up in a loving forever home and not passed from home to home or abused due to his behavioral issues?
Brief Answer:
Your dedication to Angel is clear, and the fact that he is still occasionally marking two years post-neuter, despite a clean bill of health and your use of pheromones, points strongly to a complex, chronic behavioral issue rooted in inter-cat conflict and territorial anxiety within your five-cat household.
The key to solving this is a more targeted, multi-faceted environmental and behavioral approach.
The prescription of Fluoxetine was appropriate, but since administration is an issue, a consultation with your vet about a compounded, flavored liquid formulation or alternative anti-anxiety medication like Gabapentin is a vital next step to manage his underlying stress.
Simultaneously, you must implement the “1+1 Rule” more strictly for litter boxes (you need six boxes), focus on spatial and visual barrier management to reduce the intensity of his interactions with the female cats, and seriously consider the Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse program.
This resource specifically addresses the territorial instincts and anxiety behind spraying through a “Taste, Touch, Smell” approach, which is often successful when standard methods like pheromones alone have failed.
Detailed Answer:
It is crucial to understand that while neutering eliminates sex-hormone-driven spraying in about 90 percent of males, the remaining 10 percent continue to spray due to anxiety, habit, or territorial distress in their environment. Given that Angel lives with four existing spayed females – a scenario that creates complex social dynamics and potential friction – his spraying is a social conflict and resource competition issue that he is expressing by marking his territory to feel secure. The fact that you have already ruled out medical causes and the initial round of Feliway and Nature’s Miracle has not completely solved it means you need to escalate your strategy. The first and most critical step is managing his anxiety through medication. Since the crushed pill in food is not working and you are contemplating surrender, you must talk to your veterinarian immediately about an easier-to-administer form of the drug. Compounding pharmacies can often create flavored liquid suspensions or transdermal (applied to the ear) gels for Fluoxetine or other similar medications like Buspirone or Clomipramine. Gabapentin is also an excellent option as it is often well-tolerated and can be given an hour before known high-stress times, which might be when he feels most pressured by the other cats. Getting a manageable anti-anxiety protocol in place is the most effective and cost-saving way to protect your furniture and reduce the need for professional cleaning. The second area is intensified resource management and environment design. You mention ample resources, but for five cats, you need to strictly adhere to the “number of cats plus one” rule for litter boxes, meaning you need six boxes placed in various, easily accessible, and private locations throughout the house. A common error is placing all boxes in one room. This allows one cat to guard the resource and intimidate others. Also, consider the boxes themselves – Angel may prefer an open top, uncovered box in a lower-traffic area. Ensure that the food and water bowls are also spread out to prevent resource guarding. Given your large number of cats, adding vertical territory, such as more wall-mounted shelves and cat trees, is essential to give the cats, especially Angel, escape routes and observation points to reduce perceived threats. The third, and highly recommended, step is a structured behavioral modification program like Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse. This program focuses on understanding the cat’s specific triggers and using natural instincts through a “Taste, Touch, Smell” approach to redirect the marking instinct. This method is designed for persistent, anxiety-driven spraying and offers a low-cost, high-impact alternative to repeated vet visits or constantly buying new diffusers. Combining this targeted behavioral intervention with the proper anti-anxiety medication is your best path forward for long-term success, ensuring Angel remains a happy, secure, and loved member of your family, saving you the emotional and financial burden of rehoming and potential furniture replacement.
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