Cat Experts: How do I curb spraying behavior?

[MsP]

I have a 5 year old female cat-- spayed when ~8mo old. I am having issues with her spraying (marking) curtains, shower curtains, bags, etc whenever something isn't to her liking. She has a clean litterbox that is cleaned daily and there are not other cats competing to use it. This used to be a "once in a while" thing but has stepped up to almost every night. It's usually when the house is busy with people. ie I have someone over and when they leave, she marks. She has one favorite place to mark and after scrubbing it clean with a bazillion different enzyme, odor reducer, used a big carpet machine on the area, etc... I put down some tin foil. I read somewhere this was a big deterrent. Well, when she couldn't reach the curtains, she just sprayed from the edge of the foil, onto the foil. Ugh.

I have Comfort Zone diffuser by Feliway and the spray on order. If that doesn't help, I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't have her doing this.

Any tips? She's been to the vet-- no health issues. She also still pees in her box. This is just spraying that is happening outside of it.

In terms of her behavior when people are over, she's the same gregarious outgoing cat that she always is. It's not like she's hiding under the bed or being chased by kids.

 

[JewelFreak]

If she's physically ok, it's usually stress-related when a spayed cat urine-marks - and fairly unusual in females compared to tomcats. Cats are VERY dependent on routine & feel insecure when there's a change -- sometimes even one so small, you don't think of it as "change." But the cat does.

It sounds like she's re-marking her territory after all the invaders leave. Are you having people over more frequently? Having more people than usual? Is it noisier? Think of any difference from the past.

What about other changes -- feeding time, also relative to when guests arrive; a change in your schedule; whether she has the same alone-time with you as before; a new cat or dog in the neighborhood; someone in the group she doesn't like, whatever you can dig out of your mind that SHE might perceive as a threat to her routine.

You're doing many of the right things. This article has some pretty good info, including suggestions on how to alleviate anxiety: http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-stress.htm. You might try putting her in a room away from the party & see if that helps at all.

I adopted an intact stray-for-a-long-time male who was in his teens. By then, spraying was learned behavior & it decreased w/neutering but did not cease by quite a ways -- always the curtains too. No question of not keeping him, my soulmate. I moved furniture in front of the curtains to hide the stains. Not ideal, but it was livable.

Important to realize, as I'm sure you do, that she isn't being bad. She is saying in the only language she has that she's upset & insecure -- the best remedy is to teach her English; you'd be a millionaire in a few minutes, too, & could afford new curtains!

--- Laurie

 

[MsP]

It sounds like she's re-marking her territory after all the invaders leave. Are you having people over more frequently? Having more people than usual? Is it noisier? Think of any difference from the past.

I can't think of anything different... it is frustrating.

I've considered moving around furniture but wouldn't that just stress her more? I'm living in a corporate rental and peeing cat is noooooo good at all.

 

[Matata]

Have you tried Anti Icky Poo enzyme cleaner? I belong to a forum with lots of cat breeders and they swear this is the best at removing odors that the cats can smell but we can't.

It appears as though you've isolated the main cause of the spraying -- people in the house, so I agree that keeping her in a room by herself when guests are present may help the situation. Also, I recommend adding another litter box in a different location. Maybe even try a litter with an attractant in it, such as Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract. Just because she uses her box, doesn't mean she's happy with it or its location and it could be a contributing factor to the spraying behavior.

If all else fails, I suggest you contact Marilyn Krieger, thecatcoach.com, for advice. She has been invaluable in helping resolve myriad behavioral issues with cats, including spraying.

 

[MsP]

Have you tried Anti Icky Poo enzyme cleaner? I belong to a forum with lots of cat breeders and they swear this is the best at removing odors that the cats can smell but we can't.

It appears as though you've isolated the main cause of the spraying -- people in the house, so I agree that keeping her in a room by herself when guests are present may help the situation. Also, I recommend adding another litter box in a different location. Maybe even try a litter with an attractant in it, such as Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract. Just because she uses her box, doesn't mean she's happy with it or its location and it could be a contributing factor to the spraying behavior.

If all else fails, I suggest you contact Marilyn Krieger, thecatcoach.com, for advice. She has been invaluable in helping resolve myriad behavioral issues with cats, including spraying.

I haven't tried Anti Icky Poo but I've tried Natures Miracle, OdoBan, Eco-88, and Fresh n Clean. All are highly rec'd... but I doubt combining them in the same area is all too good of an idea. I've started just using mild detergent with a handheld carpet vacuum.

As for the litterbox-- we're in a 1br apartment at the moment. I'm not sure where else I COULD put another box. Moving it is a good suggestion though. I'll have to think on where. It has been in the same location and has not moved.

The spraying seems to be linked to increased activity from guests. The only room I could put her in would be the bathroom which [in my mind] would cause more stress. Whenever she's been in there before (for maintenance workers or whatever) she's scratches endlessly to get out.

 

[Matata]

Maybe try buying a large cat or dog carrier to put her in when you have guests? Cover it with a towel or blanket and don't let anyone peek. Moving her litter box into the bedroom and closing her in there until guests leave is another option.