I have a 10 year old Siamese male cat (LeRoi). He was neutered as a kitten. 2 years ago. I adopted a female kitten (spayed) because we started to travel more and LeRoi seemed to miss us when we were gone. All my research indicated that the best approach to having 2 cats is to have opposite genders. After I adopted the female kitten (Tuffy) LeRoi started to spray. First just in the litter boxes then all over the house. I was shocked because I did not think that neutered males could spray. This situation was instigated by a Tom cat that visits our yard at night. We have a 4 acre parcel of land so it would be impossible to deter that Tom cat. I have tried everything and still LeRoi sprays. It would be easy for me to find a good home for the female cat but that worries me for aCouple of reasons:1. Due to habit LeRoi may continue to spray anyway2. He may be traumatized by her disappearance.I would like to keep both cats but that does not seem possible.Please Help!Vicky
Hello,I am sorry to hear LeRoi is having some trouble. I would love to help I just have a few questions so I can better assist you. Please understand I try to ask all relevant questions at one time, however your reply may prompt a few more. Since I am unable to see your pet I must rely on information.Was a urinalysis and full blood work done at the vets?What are you using to clean the areas he has marked?Have you tried any for of behavioral or anxiety medication or supplements other then the Feliway spray?Is he a social cat or does he spend a lot of his time hiding?Do you have a combination of open and closed litter boxes?Does he spend a lot of his time in the window watching the stray tom cat?
I see you went offline so I wanted to give you some information to review when you return.I know you said you saw the vet but not what was done. In a senior cat you want to be sure there are no common illnesses causing this behavior. If blood work was not done then this is a must to look at the kidneys, liver, thyroid and check the blood glucose levels.Cats unlike dogs are not pack animals and will in fact live solitary lives in the wild. Because they do not care to interact other then mating they us urine marking to leave messages. Not only is this used to mark an area as theirs but they can also tell things like how long ago that cat was there, if they are looking for a mate , etc. Marking in all honesty is one of the leading causes of owner turn in to shelters and euthanasia in cats and there is no quick fix more often a combination of behavior modification and medication.As you have found unneutered males and even females can spray. One common prescription drug used for inappropriate urination is Amtriptyline Click here for more on thisSome other things you may want to try are:* Block view to the outside. If he is able to see the Tom cat outside this will make him more likely to spray. I know you mentioned you used the Feliway spray. It is important to know that this lasts a very short time. If you still have some left for the next few days spray this around the windows and doors to mask the scent of the outside cat. * In place of the Feliway spray get a few of the Feliway plug ins. These release the Feliway continuously.* Try a pheromone collar. Feliway has these however we have been using the NutureCalm collar. Click here* Composure treats are also helpful to reduce anxiety Click here * Some experts will recommend Rescue Remedy but honestly we see little effect with this in cats Click here* I am glad to hear you have many litter boxes but I have some suggestions in that area as well. Make sure you have a combination of open and closed boxes and if he is a large cat make sure you have a few large boxes. If he is urinating on carpet you can try just putting pee pads in one box, or try adding a product called cat attract to one box. Click here * Use double sided tape to place aluminum foil on the corners where he goes the most. They hate the sound when the urine hits the foil this also throws the urine back at then which they do not like.* On flat areas you can try a carpet runner. One of the plastic ones with the little rubber spikes on the back. Place it bottom up so the spikes are up cats do not like to walk on this. * A Scat Mat may also help Click here * Make sure he gets a full 20 minutes of play 2-3 times per day to help reduce anxiety. If possible try to get them both to play at the same time.A few toys that we have found that help are listed below . Just click on them and it will redirect you to a site to view them.* Foraging toys such as the slim cat ball. Place half of her dry food in this daily and make him work for his food just as he would have to do in the wild. Please read over the following information on how these toys work with cats Click here* Peekaboo toy. You can add small mice or even dry food to this * Hands free laser toy* Undercover mouse* You need to clean any areas outside the box where there has been urine or stool. Cleaning with an enzyme based clearer is needed to completely remove any traces of smell or they will continue to use this spot.Normal cleaning products will not work. If you have not tried urine off you may want to give it a shot. This is the best product we have found for removing marking urine http://urineoff.com/* As a last resort you can try retraining by using a large dog crate and keeping him in that with a litter box, bed , food and water and some toys. In some cases doing this for 2-3 weeks will retrain them to the litter box.Below is some additional information on urine marking Click here The Ohio state veterinary college has done extensive research on creating a appropriate indoor environment for cats the following article has some very valuable information Click hereI know how very frustrating this can be. I hope this helps give you some additional options to try and things to discuss with your vet. I hope this helps . Please reply back if you have additional questions or concerns. If you have no additional questions please remember to rate my service before exiting the site so I can be credited for my time. Please let me know if the rating box is missing or you are unable to rate for any reason.Best WishesCandy
Answers to your questions1. Yes urinanyalysis and blood work done2. I use Natures Miracle to clean up3. I have on,y used the Feliaway plug in4. He is social5. I have both open and closed top litter boxes6. The stray Tom cat only comes a night. LeRoi only goes to the window when the cat arrives.MY RESPONSELeRoi is a very well adjusted cat. He is not anxious. He does still use all the litter boxes on a regular basis. He only sprays in reaction to that Tom cat. He is absolutely normal in all other ways since we got the new cat except that he sprays. He gets lots of stimulation and activity and exercise. His relationship with the female is very good. I generally pay more attention to him because I did not want him to feel jealous of the new cat. He does not always spray the same spot it is usually a different place.Our house is huge so most suggestions using double tape etc. will not work I can see from your comments that you are basing your suggestions on the fact that LeRoi is expressing anxiety, which he is not. The simple truth of the matter is that he is doing what is only natural, a male cat marking to discourage other male suitors for " his" female cat. Also, based on your suggestions I understand that my only solution is to remove the source of his instinct to mark. Now, back to my 2 questions:1. Do you think that he will comtinue to mark after I remove the female?2. Since cats are naturally solitary what do you think his reaction will be to having the female gone?Thank you!Vicky
Hello. You say he only sprays in response to that Tom cat. This tells us that the tom cat makes him anxious to the point that he feels the need to make his territory. With him being neutered it is not likely any type of competition with the other tom for the female more for his territory. I really do not think this will stop just because you get rid of the female. If they do well together now. If she is gone and the tom is still around then I really think this will continue. How would he do with out her in most cases they will do just fine but some will look around for the other cat for a few days.There is no one thing that works for this problem in all cats which is why I try to give you as many options as I can to try. What works for some may not work for others.No your only solution is not to just get rid of the source in all honesty some of the natural products may help as will the prescription medication. As I stated above this is the biggest behavioral problem we see and the most common reason for cats being given up or just left behind. I really think if you use the Feliway around the windows and doors and block his view of the other cat when possible this will help as well.CandyR41099.146965544
The reason why I am convinced that LeRoi is spraying because of the female is because that Tom cat came by to visit LeRoi for years before the female cat was introduced. During that 5 year period LeRoi never sprayed once . It started only after the introduction of the female cat. Unfortunately we have 48 windows through which LeRoi can view the outdoors. None of the windows have coverings. It is impractical (and unwanted) to make that change to our house. Maybe I should be looking at trapping the stray cat and taking him to the animal shelter. He regularly sprays the outdoors of our house and that is annoying!Thanks for all your help!Vicky
Hello Vicky. OK this would make sense now. The Tom is most likely spraying due to the female and in turn LeRoi feels he has to spray back to say hey this is my house not yours. I would try to contact a local feral cat program who will trap him and if you wanted will neuter him then return him back to where he was living. This should stop his spraying and should stop LeRoi's as well.If you need help locating a program please let me know exactly where you are located
My husband just had a thought....if LeRoi still sprays and is neutered...is it likely that the Tom will return to spray our house after he is neutered?
Most neutered males cats will not feel as strong of a need to mark the territory. Leroi was not threatened by this male nor did the stray feel the need to tell him that he was ready to mate. With LeRoi this is most likely territory( he says this is my house) where as now that you have a female with the Tom it is more of a I am ready to mate marking. The Tom will not have the need to give off those signals when he is neutered. One thing you may notice is that he may hang around more just because he will have a decreased urge to roam. I would be nice to find out he had a home and they just let him run loose but that is rarely the case.
Good to know,Thanks!Vicky