Neutered Male Cat Spraying
In this article, I will explain the reason for male cats spraying and how to help stop these “odd” male cats spraying behaviors. My cute petty tommy-cat was around seven to eight months old when his weirdness began and he became more and more aggressive with the worst being to spray on the walls and the furniture’s around the house. After speaking to a veterinarian, it was clear to me that these behaviors are all natural for male cats at this age. This odd and nasty habits needs to stop, so, I neutered him and followed his advice seriously. After about 30days or so, he began to calm and overcome these nasty habits, however I heard a friend suffered the same issues with her male cat and I too fear mine falling back on the old habits, we both visited the veterinarian. I am sure many cat owners suffer similar problems and having spoken details with the veterinarian, these are what will help you remedy the situation.
Why Does My Neutered Male Cat Spray Around The House?
There are various reasons why a neutered male cat will spray around the house. Neutered male cat do not spray to make you upset or to take revenge, but rather, there are numerous possible reasons for your cat to behave the way it behaves. Male cats are programmed by their genes to do what they do, so you should know the difference between spraying and urination. He is spraying if he is urinating on a vertical wall or furniture but if or a flat surface, your cloths, rug, bed, etc. Then it means he avoid using the litter box. Male cats may sometimes use their litter box and still spray on a vertical surface due to particular reason.
To ensure other cat know their boundaries and avoid trespassing, male cats are prone to develop territorial issues and in so they spray around to mark their territory and stamp authority. These markings are usually done outside the house where they think competition may arise. Also, at the sexual maturity age, male cat will spray to spread pheromones and let the females know they are ready to mate. The male cat will get more and more aggressive whenever he is heated and until you don’t get him fixed he will continue spraying due to these sexual behaviors.
If you neutered your male cat late it can be an issue when he starts spraying around or till it’s because of the above reasons. It most have been a form of habit to spray around the house to proclaim his masculinity and once such habits are developed by cats, it is usually very difficult to make changes or alterations. Spraying around the house may continue for some cats for a month or so even after getting they fixed. Some reason also maybe when another cat joins the party in the house, he sprays around to let the other cat knows this is his space.
In situations where you neutered him on time and the there is no other cat in the house, spraying may occur as a result of anxiety and stress. Some of these stress or anxiety may arose from fighting between family members, threat from other pets around or neighbor’s cat next door, or even lack or attention and ignoring the their presence for a long period of time which ,ay even cause depression in some cats. They can just spray around to get your attention or also even when their litter box is dirty and needs cleanup; they can spray to let you know they need some cleaning in the litter box.
Cats are very keen to routines hence changes like moving the furniture, entering a new home or and major changes in their clock may live them frustrated, angry and displeased. Other reasons for spraying may be cause by health issues such as urinary tract infections, bladder infections or other disease affecting their excretory system. In this case you need to take your cat to a veterinarian for diagnoses.
How to Stop a Neutered Male Cat from Spraying In the House
There are several causes to neutered male cat spraying but the question at hand is how to stop these odd habits. Spraying can be control up to about 90% when cats both male and female can be neutered when they are around 4 to 6 months. Check and clean their litter box regularly and locate the litter box were they can get easily access, also try to maintain privacy as cats are a very private creatures and they like it stay that way.
As earlier said, cats always like to stick to their routines so there for any sudden change in the locations of some things in the house like litter box or furniture especially when the cat is not around may cause stress hence they spray. They have a habit of scent marking every nook and corner of the house and such sudden changes may confuse them. If you have 2 cats in the house, neutered them both at the right time and make sure you introduce them to each other for fear of competition and aggressive rivalry. If the problem is the neighboring pets, try to keep you cat indoor as much as possible to avoid anxiety and help your cat feel your home is its own territory.
For situations were the cat turns to urinate in a particular spot over and over again, this is because the smell of it urine linger the around which causes them to return to the same spot. In cleaning use good and proper detergents to remove all traces of cat urine smell and never teach them a lesson by punishment as this will make them stressed more and feel unsecured, thereby causing them to spray more and more.
The importance of controlling a neutered male cat spraying cannot be underestimated, but if the spraying becomes a permanent habit, take the cat to a veterinarian for proper examination for some health disease which maybe causing these odd behaviors. My friend’s cat stop spraying once he we found out what was wrong with him and you can find a solution for your petty tommy-cat.