Neutered male spraying

[photogirl843]

So, my kitten Calvin has taken to spraying sometimes. Mostly on the bookcase in my bedroom. I put tinfoil down along the base where he sprays, and he's still sprayed it. He also got a shot in at the bedframe railing the other day. Whenever he sprays, I clean it with Nature's Miracle as quickly as I can. 

Calvin seems to get overstimulated quickly. I try to play with him, but sometimes I just cannot wear him out enough. It can occasionally just make him crazier. 

I have tried to take him outside on a harness/leash, but that was the first time he sprayed!! Again, I think he got overstimulated and just kind of went crazy when he got back inside. 

Just looking for suggestions.. I've got some Feliway Multicat on order that should be here this week and I hope by putting a diffuser in the bedroom beside the bookcase that might help some. 

 

[ellag]

how old is he and how old was he when he was neutered?

 

[photogirl843]

He is 8 months old and was neutered at 2 months. 

 

[margd]

My experience with neutered males who sprayed involved territorial and dominance issues. When you took Calvin out on his walk, did you see another cat?  Can he see other cats from where he is inside?  He might be marking to show his territory.

Another thought is that he's spraying because he wants to go outside again.  That's just a shot in the dark, but you might try taking him out every day at the same time to establish a routine.  That way he knows he's going out at some point.  (This assumes his spraying isn't triggered by the sight of another cat.)

Kittens at 8 months have an enormous amount of energy so it's not unusual for them to get worked up from play time.  Calvin will mellow out with time.  What toys are you using?  Wand toys like Da Bird are especially good at tiring cats out.   Another way to get them to run around is to use a laser pointer.  

The Feliway is a good idea.  A lot of our members have had good results with it.

 

[Draco]

Time to put a diaper on Calvin and give him a pacifier.

I kid! I kid!

I am not sure what else to add other than what Margaret suggested above

 

[red top rescue]

Sometimes perfume can be a deterrent.   After cleaning the area with the Natures Miracle and making it "neutral" you might want to spray it with YOUR scent!  Most cats detest perfume, and if there's one you like, he may accept that as being YOUR place.  he spraying mut have started because he went out and smelled other cats' sprayand that's a normal response, marking the territory.  The rescues tend to spray the doors to the outside, marking the INSIDE as their territory, because there are lots of cats who come by and spray the OUTSIDE of the doors.  I put up contact paper inside the doors to make it easier to keep it clean, and yes, I do spray with perfume and that may stop them for a day or two.  I am in the country so there is no way there will not be male cats coming by and leaving their calling cards, especially now that it is mating season in Georgia (has been for awhile anyhow).  My neutered boys do go out and I see them spraying the fence gate too, again marking their area (the fenced acre belongs to them.)   They have gotten pretty good about not spraying anything else in the house besides the doors -- but once in awhile I will bring home something from another cat person's house (like a box with a humidifier in it was the latest thing) and sure enough, they sprayed that pretty quickly, because it's in their territory but smells of other cats.  I should have put it in the cat-free storage area but didn't.   Oh well.

I had one who sprayed me in the back a couple of times, claiming me as his property.  Both times he was escorted outdoors as soon as I could catch him.  I think he got the message because that behavior stopped pretty quickly.

 

[photogirl843]

 
Sometimes perfume can be a deterrent.   After cleaning the area with the Natures Miracle and making it "neutral" you might want to spray it with YOUR scent!  Most cats detest perfume, and if there's one you like, he may accept that as being YOUR place.  he spraying mut have started because he went out and smelled other cats' sprayand that's a normal response, marking the territory.  The rescues tend to spray the doors to the outside, marking the INSIDE as their territory, because there are lots of cats who come by and spray the OUTSIDE of the doors.  I put up contact paper inside the doors to make it easier to keep it clean, and yes, I do spray with perfume and that may stop them for a day or two.  I am in the country so there is no way there will not be male cats coming by and leaving their calling cards, especially now that it is mating season in Georgia (has been for awhile anyhow).  My neutered boys do go out and I see them spraying the fence gate too, again marking their area (the fenced acre belongs to them.)   They have gotten pretty good about not spraying anything else in the house besides the doors -- but once in awhile I will bring home something from another cat person's house (like a box with a humidifier in it was the latest thing) and sure enough, they sprayed that pretty quickly, because it's in their territory but smells of other cats.  I should have put it in the cat-free storage area but didn't.   Oh well.

I had one who sprayed me in the back a couple of times, claiming me as his property.  Both times he was escorted outdoors as soon as I could catch him.  I think he got the message because that behavior stopped pretty quickly.

Oh wow, you're in Acworth! My parents live in Acworth, though they are in the process of moving back down near me. 

Yeah, Calvin gets play time with Da Bird, laser pointer and the Jackson Galaxy ground prey wand. I just cannot seem to hold his attention some days and he's antsy again in no time. I am taking a suggestion a friend told me and putting him in a "time out" in a crate in the living room when he gets too bad - chases Bowie or just too wild that playing isn't taking care of. 

I do have cats that roam around occasionally. He may have caught the smell of another cat that kick started it, but it is just kind of weird for him to do it where and when he does. I notice he does it a lot right after they eat. He runs in to the bedroom and will spray. I caught him spraying the door to the garage today as well. He's spraying a lot more suddenly. 

I am dying for my feliway to get here. It should be here this week.. I do hope that settles him. He is by far the craziest kitten I have had. It seems like each time they have been worse and worse.. No more kittens for a very long time! When the time comes to get another cat, I am going to get an adult. Ideally, I want to wait until all of these 3 have passed and get some older, maybe bonded cats. I've never adopted an adult cat and I really want to do that one day.

 

[photogirl843]

Okay, I took Calvin out for a nice long walk outside yesterday afternoon. We went all around the house and he chased bugs and explored. As soon as we got inside, I played with him with 3 different toys. When we took a break, he went into the bedroom and sprayed. Actually, it was more like peeing standing up. It wasn't just a quick spray, it was standing there for a good 10 seconds spraying. So I moved a litter box just in front of the bookcase where he has been spraying/peeing, and he used that this morning. We'll see if that makes any difference going forward. 

Feliway should be here today, thankfully.

 

[Draco]

I am still giggling over that voice text. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" 

Poor Calvin.

Poor Photogirl.

Hopefully moving that litter box helps!

 

[paiger8]

Has he been tested for a UTI? He might just not be squatting to pee. I know males are especially prone to UTI's. 

 

[photogirl843]

I did see him use the litterbox this morning and he did squat to pee. 

 

[paiger8]

Yeah, I'd have him tested for a UTI. Cats with UTIs usually don't 100% not use the litter box. He might use it sometimes, and not use it others.

 

[red top rescue]

Oh, you say he is peeing standing up rather than just spraying?  That's a different matter.  Jackson Galaxy calls it "elevator butt."  I have one female who does that.  She squats initially but the butt goes up as she pees.  I have a couple of special litter boxes for her, and it's as if she knows and uses those instead of the uncovered ones.  The ones I have for her are covered, but higher in the back than in the front.  She chooses those fortunately.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21133

 

[shadowsrescue]

Here is an idea for a make it yourself litter box for those who do the "elevator butt" peeing.

http://petprojectblog.com/archives/cats/make-your-own-cat-litter-box/comment-page-1/

 

[photogirl843]

Okay, now I am second guessing myself. 

IS this spraying, or peeing standing up? I'm kind of wondering if maybe I'm misreading what he's doing... This all has me so confused and frustrated that I want to make SURE I'm focusing on the problem correctly and not misinterpreting. 

Link to video:

https://kabbottphotography.smugmug.com/Stuff/n-jPTrn/i-FLMfHnn/A

 

[mservant]

@photogirl843  , the most significant thing I notice in your video (other than Calvin standing with his rear end right up to the box and peeing) is the other cat coming in to the picture at the doorway.  Very timely.  Calvin looked very unhappy about this interloper and it makes me think that he is feeling quite anxious and territorial in his home right now.  Is this other cat yours or simply a roaming visitor?   I think Calvin needs to feel he has territory of his own and that where he toilets is not overlooked by any other felines.

 

[shadowsrescue]

How many litter boxes do you have?  The golden rule is one per cat plus one extra.  If the other cat is coming near or after him at the litter box this could be a big deal.  Cats don't want to be ambushed in a litter box.  I would start by being sure you have many litter boxes. 

For some reason I am unable to watch the video as the Adobe flash keeps crashing. 

 

[photogirl843]

I have 7 boxes, with another I need to clean and put out. 

What do I need to try? A covered box? I never thought about Sable giving him problems, since he adores Sable and tries to snuggle with him all the time (much to Sable's dismay).

 

[Draco]

7 boxes with 3 cats, check.

I am not sure where those boxes are, but maybe one in each room, some covered, some not covered? I think you said they were in the same room at one point?

Oh, what litter are you using? I've heard good things about Dr. Esly's Cat Attract litter.. suppose to do what the name says.. attracts cats to the litter box. I've heard it helped other people.. give that a shot too?

 

[photogirl843]

3 are in the laundry room, 2 in my bedroom, one in my bathroom. I don't mind putting one in the guest room if I can ensure that no one pees on the bed anymore. I need to move one or two back out to the den for them. I'll maybe get a covered one for the bathroom and move one of the others out to the den.

Edit to add: 

Forgot to say that I do have some of the cat attract litter. I have added it to the boxes to see if that helps. So far, it seems to have helped Bowie, but doesn't seem to be doing much for Calvin.