If a Cat Is Fixed Will He Stop Spraying?

When a cat uses his urine to mark his territory, it is called spraying. Spraying is a normal and natural behavior, though it can be extremely troublesome for cat owners. Neutering a male cat will often stop him from spraying, but not always. For that small percentage of cats that do not stop spraying when they are neutered--roughly 13 percent, according to the website Cats of Australia--several techniques are available for training them to unlearn this instinctual behavior.

  1. Why Cats Spray

    • Spraying is not the same as urinating. When a cat urinates, he typically does it on a flat surface, aimed down. When a cat sprays, he will typically aim for a vertical surface like a wall or the side of a couch. Un-neutered males will usually start spraying when they reach sexual maturity. Cats in a multi-cat household are more likely to start spraying early, in competition with the other cats. Female cats also spray, particularly when they are in heat, according to the website Pet Education.

    Litter Box Maintenance

    • Like with many cat problems, an unclean litter box can lead to litter box avoidance. In addition to increasing the chances that your cat will choose to eliminate in an unauthorized location, an unclean box can also encourage spraying, according to the website Vet Info.

    Restrict His View of the Outdoors

    • When a male cat sees another cat, his instinct is to spray. Even temporarily reducing your cat's visual exposure to other cats can help stop his spraying. To your cat, your home is his territory. Making that territory safe from other cats will make him feel like he doesn't need to mark it, according to Pet Education.

    Removing the Odor

    • Cats have an extremely sensitive sense of smell. If the site of a spraying isn't properly cleaned, your cat will be able to smell it and will be more likely to spray in that location again. Using a pet odor eliminator like baking soda can help remove all traces of spray from your home, according to the website Fanciers.com.

    Reducing Stress

    • In addition to territory marking, spraying is also a common response to stress, according to Cats of Australia. Therefore, identifying the sources of your cat's stress and eliminating them can reduce his spraying. Common sources of stress for cats include a new pet, a new baby, a threatening neighborhood cat, illness and changes to the daily routine.