How to Stop a Neighbor's Cat From Spraying the Door

While spraying to mark territory is most common in unneutered male cats, neutered males and even females can spray (see Reference 3). That means if your neighbors let their cats of either gender roam, you could end up with spray around your house. Doorways, which carry the scent of passing people and pets, are especially attractive to cats marking their territory. Fortunately, though, you can stop a cat from spraying the door in ways that are neither harmful to the cat nor inconvenient for you.

Things You'll Need

  • Enzymatic cat urine remover
  • Cat repellent
  • Motion-activated sprinkler
  • Mulch
  • Rue plant
  • Fencing
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Clean all sprayed parts of the door with an enzymatic cat urine remover. These products remove cat urine more completely than ordinary household cleaning products. Removing all scent is critical because remaining scent entices the cat to spray again (see Reference 3). Application requirements vary, so carefully follow the instructions on the packaging.

    • 2

      Apply cat repellent to the door at the cat̵7;s level. Commercial products are available, but homemade repellents are also an option. Boil a chopped onion, a chopped jalapeño pepper and 1 tbsp. of cayenne pepper in 2 qt. of water. When cool, strain and spray the liquid on the door (see Reference 2).

    • 3

      Install a motion-activated sprinkler. A single battery-operated requires no in-ground wiring. Place it just far enough from the door so it doesn̵7;t spray you when you enter and exit. Even if the water doesn̵7;t hit the cat, the sudden noise and movement of the sprinkler will scare the cat away (see Reference 3).

    • 4

      Landscape around the door to make the area unattractive to cats. Cover dirt areas with rough mulch such as bark chips or gravel so it's less appealing for cats to dig in. Plant rue (Ruta graveolens) near the door. The strong, spicy smell of the plant repels cats (see Reference 1).

    • 5

      Fence the yard. Opt for plastic fencing, which is more difficult for cats to climb than wood. If the cat is climbing an existing fence, put double-backed tape along the top. Cats dislike the texture. Along the base of the fence, lay plastic carpet runners upside down with the spiky side up. The soft spikes are uncomfortable, but harmless to cats (see Reference 1).