How to Stop a Male Neutered Cat From Spraying

Spraying is the act of a cat marking its territory. When a cat sprays, it sends out a light mist of urine. This urine has a pungent, overpowering odor. Generally, having your cat neutered will stop him from spraying; however, some cats will continue to spray after being fixed. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to discourage your cat from spraying and avoid the odor in and around your home.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper towels
  • Black light
  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Water
  • Baking soda
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Liquid dish detergent
  • Scrub brush
  • Vacuum
  • Enzyme cleaner
  • Cat deterrents
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Instructions

  1. Cleaning

    • 1

      Clean up sprayed urine using a wad of paper towels. If the spraying occurs when you are not around and you are not sure where it is, use a black light to find it. Urine will glow under the black light.

    • 2

      Spray the area with a mixture of equal parts distilled white vinegar and water. Saturate the area completely and then leave it to dry.

    • 3

      Sprinkle baking soda over top of the spot.

    • 4

      Pour a mixture of 1/4 c hydrogen peroxide and 1 tsp liquid dish detergent over the baking soda and rub the spot with a scrub brush until the baking soda is dissolved. Allow the area to dry and then vacuum up the mixture. This will remove any odor.

    • 5

      Spray the area with a commercial enzyme cleaner. These cleaners remove the enzymes and the smell they emit. Some cats return to the same spot because of the smell. Removing that smell will discourage the cat returning to spray again.

    Deterrents

    • 6

      Determine areas in and around your home that your cat prefers to spray. Some cats will return to the same spot of carpet while others will choose furniture.

    • 7

      Place a cat deterrent in the problem areas. You can use a static mat, which emits a small static-like shock to discourage the cat, or aerosol cat repellents, which spray a mist of air when a motion detector senses movement. Another option is to line problem areas with tinfoil. Cats do not like the sound of tinfoil and will generally avoid walking on it. Also, if they spray the tinfoil, the sound of the urine hitting it will make a similar noise, discouraging future sprays.

    • 8

      Monitor your cat's responses. You want to startle and deter, but not terrify your cat. If you notice that the static shock or the air spraying is causing stress, discontinue their use. Signs of stress can include nervous pacing, increased spraying or aggressive behavior.