Medications to Stop Cats From Marking

A cat marks or sprays when it sprays bursts of urine onto a vertical surface while standing tall and holding its tail high. Spraying is a marking behavior and not a problem with litter training. Spraying may be caused by anxiety, and medication may be used to reduce a cat's anxiety level to discourage spraying. Medication may come with side effects, and cat owners should consult a veterinarian before trying any medication.

  1. Buspirone

    • Buspar, the trade name of the medication buspirone, is a human antidepressant drug but has been found to be 75 percent effective in correcting marking behavior according to Mar Vista Animal Medical Center. Half the cats that finish eight weeks of treatment do not resume marking, while the other half have to continue consuming buspirone. The drug is usually administered to cats that have not responded to other medications due to its cost and its relatively recent use on cats with urine-marking problems. Buspirone may increase aggression in some cats.

    Clomipramine

    • Humans have been successfully treated for obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression using clomipramine. It is also prescribed for dogs with separation anxiety. For cats, the drug is used to treat marking behavior and hair loss induced by excessive grooming. According to research by the Doncaster Animal Clinic in Ontario, 20 of 25 cats reduced urine marking by 75 percent within four weeks of clomipramine treatment. Continued medication at reduced doses was required to control the behavior in 15 of the 20 cats that responded to treatment. Clomipramine may cause drowsiness, vertigo, dehydration, constipation, fatigue and appetite loss.

    Fluoxetine

    • Fluoxetine, a human antidepressant drug, works by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. According to Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, treatment over eight weeks stops marking in 90 percent of cats when they take the medication. When medication is discontinued, the cats may resume marking but may respond again to treatment. Fluoxetine may be marketed as Prozac or Reconcile. Side effects of the drug include panting, hyperactivity, shaking, restlessness, aggression and lack of appetite.

    Amitriptyline

    • Amitriptyline, also known as Elavil, is an antidepressant that has been used to treat mental illness and chronic pain syndromes in humans. In animals, the drug is effective against separation anxiety, marking behavior, excessive grooming and feline urinary tract disease. Side effects of amitriptyline include drowsiness, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation and cardiac conditions.

    Diazepam

    • Diazepam, sold under the name Valium, treats anxiety, muscle problems, lack of appetite and seizures in humans. It may also be injected as anesthesia. In treating feline urine marking problems, diazepam has success rates of between 55 and 75 percent, but marking resumes when the medication is discontinued. Side effects include liver syndrome, excessive appetites and drowsiness.