How Do I Stop My Cat From Spraying in the House?

To a cat, spraying is like putting up a fence. The scent of the cat's urine defines boundaries and lets the world know that piece of turf is occupied. Even neutered male cats and females spray if stressed. Spraying is most common in multicat households where the cats feel that they don't have enough personal space. But a change in routine; the arrival of a new baby, puppy or kitten; new furniture; and a strictly indoor lifestyle can also stress sterilized cats so much they spray.

Things You'll Need

  • Spay/neuter appointment
  • Pheromone spray and diffusers
  • Catnip
  • Electronic deterrent that emits a spray of water or high-pitched sound
  • Harness and leash
  • Outdoor enclosure
  • Fence containment system
  • Electronic deterrent that causes a tingling sensation underfoot
  • Double stick tape
  • Bubble wrap
  • Vinyl chair mat
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Instructions

    • 1

      Neuter and spay. Sterilized cats are less likely to spray.

    • 2

      Use a product that mimics the "friendly" pheromones in a cats' cheeks and discourages urine marking. Pet supply stores sell both sprays and plug-in diffusers. Use diffusers in all the rooms where your cats spend a lot of time. Put the spray on vertical surfaces, like walls and furniture legs, where the cat is urine marking.

    • 3

      Rub catnip, a friendly scent, on furniture the cat is spraying, and put small mounds on the floor where the cat is spraying a wall.

    • 4

      Reduce stress in multicat households by expanding the cats' usable space. Cats like to arrange themselves vertically, and providing both high and low perching, resting and hiding places will relieve overcrowding and reduce stress and spraying.

    • 5

      If outdoor cats visiting your deck or patio are causing your indoor cats to spray, use an electronic deterrent to keep the cats away. Most pet supply stores sell deterrents that will not harm the cats but will discourage them from visiting by emitting a stream of water or high-pitched sound when they come too close.

    • 6

      Give your cat some outdoor time. Taking your cat out on a harness and leash, providing some supervised outdoor time or building an outdoor enclosure will relieve stress and let your cat mark its territory outside instead of indoors. If your yard is fenced, putting PVC piping along the top of the fence should keep the cat in the yard.

    • 7

      Make new furniture smell familiar by putting unwashed towels on the cushions. Sprinkling catnip on the furniture or using a pheromone spray will also discourage the cat from spraying on it.

    • 8

      Put an electronic deterrent that causes a tingling sensation when stepped on on the floor and other surfaces the cat stands on to spray. The cat won't like the tingling sensation and will stay away. These deterrents, too, are available from pet supply stores and will not harm the cat. Other deterrents that are unpleasant underfoot are double stick tape, bubble wrap and the vinyl mats that protect carpeting from rolling desk chairs. Put the mat on the floor bumpy side up.