DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have a really big problem and hope you can help me once again. I have a 13-year-old cat that’s been neutered since he was a baby, and he sprays in the house. He’s been checked out at the vet, and they tell me that it’s all behavior. He’s spoiled rugs, furniture, etc. I tried everything to make him stop. They told me to use Comfort Zone plug-ins, which I did, but he sprayed on them. I used pepper, mouthwash and a few other things. Is there anyone who has a solution I could use to make him stop doing this? I do not want to have him put down because of this problem. He’s lovable and playful. I feel that there must be someone out there who could help me out with this problem. I truly love my cat but can’t afford him ruining my house. Please help. I’m very desperate. Thank you. – P.T., Lewiston

ANSWER: Sun Spots is a fervent cat lover herself and hopes she can find an answer for you.

Has your kitty always done this or is it new behavior? If this is new behavior from your cat, then something has changed in his environment to cause it. Has another cat moved into his territory? If you have gotten another cat, you will need three litter boxes (one for each cat plus an extra) placed strategically around the house, and the new cat should be neutered.

Even a stray cat being outside can lead your kitty to display “displaced aggression.” (At one time when Sun Spots had two well-behaved female kitties, a stray cat kept coming up on to the screened porch and subsequently her two cats began fighting with each other since they couldn’t get to the outside cat. After that cat went away, all was peaceful again.)

A new human in the house can also upset an established cat, as can changes in routine. Did you move his cat litter box or change the kind of litter you use? Remove a favorite sleeping place? Change his routine? Start letting him outside or keeping him inside? Hopefully you can figure out the cause, and eliminate it.

For example, if there is a cat hanging around outside, remove your kitty’s view of and access to that cat. Clean up any previous spot where he sprayed with one of the commercial cleaners designed to eliminate all pet urine odors (you can buy them at a pet store; one brand is Urine-Off). Make sure his cat box is clean (empty the litter and scrub it down), refill it with his favorite litter and make sure it is accessible at all times.

Sun Spots has never heard of using Comfort Zone plug-ins, but www.healthypets.com offers the following:

“Use a commercial pheromone product such as Feliway Spray to help stop cat spraying. Both male and female cats, because of hormonal and behavior problems, can start spraying urine on objects or areas. Feliway contains pheromone-like substances which discourages this behavior when it is applied to the area the pet has sprayed. Also try Feliway Electric Diffuser to restore a feeling of calm in the cat by releasing a synthetic scent hormone, which permeates throughout the environment.”

Once you have put his home and haven back to rights, the behavior may go away. If not, Sun Spots has one final suggestion, but it requires substantial effort on your part. First, you’ll need a spray bottle filled with water. Now comes the tough part. Watch your cat carefully. If he tends to spray in the same area of the house, be especially alert when he enters that area. The minute he begins to spray (you can tell from his body posture; he will put his back end to the object and perhaps hunch up a bit or twitch his tail), spray him in the face with the water. Cats HATE this. If you can spray him a few times while he is spraying, he will begin to associate the two events and cease and desist.

Another option is to contact an animal behavior specialist. Online, Sun Spots found www.angelfire.com/falcon/animal_behavior/, Carl R Russell and Linda J. Rowe, Windham, 301 Roosevelt Trail, Windham, ME 04062, 892-2001.

The best of luck to you and your beloved feline.

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