How to Stop a Cat From Spraying Inside Your House

Male cats are very territorial and they love marking their territory. When they spray, it really stinks. The scent is extremely powerful and lingers a long time. Once a cat gets into the habit of spraying, it can be difficult to get him to stop. Here are a few ways to discourage your cat from spraying inside the house.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Give him some space. If you have more than one male cat, they may become competitive and begin spraying to mark their territory. It is important to give each cat his own space by giving him access to areas where he can have his own privacy. Cats that share limited living quarters may become more competitive and start spraying more.

2. Shower your cats with affection. Cats often compete because they are jealous of each other. If you have more than one cat, try to give each of them equal attention.

3. Eliminate stress to reduce spraying. Cats will sometimes spray as a reaction to stress. If there have been any changes in the household, family or routine that could be the reason your cat started spraying. If you've moved to a new home or someone has moved in or out of the home your cat may be stressed by the changes. Try to calm him by adding familiar objects and comfort him with lots of reassuring love.

4. Clean thoroughly. Cats will continue to spray in a place they've previously sprayed. Clean the area thoroughly to remove all traces of the scent.

5. Use a pet repellent to discourage spraying. Try bitter apple or a product like Feliway. A citrus scent such as lemon works well too. Cats hate the scent of lemon.

6. Don't scold your cat for spraying. The only thing scolding him will do is cause him to be stressed which will most likely result in more spraying. Your cat doesn't realize that he is doing anything wrong and in fact, he's not. Spraying is a part of his nature. Scolding or punishing will not work. It will only confuse your cat and cause you further frustration.

7. Make time for play time. If you have more than one cat make time to play with them. It's a good form of socialization and helps them to get along with each other better reducing the need to be competitive.

8. Get your cat neutered. The majority of cats will stop spraying once they've been neutered although there is a small percentage that do continue to spray. Even so, neutering is still the best solution to eliminate spraying.