When Do Male Cats Start Spraying?

Male cats need to be neutered before they start spraying.

When a cat starts spraying depends on many factors. Age, general development, nutrition, environment and the presence of other cats all play a role. Cats that feel threatened or are around fertile female cats are more likely to start spraying as soon as they are able to. Underdeveloped cats and indoor cats in a quiet, single-cat household may not start spraying until they are at least a year old.
The best way to prevent male cat spraying, no matter the cat, is to get him neutered before he starts spraying. Cats neutered before they start spraying are less likely to spray after neutering (cats not neutered until they are older sometimes spray out of habit).

Instructions

1. Examine the cat's teeth to determine if he is 6 months old or older (if you are not sure of his age). Body size is not an accurate way to determine this because breed and nutrition influence size greatly. Teeth development is much more accurate. If the cat's adult back molars are present, he is probably at least 6 months old. Many cats start spraying as early as 5 to 6 months.

2. Manually check the cat's back end for gonad development. If both his testicles have fully descended, you will feel them. If the sack is empty or you feel only one testicle, the cat may have delayed development. He may still spray but may be less fertile. You should take a cat with this issue to a veterinarian.

3. Observe the cat carefully. If he backs up to any object and lifts his tail, he is about to spray.

4. Watch the cat if he encounters a female in heat. A cat who wants to mount a female cat in heat is old enough to spray.

5. Neuter a male cat before he is 6 months old to avoid spraying. Although some cats may still spray despite being neutered, neutering reduces the odor significantly. Male cat spray from unaltered male cats is extremely pungent, and the odor is difficult to eliminate.

Tips & Warnings

• Not all male cats start spraying when they reach maturity. A cat is most likely to spray if he feels threatened or an unspayed female is present. In the absence of these, spraying may be delayed or happen only occasionally.

• Many vets will neuter a male cat as young as 3 months, depending on the cat's weight. Neutering male cats prevents testicular cancer and aggressive behavior.

• Do not punish cats for spraying. Spraying is a biological urge that they cannot help, and cats do not understand punishment. The stress is likely to make cats spray more rather than less.

• Outdoor male cats that spray get into many fights. Many serious cat diseases, such as feline leukemia virus, can be spread via cats fighting. Abscesses from bites are also a common problem for unaltered male cats.

Resources

• Entirely Pets: Pet stain and odor removers