Do Neutered Cats Spray? Why It Happens and How to Stop It

Yes, neutered cats can still spray. The Cornell Feline Health Center says 10% of neutered males and 5% of neutered females spray, and International Cat Care gives the same figures. Most neutered cats never do. When one does, the sources point to stress, a conflict with another cat, or a health problem, and the first step is a vet visit.

This page covers how spraying differs from peeing outside the box, why a neutered cat sprays, when to call the vet, and what to change at home.

What spraying looks like

A spraying cat is leaving a scent message for other cats. International Cat Care describes it this way: the cat backs up to a vertical surface, stands with its hindquarters raised and its tail up and quivering, sometimes treads with its back feet, and squirts a stream that is usually less than 2 mL. Cornell adds that cats do not squat to spray. Common targets are doors, windows, the area around a cat flap, curtains, and electrical equipment. The smell is stronger than plain urine. The ASPCA calls it pungent, and PetMD describes a musky or fishy odor.

Peeing outside the box looks different. The cat squats on a flat surface such as a rug, bed, sofa, or sink, and leaves more urine that smells like normal urine. PetMD says peeing outside the box is often tied to lower urinary tract disease or a dislike of the litter, while spraying is more likely caused by stress or anxiety. Cats that spray usually still use the box for ordinary urination, so a clean, well-used box does not rule spraying out. The ASPCA treats urine marking as communication between cats, separate from litter box problems.

The spot alone does not always settle it. International Cat Care says cats sometimes mark flat surfaces, and Cornell suggests watching the cat or setting up a video camera when you are not home.

How many neutered cats spray

Cornell and International Cat Care both put the figure at about 10% of neutered males and 5% of spayed females. A 1984 survey in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, by Hart and Cooper, counted spraying in 134 male and 152 female cats that had been neutered before puberty, between 6 and 10 months old. About 10% of the males and 5% of the females sprayed on a frequent basis later in adult life. Within that 6 to 10 month range, the age at surgery made no difference. Males were more likely to spray in homes with female cats than in homes with other males.

Household size matters too. Cornell says it is likely that at least one cat will spray in a household of more than seven cats, and International Cat Care says the chance rises in direct proportion to the number of cats, because more cats means more competition for space and resources.

Timing of surgery has some evidence behind it. A 2004 study in the same journal followed 1,660 cats adopted from one shelter, for a median of 3.9 years, using questionnaires from the adopters. Males neutered before 5.5 months old had less urine spraying than males neutered at an older age. Humane World for Animals says neutering solves 90% of all marking issues, even in cats that have been doing it for a while, and also says that the longer a cat has practiced the behavior, the greater the risk that surgery will not solve it.

Cats reach sexual maturity during adolescence. International Cat Care says kittens can reach it from around four months and recommends neutering at about that age. A kitten that is between 5 and 6 months old may already be there. PetMD says females in heat spray more. Spaying before the first heat takes that trigger away.

Why a neutered cat sprays

Cats spray for a variety of reasons. International Cat Care says a cat that sprays indoors does not feel secure and is stressed by something. The ASPCA says that when a cat is spayed or neutered, its world is predictable, and nothing is in conflict, the cat has little reason to mark. The usual reasons in a neutered cat are these.

Cats outside the home are one trigger. Cornell says a cat may spray when it sees a threat to its territory, such as a new cat entering the home or outside cats nearby. An indoor cat that watches a stray through a window or glass door can be set off by it.

Conflict at home is another. The ASPCA says cat-to-cat conflict is one of the most common reasons for urine marking, and that it is usually based on anxiety. A cat that cannot get away from another cat gets more stressed and marks more often.

Changes in the household also set cats off. The ASPCA lists someone moving in or out, a new dog or cat, remodeling, a baby, and changed work hours as triggers. PetMD adds construction and a change in feeding times. Cornell adds frustration, such as a restrictive diet or too little playtime, and the smell of new furniture or carpet. If you are reading your cat's moods day to day, our guide on how to tell if your cat loves you covers the everyday signs.

Health problems are the fourth. The ASPCA says no medical problem causes urine marking directly, but physical problems can raise a cat's anxiety, which can lead to marking. Medical problems more often explain peeing outside the box, which is covered below.

What neutering and spaying do

Neutering a male cat removes the testes. Spaying a female removes the ovaries and uterus. Both end the cat's ability to breed and take away the hormone drive behind much of the marking, and International Cat Care says spraying usually drops significantly after the surgery.

The operations also prevent diseases. Humane World for Animals says neutering a male removes the risk of testicular cancer, and that intact female cats have a greater chance of pyometra, a potentially fatal uterine infection, and of uterine and mammary cancers. It also says spayed and neutered cats survive longer than cats that are not altered, and cites a Banfield Pet Hospitals database that included 460,000 cats, in which spayed females lived 39% longer and neutered males 62% longer. Those figures come from records looked at after the fact, and Humane World notes that such studies cannot prove cause.

When to see the vet

International Cat Care says to contact your vet as soon as a cat starts spraying indoors, because the vet needs to rule out a medical cause such as feline lower urinary tract disease or chronic kidney disease. PetMD says the vet will likely run blood work and a urinalysis to look for crystals or bladder stones, urinary tract infections, and kidney disease. Cornell lists kidney disease, thyroid disease, and diabetes among the problems that change how a cat uses the box, and warns that cats with medical conditions may not always act sick.

See a vet at once if your cat strains to pass urine or only passes small amounts. International Cat Care says that cat must be seen urgently. A cat that pees outside the box can also have feline idiopathic cystitis, which International Cat Care describes as stress-related.

If the vet finds no medical cause, the next step is a veterinary or clinical animal behaviorist. Cornell, the ASPCA, and International Cat Care all name that referral. A behaviorist can help you keep your carpets, drapes, bedding, and cat-love-pronouncing clothing free of territorial marking.

Ask your vet before you try any medication. Cornell says anti-anxiety drugs are more likely to prevent spraying than other types of house soiling, but medication can only be part of the solution and must go with changes at home, and cats on it for a long time need monitoring. The ASPCA says to consult your vet or a veterinary behaviorist before giving a cat any behavior medication.

How to stop a neutered cat from spraying

Block the view of outside cats

Cornell suggests closing blinds or shades so the cat cannot look outside. International Cat Care suggests static, opaque plastic film or cardboard over the lower part of glass doors and windows, so the cat cannot see out and cats outside cannot see in. Cornell and the ASPCA both mention a motion-detector sprinkler in the yard to keep outside cats away.

Give every cat its own litter box and space

Cornell, the ASPCA, International Cat Care, and PetMD all recommend one litter box per cat plus one extra, so a home with three cats needs four. Put the boxes in different places, in quiet spots away from food and water, so one cat cannot guard them all. The ASPCA adds that each box should have at least two ways out. Spread the other resources the same way: International Cat Care lists beds, food and water bowls, scratching posts, high places to sit, hiding places, and toys, all at one per cat plus one. The ASPCA says to add perches so each cat has a place to rest well away from the others.

If two cats are feuding, Cornell says to separate them and reintroduce them slowly, using food treats to reward calm behavior.

Play every day

Cornell lists too little playtime as a trigger and says to increase it. The ASPCA suggests playing with each cat separately, in different parts of the home, using toys that dangle on strings from a stick.

Clean sprayed spots

Cats go back to spots that smell like urine. Cornell says odors must be neutralized, not just masked, and the ASPCA, PetMD, and International Cat Care point to an enzymatic cleaner designed for cat urine. Cornell says to avoid cleaners with ammonia or vinegar, which smell like urine. International Cat Care says heavily soiled fabric such as a rug may be better thrown out, because it stays attractive to the cat. For cleaners that are safe around pets, see our guide to pet-friendly cleaning products.

Try calming products

Cornell says Feliway, a synthetic pheromone, copies the scent of a cat's cheek glands, and that many cats will not spray on areas that carry it. The ASPCA says products like it have been shown to have some effect in relieving stress. International Cat Care suggests a diffuser for cats with a history of spraying, ahead of a stressful event. Our guide to the best cat pheromone diffusers and sprays compares the products. You can also read about flower essences for pets. Ask your vet which calming products fit your cat.

Never punish a spraying cat

Cornell says hitting, kicking, or screaming at a cat is ineffective and that the anxiety it causes can make house soiling worse. The ASPCA says not to rub a cat's nose in urine or throw things at it. Routine care helps too: our cat health and daily care guide covers checkups, litter box upkeep, and avoiding sudden changes.

FAQ

What does cat spray smell like?

Cat spray smells stronger than ordinary urine. The ASPCA calls it pungent, and PetMD describes a musky or fishy smell. Spray also carries extra scent chemicals, which is why it lingers.

Is my cat spraying to get back at me?

No. Cornell says cats probably do not have the thinking ability that revenge would take, and International Cat Care says a cat that soils is not seeking revenge. Something in the cat's world has gone wrong, such as stress or illness.

Will the spraying stop on its own?

It can come and go, depending on what is stressing the cat. International Cat Care says it often comes back, and the longer you wait before tackling it, the more complicated it becomes. Contact your vet even if it has stopped for a few weeks.

How do I clean the place my cat sprayed?

Blot up the urine, then use an enzymatic cleaner made for cat urine and follow the label. Skip ammonia and vinegar.

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Sources

• Cornell Feline Health Center, Feline Behavior Problems: House Soiling
• International Cat Care, Urine spraying in cats
• International Cat Care, Soiling indoors
• International Cat Care, Neutering your cat
• ASPCA, Urine Marking in Cats
• Hart BL, Cooper L. Factors relating to urine spraying and fighting in prepubertally gonadectomized cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1984
• Spain CV, Scarlett JM, Houpt KA. Long-term risks and benefits of early-age gonadectomy in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2004
• PetMD, Cat Spraying: Why Cats Do It and How to Stop It
• Humane World for Animals, Why and When You Should Spay or Neuter Your Pet
• Nutrience, Welcome to the Teenage Months: Kitten Edition