What to do when male cats spray in the house
Dear Cathy: I have an 8-year-old indoor male cat that shares the house with a cat (sister) of the same age. The male cat, Zack, has a bad habit of spraying furniture and walls, and doors on occasion, and we struggle to learn why. We have three litter boxes between the two cats and clean frequently. The two cats are very social with each other and us. There haven’t been any changes to the household either. Also, during annual vet visits we have had Zack tested for any underlying medical issues and nothing has been identified. Any idea what can be causing this bad habit?
— Joe, Coventry, Connecticut
Dear Joe: Male cats spray for many reasons, the most common of which is marking territory. You didn’t mention if Zack was fixed, but if he is not, that is why he is spraying. If he is fixed, it could be that it is a learned behavior that was carried over from before his neuter. Every animal in the house should be fixed though, to reduce the chances of him exhibiting this behavior.
Before addressing the behavior, I always recommend getting a health check. Some male cats with urinary problems will spray indiscriminately, especially if this is a new behavior.
Stress can cause male cats to spray as well. Can Zack see other cats outside? These sightings can cause anxiety for many cats, and spraying is one way male cats manage the stress. There also can be unseen stress in the house between cats. They may appear to get along, but sometimes there can be
some territorial issues that are undetected by us humans. There are over-thecounter anxiety supplements for cats that may help calm Zack, but if they don’t work, talk to your vet about a prescription medication. I also recommend Feliway/Comfort multicat feline pheromones to reduce anxiety. Get a collar for Zack to wear (and for all the cats if you can afford it), and some plug-in pheromones for the various rooms they occupy.
Finally, make sure you have one litter box per cat plus one, so Zack can claim one for himself, and locate them in low-traffic areas with two escape routes
each.
Do not yell or use a spray bottle of water on Zack when he sprays as this can make any stress worse.
Dear Cathy: I would like your recommendations for our 9-year-old goldendoodle. He is my fiancee’s dog and along with her 4-yearold Shih Tzu mix they have recently moved into my condo. Previously, the dogs were bound by an electric fence and didn’t get much leash walking. Now, we are walking the dogs (on leash) two to three times a day. The issue is the goldendoodle, although seemingly a bit timid at home, acts very aggressively to other dogs
being walked. It’s getting to the point where other dogs’ walkers see us and head in the opposite direction. I sometimes do the same, just to avoid the drama. We recently purchased a harness-type restraint for walking the dogs. Can you make any suggestions to correct or temper this behavior?
— Ken, Simsbury, Connecticut
Dear Ken: Dogs are often protective of us, but it’s important to teach your dog that you have things under control, and don’t need their protection. The harness-type leashes can make it easier to manage and train your dog, but used alone won’t solve the problem. You can do that through training and body positioning when you walk the goldendoodle.
Begin by training the dog to look at you when you say its name and to heel (walks next to you) when you walk. Dogs allowed to walk in front of people are more likely to display aggression towards an approaching dog (or person) than a dog that has learned to heel. Say their name as a dog approaches, talk to your dog, and keep it focused on you and by your side. Don’t let it lunge in front of you. You may also use a Pet Corrector (compressed air sound) in combination with their name to get your dog’s attention. If they don’t respond immediately, you can get their attention by turning and walking quickly in the other direction. The goal is to interrupt the barking with sound or movement and make them pay more attention to you than the other dogs on the walk.