When Do Male Cats Start Spraying (And Prevention Tips)

No one wants their cat spraying around the house. It’s smelly, inconvenient, and can be a sign that something is wrong with your feline friend. But when do male cats start spraying? How can you tell if your kitty is nearing this behavior milestone? And once your cat does start spraying, what can you do to stop it? Let’s take a closer look at all things related to male cat spraying.

When Do Male Cats Start Spraying?

Male cats usually start spraying around six months of age. Before you assume the worst, keep in mind that not all male cats spray. Only unneutered males are likely to start spraying around this age. If you neuter your cat before six months, he may not start spraying at all.

Spaying and neutering make an enormous difference in the life of your pet and have many health benefits. It’s also better for human relations: unneutered male cats are notorious for marking their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine everywhere! Female cats in season (in heat) will also spray.

If you neuter your cat before six months of age, he usually won’t start spraying at all. But even if he does, it’s likely to be much milder than if you don’t neuter him until later. So the earlier you neuter him, the better—for him and for you!

A cat reaches sexual maturity between six and ten months of age. If he is not neutered, he may begin to mark territory by spraying strong-smelling urine against vertical surfaces such as the corners of walls or pieces of furniture. He may also start roaming, fighting with other cats in your household, and developing an interest in females in heat.

What Is Spraying?

Spraying is when cats deposit small amounts of urine on vertical surfaces, usually with their back to the surface. When they are sprayed by other cats, they turn around and sniff or lick at these spots.

Urine spraying is used by cats as a form of non-verbal communication. The cat is leaving chemical messages about himself, his territory, and how he feels. These can be interpreted by other cats in the area. Cats have very strong, individual odors that they bring into the home on their fur. Spraying helps distribute these odors throughout the indoor environment.

Why Do Cats Spray?

Unneutered male cats will sometimes begin to mark their territory by spraying around six months of age. Neutering them will usually prevent this behavior from developing. If a cat has started to spray before he is neutered, the problem may continue even after neutering him—or may disappear entirely once puberty is over.

Some cats start to spray after the introduction of a new cat or dog into the household. These animals may be seen as threats and responded to with spraying behavior. Spraying can also result from interactions between two cats in your household, such as if one continually chases another away from food or litter boxes.

Cats also spray if they feel threatened by another animal, person or some noise outside. They may react to this type of stress by urinating on your drapes, bedding or rugs.

It is possible that the behavior may not be related to stress at all. Some cats simply enjoy marking with urine and will spray without any apparent reason.

Inappropriate urination can also result from a medical condition such as a urinary tract infection, so take your cat to the vet if you notice this behavior change.

How To Know If Your Male Cat Is Spraying?

Male cats are normally very territorial, and will spray to mark their territory. This can be anything from a horizontal surface, to a vertical one, or even an elevated surface like your curtains. It’s important for cat parents to know exactly what it is they’re dealing with if their cat sprays indoors. There are several ways to find out if your cat is spraying, and below are some of the common signs.

You’ll commonly know if your cat is spraying simply because they will show you. They will direct their back end towards whatever it is that they’re trying to spray, lift their tail up high, and start to shake their rear end. Their penis might even protrude. It’s very important to make sure your cat doesn’t spray any fabrics or furniture, as they can become saturated in odor, and are extremely difficult to clean.

If you are concerned about whether your cat is spraying indoors, it’s a good idea to set up some cameras around the house. This way, you’ll be able to see what they’re doing exactly. You should be able to catch them in the act, and then it will be much easier for you to try to correct their behavior.

You might notice your cat starts spending more time outside of the litter box if they are spraying indoors. This is especially common with cats that are neutered, or spayed. It’s also possible they might not be using their litter box at all, and instead trying to do their business outside. If this is the case, you’ll want to take them back to the vet to make sure there isn’t an underlying medical problem.

Many cat owners don’t know that a female in heat can cause a male cat to spray indoors. The urine of a female cat in heat is extremely potent. If you have an intact male, and suspect that this might be what’s going on with your cat, have them neutered right away to try to correct the problem.

You might notice if your cat starts spraying inside because they start to mark certain parts of the house more than others. A common place to find a cat spraying is near the litter box, but this is actually more likely due to the fact that it’s where they feel most comfortable.

If you have an indoor cat, you might notice them start to spray near doors and windows. This makes sense because cats want their territory to be as wide as possible, and by marking these areas, they are trying to make sure everyone in the household knows their boundaries.

When Do Male Cats Stop Spraying?

Neutering And Spraying

Male cats usually stop spraying naturally when they are neutered. The behavior stops because the hormone that stimulates marking behavior (testosterone) is reduced to levels that don’t trigger spraying. Neutering may not always entirely prevent a cat from spraying, but it will certainly reduce the urge significantly.

Some Neutering Recommendations

Remove the testicles before a kitten reaches 10 weeks of age to prevent testosterone-dependent marking behavior. This is especially important for indoor-only cats. If a cat has already learned to mark with urine, neutering may not stop this behavior as thoroughly as some owners would like. In addition, some people feel that these cats look less masculine.

After the neutering procedure, keep your cat indoors and watch for signs that he may be about to spray. It is not advisable to allow a cat who has been previously trained to mark with urine outdoors unsupervised. If you think this might happen, confine him to a room with tall, heavy furniture cats can’t climb and where he cannot see outside.

In general, neutering a male cat will reduce or stop the marking behavior. In one study of 100 cats that had been allowed to roam outdoors and were then neutered, 70% showed a decrease in or cessation of urine spraying after being neutered. In most cases the problem was not completely resolved until the cat was neutered. However, if it does not stop completely you should seek your veterinarian’s advice.

Tips For Preventing Cats Spraying

Cats use their sense of smell to investigate new things in their environment. You can prevent or stop spraying by neutralizing odors with an enzyme cleaner made for pet urine. These sprays break down the odor-causing elements of cat urine, making it pointless to mark with their own special scent.

Below are some tips for preventing spraying in cats:

• Spraying can be prevented by neutering your male cat before 6 months of age.
• Try to make changes in your household gradually and give your cat time to get used to them.
• Make sure all of your cats have their own litter box. It should be in a private spot, but somewhere you can easily get to if you need to clean it immediately after an accident.
• Cats prefer using fine-grained litters, so try switching your cat’s litter to one with finer granules.
• If you have more than one cat, provide each with his own litter box placed in separate areas of your home. Some cats are happier if the boxes are not side-by-side.
• You should also try to keep your cat’s tray as clean as possible all of the time because cats often return to the area where they have previously used the litter box. Make sure the litter is scooped daily and all of the soiled litter removed.
• On top of their sense of smell, cats are very good at remembering places that feel secure. If your cat feels he may be threatened by another animal or person, his instinct may be to seek out a place he feels safe. This may be under your bed or in another room that is rarely used by the rest of the family members.

So even if you do everything to stop spraying, it might still continue because cats will often go back to the spot they feel most secure.

If spraying continues despite these treatments, your veterinarian may need to prescribe a cat behavior medication.

Tips For Cleaning Up Any Messes

The method for cleaning up after a cat has sprayed depends on the surface the cat has urinated on. Cats will try to cover their urine with soil from outside, so make sure you clean up any messes immediately before it dries.

If you find a urine spot, use an enzyme-based pet stain remover or dish soap and cold water to clean the area. If the urine has dried, you should first soak up as much of it as possible with an absorbent cloth or paper towel before cleaning it.

Cats will often return to the same place over and over again if they like the scent that is left behind. If old stains remain because you have not cleaned them properly, your cat may spray over them because it can’t differentiate between old and new stains.

If you find that the same area has been sprayed several times, it is best to clean the surface with a commercial cleaning product or household vinegar to reduce or eliminate any lingering odors that may inspire your cat to spray in that location again. Some people have had success using a mixture of vinegar and water, while others recommend using products that contain live bacteria to break down the urine.

Cat urine can sometimes be difficult to remove from furniture or carpeting if it has soaked through the material, so blotting is usually not enough on its own. If this is the case, you may need to peel off a thin layer of carpet or upholstery, and replace it with a new piece.

If the cat has sprayed on the wall, wipe down the area as soon as you can to prevent discoloration from setting in. You will need to use a product that is safe for painted walls because many cleaning products have a harsh smell or could discolor the surface. Cover any holes in the wall with wood filler before repainting so they are not noticeable, and be sure to wear gloves while you clean up.

Final Thoughts

If you’re dealing with an unneutered male cat that is spraying, the good news is that there are ways to correct the behavior. In most cases, neutering your cat will stop the spraying. There are also other products and techniques available to help stop this behavior, but it’s important to consult with your veterinarian beforehand to find out what will work best for your individual cat.

Related Questions

How can I tell if my male cat is spraying?

Spraying is one of the most stereotypical Tom cat behaviors. It involves a male cat standing with its tail erect and firmly planted on a surface, while squirting urine in an arc fashion. In addition, spraying is often accompanied by a variety of postures and vocalizations associated with territoriality.

Do all male cats spray in the house?

No, but most male cats will at least attempt to spray. The vast majority of un-neutered males and approximately 50% of neutered males in the US engage in this behavior. Spraying is a learned and sometimes confined behavior that often spreads throughout the house and environment over time if not contained.

Spraying can also be seasonal and is more common between early spring and fall.

Do boy cats spray after being neutered?

Yes. If a cat is going to spray after being neutered, it will usually do so within the first few days or weeks following surgery. Spraying can also be seasonal and is more common between early spring and fall as this is when testosterone levels are highest.

Why do female cats spray?

Female cats spray for the same reasons that male cats do. They are marking territory or competing with other intact animals in their environment. However, intact females are less likely to spray than their male counterparts.

When do male cats stop spraying?

Tom cats will usually spray for a few weeks to a few months after they are sexually mature, which occurs at around 5-7 months of age. However, male cats can spray well into their senior years if not neutered. It is rare for a male cat to stop spraying suddenly without any intervention from humans.

Do all unneutered male cats spray?

No, but most unneutered males will attempt to spray. Spraying is a learned and somewhat confined behavior that often spreads throughout the house and environment over time if it is not contained. It can also be seasonal and more common between early spring and fall when testosterone levels are highest.

Do male cats spray after being neutered?

Yes. If a cat is going to spray after being neutered, it will usually do so within the first few days or weeks following surgery. Spraying can also be seasonal and is more common between early spring and fall as this is when testosterone levels are highest.

Do neutered cats spray?

Un-neutered cats of both sexes are more likely to spray than neutered cats. As long as a cat is intact it may attempt to mark territory by spraying and will be driven to do so periodically throughout its life, which can result in damage and expense for the owner if it does not receive appropriate intervention.

At what age do male cats stop spraying?

Tom cats will usually spray for a few weeks to a few months after they are sexually mature, which occurs at around 5-7 months of age. However, male cats can spray well into their senior years if not neutered. It is rare for a male cat to stop spraying suddenly without any intervention from humans.

Can you punish a cat for spraying?

The answer to this question is yes and no. If your cat is simply urinating outside of the litter box, then punishment isn’t going to work. Cats don’t understand that type of language, and it’s unreasonable to think that they will. However, if you’re dealing with a cat that is spraying or marking his territory with urine, then punishment may indeed work as a deterrent.

Do male cats spray when in heat?

Yes, but it isn’t as common as female cats spraying. Females tend to spray more than males because they are in heat every few weeks throughout the year, and non-spayed females can go into “heat” (oestrus) repeatedly during the breeding season. Generally speaking, male cats will spray if they come across a female cat in heat, or if they detect the urine of a female cat in heat.

Do male cats spray all year round?

The answer to this question is no. If an unneutered male cat is spraying all the time, then chances are good that he’s in pain or suffering from some type of emotional problem, like stress or anxiety (urticaria). Either way, the source of the problem needs to be addressed by a veterinarian – it won’t simply go away on its own.