Why is my cat spraying indoors, and how do I stop it?

It is worth being precise about what spraying is, because the treatment is different from house soiling. A spraying cat backs up to a vertical surface, treads with its back feet, quivers its tail and deposits a small volume at nose height. It is communication. Both neutered and entire cats of either sex do it, and the message is nearly always about a perceived threat to territory.

Safety

Step by step

1. Confirm it is spraying, not urination.Vertical surface, small volume, at standing nose height, tail quivering, cat standing rather than squatting. If it is squatting and producing a normal puddle, see the guide on weeing outside the tray — the causes and the urgency are different.
2. See a vet anyway.Medical problems, including urinary tract disease and pain, can trigger marking. A vet visit also opens the referral route to a behaviourist if it is needed.
3. Get the cat neutered if it is not.Neutering substantially reduces spraying in most cats and prevents it in many that have not started. It is not a guaranteed cure in a cat that has sprayed for a long time, because the behaviour becomes learned.
4. Map where it is happening.Near a cat flap, a door or a window usually means an outside cat is the trigger. Around the house on furniture and doorways usually means conflict between cats inside, or a general change. The location is the diagnosis.
5. Deal with cats outside.Block the view at the height the cat looks out — frosted film on the lower part of the glass, or moving furniture away from the sill. Fit a microchip-operated cat flap so a strange cat physically cannot enter, which is one of the most effective single interventions there is.
6. Multiply the resources indoors.In a multi-cat household, provide separate feeding stations, water bowls, litter trays, beds and high resting places in different locations, so no cat has to compete or pass another to reach something it needs.
7. Add height and hiding places.Shelves, cat trees and covered beds. Vertical space reduces conflict because cats avoid each other by using different levels, and a cat that can get up high feels safer.
8. Clean sprayed areas with an enzymatic cleaner.Then dry it. Any residual scent invites repetition. Never use ammonia-based products. Test on fabrics first — some enzymatic cleaners mark.
9. Change what the spot means.After cleaning, put a food bowl, a bed or a scratching post at the site. Cats do not usually mark where they eat and sleep.
10. Consider a synthetic pheromone diffuser.Feline facial pheromone products are widely used alongside environmental changes and are considered a reasonable adjunct. They are not a substitute for removing the trigger.
11. Look at what changed in the household.A new person, a baby, a new pet, building work, new furniture, a house move, or a change in your routine. Spraying often begins within a fortnight of a change and settles once the cat has adjusted, with support.
12. Get a referral if it does not settle.Persistent spraying is a recognised behavioural problem with established treatment protocols. Ask your vet to refer you to a clinical animal behaviourist.

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