HELP: Cat spraying.

[GirlinContempt]

My cat, Ion, has suddenly started spraying. All over the place. He's probably.... 8 years old? He's never done anything like this before. He's sweet, well tempered, he doesn't soil the house. But in the last few months, he's been spraying like crazy. I'm sure it's spraying and not peeing because I've seen him do it. His tail is up with his ass to usually the wall, his tail sort of jerks around. It's always vertical.
I have no idea why.
He's fixed. He's an indoor cat. He wants to go outside all summer, but that's nothing new. He isn't allowed. There are other cats in the house, but he's lived with them before. Nothing has changed that I'm aware of, aside from him not being allowed in my room, but that's because he sprayed the wall next to my bed when I was going to sleep one night.
I feel so terrible, because we're all feeling upset about it, and he has no idea why. I've read that you aren't supposed to get mad at them or punish them for spraying because it can just make it worse.
I've tried pheromone sprays that are supposed to help prevent them from respraying a new area but it doesn't seem to help, if anything it makes him do it more other places.

Has ANYONE had this problem? ANY suggestions, help, anything, please.
Please.


Please.

This is my little stinker:

[Critters2]

1. Get him to a vet. Pronto!

This was the first sign I had that my Leon had lower urinary tract disease.

[GirlinContempt]

3. Thanks.

[EFerrari]

9. Good call!

[idgiehkt]

2. my parents had a male cat that did that

he is about the same age. He had to go back to living outside. The only thing I know of that might make them urinate more is a bladder infection, if nothing in the environment has changed (like you having a guest over, like a boyfriend, whose sent they might be trying to cover up). Maybe have the vet check to see his kidneys are okay? Good luck.

[GirlinContempt]

4. Thank you

Ion can't go outside, he has no claws.

[Fenris]

5. I second the suggestion to see a vet.

Our late Papa had spraying issues because of chronic urinary crystals. His spraying was partly because it was painful to use the box. His crystals were extremely aggressive, which is why they eventually blocked his UT and he had to be put down. He was only 5.

Not saying that's likely, just saying it's something to check.

[GirlinContempt]

7. That's kinda scary

thanks :(

[idgiehkt]

14. interesting

I had a cat that had that problem. He had a urethrostomy, which I could afford only because I worked for the vet that did it and he did it for me for free. It helped him, but it is relatively drastic.

[dropkickpa]

6. Wash the areas with a vinegar solution

Not only will it neutralize the ammonia in the urine, cats hate that particular smell more than anything in the world. I've used this method and seen it work for others countless times, and it's a damn sight cheaper than anything you'll buy at a pet store.

[GirlinContempt]

8. Cool I'll try it.

And get him to the vet :)

[Breeze54]

10. Diaper Garment Small 8-15 pound

http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=8712


Permanently removes stains and odors from carpets, upholstery and more.
Works through a unique beneficial bacterial enzyme formulation that actually
speeds up the natural biodegradation process.

http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=2948

You're little boy is now a man!!!

Get thee to a spayer and neuterer!!

Post haste! :P

[GirlinContempt]

11. He's 8. And he's spayed.

[Breeze54]

17. Then get him that diaper thingy!

:P

I saw a woman on a pet show on PBS and she uses one due to the spraying.

[GirlinContempt]

18. Poor kitties

:P

[City of Mills]

12. How long has this been happening?

Is it a recent thing, like a few weeks? Does he spray in front of you, or are you always 'catching' him? If he's being deliberate, he may be trying to tell you something. My cat had a bad urinary tract block and he would 'demonstrate' that he was having trouble going. Sounds like a different issue but i'm trying to help you pinpoint what's going on.

[GirlinContempt]

15. A while

sometimes he does it right in front of me. Othertimes no

[Demoiselle]

13. PLEASE take him to the vet! (eom)

[GirlinContempt]

20. Will do

[RiffRandell]

16. Had the same problem.

A year after adopting the cat he started spraying, and I did everything you did. Took him to vet, no infections. He told me it was behavioral and very hard to cure. He thought something might have triggered it, like seeing a male cat outside.

Couldn't fix the problem. Good luck.

[GirlinContempt]

19. Thanks