Ask the Expert: My Cat Won't Stop Spraying

Your Pet Question:

What should I do if my cat is spraying all over the house?

Anne Colvey, Ottawa, ON

The Expert Says:

Cats that have not been neutered are more likely to spray than cats that have been. Cats spray to mark their territory. But if their lives are very routine, and they're happy, they probably won't spray. They can start spraying for many reasons: when their routine is disrupted, when there is a new animal or a new baby in the house, or even if someone moves in with an animal next door. If your cat has not been neutered, that's the first thing you should do. But they can spray even if they have been neutered, in which case you should try to find the source of the cat's stress.

But if that doesn't work, it has become a behavioural problem. You can consider certain devices, such as a household spray that may calm her. If that doesn't work, you can consider medications. There are many options. It just depends how far you are willing to go, and on your pocket book.

Dr. Patricia Glass, DVM, owner of Clinique Vétérinaire Patricia Glass, in Mont-Temblant, QC