Expert: Kate Tilmouth - 11/16/2008

Question
Hi, I have 3 male cats, the two brothers who are 4 years old and were done at aged 7-8 months have started spraying around the house about 6 months ago I have been to the vets have tried the sprays and plug ins and followed all the advice of washing down with diffent cleaners and making safe places for them to sleep etc, and have followed advice about making them feel safe, but nothing has worked. They aren't stress or unhappy, they don't fight or compete with each other so don't feel anything is working. They are really happy cats and seem to do it when they are most happy, It is starting to really effect the other cat as he doesn't do anything wrong but i am having to restrict when and where he is allowed to go in the house. I would try anything but so far it has always been about stress which I just don't feel it is. I have read up about a drug called zylkene that has helped with some cats but that again seems to be for stress so don't know if it will help! Anything you could think for me to try would be wonderful, Thank you  Sue

Answer
Hi Sue
I don't know if there is much else I can tell you as you seem to found out as much as you can about the the problem and tried to remedy it.

All I can tell you is that this urination is a behavioral issue which is alwasy caused by something. In fact there is alwasy a reason and until that reason can be discovered and hopefully changed then the behavior often continues.

All I can do for you is to ask you to read my webpage which i have written about this problem , it might help trigger a possible cause.
here is the page http://www.our-happy-cat.com/cat-urine.html

There must be something that is making them feel that they have to mark scent in there home.

the only other thing you can try is to re train them to use the litter tray by using the confinement system. this is where you confine one cat to a room which their litter tray bed and toys for a week (let them out to eat). this is supposed to let them relax and become secure in a smaller area rather than the whole house and during this time they get used to using the litter tray all the time. then you can start to let them have access to more and more of the house. Often this helps to resettle the cat and stop the urination. perhaps try one cat at a time.

I'm afraid that is all I can suggest at the moment considering you have tried many other things.

i do hope the problem sorts itself out soon
best wishes Kate
http://www.our-happy-cat.com