Help! F1 is spraying!

[Johna]

Hi everyone!

We have a f1 savannah and she'll be a year old on the 29th. She's recently started spraying all over the house. Mostly on the in law side where the other animals live. She's also been fixed. I'm pretty sure this is a territorial thing, but is there any way to prevent this? We're actually in the process of buying a house as I think Luci belongs in a home with no dogs!

 

[Rafiki]

Hi Johna. How long ago was she fixed? Has she been introduced to the other animals or is she always kept separate from them?

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

She's spraying and not peeing? That is, the pee is on a vertical surface? Yes, I imagine it may be a marking behavior.

It would be helpful if you describe the living arrangement, there are other animals living in part of the house, is this separated by a door or does your cat go from side to side of the house? What animals are there?

What are you cleaning up the urine with? What have you been trying to date to help with the problem?

 

[Patti]

I agree that it sounds like it is a territorial issue. I would first make sure you clean the areas thoroughly with something like Anti Icky Poo or Unique Distributors (the urine cleaners you get at your local pet store are unlikely to be effective). Try putting a litter box in the area where she's marking and see if that makes any difference. You can also try putting a Feliway diffuser in the area. Is it other cats, or other species on the other side of what she's spraying? Is there an issue with allowing them to mingle and get to know one another (with proper introduction methods of course)? Do these other animals also mark?

 

[Johna]

Hi Johna. How long ago was she fixed? Has she been introduced to the other animals or is she always kept separate from them?

She was fixed when she was 6 months old, she'll be a year this month!

 

[Johna]

Shes

She's spraying and not peeing? That is, the pee is on a vertical surface? Yes, I imagine it may be a marking behavior.

It would be helpful if you describe the living arrangement, there are other animals living in part of the house, is this separated by a door or does your cat go from side to side of the house? What animals are there?

What are you cleaning up the urine with? What have you been trying to date to help with the problem?[/QUOTE

 

[Johna]

Shes

She's definitely spraying. So we have a pretty large house and it's part of an in law with my mother in law/sister in law. She has 2 twin golden retrievers and three domestic cats. Two of the cats are super old and one never leaves my SIL room, but Luci as met and interacted with him. The other old cat is basically target practice for Luci. She can hardly walk and when she does, Luci attacks her. Sometimes it seems playful and other times she's actually pulling fur out. The two golden retrievers are great with all the cats. They all lay together and honestly just want to get to know Luci, but she wants nothing to do with them, understandably so. Luci really doesn't like MIL. She's probably the only person she hisses at and won't go near. I think she relates her to being part of the dogs as they're her dogs. My confusion is, as much as she dislikes the dogs and MIL, she only is spraying in her living room and bedroom. We've been using pet cleaner and vinegar to clean the recliners. She also goes in any boxes in her room and sprays or pees in there. Aside from keeping the areas clean, we've also tried covering the recliners at night by putting stings on top of it, but then she sprays the back of them hahaha. So then we've tried blocking her out completely, but we have to actually buy doors and install them, because still finds a way through throughout the night.

 

[Patti]

It definitely sounds like she is targeting your MIL and her pets. Is there any way that you can confine Luci during the night or other times when you are unable to supervise her? I'm not sure what else to do other than the doors as you mentioned - you might consider talking with a cat behaviorist such as Marilyn Krieger, she may have some ideas to help: www.thecatcoach.com

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I think the key is the negative relationship with your MIL? Is this something that your MIL would be at all willing to work on changing? Maybe if they could become friends then the motivation would dissipate. It would take some participation by your MIL though...

Many store bought pet cleaners are weak and ineffective. Anti Icky Poo or Unique Distributors Odor Eliminator are two enzyme cleaners (found on the internet though not stores) that are much more effective and highly recommended.

You could try the Feliway Mulitcat diffusers to see if those help. It's important though to have enough of those plugged in to cover the entire area and you do mention that its a large house.