ANXIETY / STRESS RELATED
If a health issue or problems with the litter tray can be ruled out, then you need to consider that the problem could be anxiety-related.
Spraying - when & where?
Is the cat is spraying in one area or several? If the cat has chosen one spot, he may be submissively trying to mark a little territory. Does the spraying occur after an encounter with another cat? It could be hidden aggression.
A change in the cat's environment?
Has there been a change in the household? Any intrusion on the cat's territory, whether human, animal, or even a new piece of furniture or decoration can cause a cat to feel threatened, insecure, and stressed. The more cats in the household, the more likely that one or more of them might develop toilet and spraying problems.
Clean the soiled areas thoroughly and if possible confine the cat in a smaller area until he starts using the litter tray again. The confinement room should be warm and comfortable and equipped with litter-trays, fresh food and water (not near the litter-trays!) and a bed and toys. You should also make sure you visit and interact with the cat regularly so that he doesn't feel 'punished'. This should take no more than a few days, maybe less, and then he can be re-introduced to the rest of the house.
Feeling threatened by other cats / dogs
Cats are at their most vulnerable when they are toileting outside and therefore they may feel threatened by another cat, or dog, or even by any loud noises in the environment such as road works. They may then choose to toilet indoors, even if no litter tray has been provided. Providing a discreetly placed litter tray indoors should take away the feelings of anxiety and encourage him to use this more suitable place. If you wish to then encourage your cat to toilet outside again, one good idea is to designate a specific place in your garden for this purpose. Choose an area of soil quite close to the house (so that he can retreat to the house quickly if he feels under threat) in a quiet corner of the garden. Rake the soil over and and mix in a good proportion of peat or sand or paper-based or wood-based litter.
Reassure your cat
Help your cat feel comfortable in his home territory. Play games with him and talk to him frequently in a low and reassuring voice. Give him positive attention and affection and reward him when he uses the litter tray. A confident, secure, and relaxed cat does not need to relieve anxiety and stress by such extreme measures as urine or faecal marking and spraying.
The use of remedial products may also be considered such as Feliway, or Bach Flower Remedies (see under Remedial Products below).
Remedial Products
Feliway, spray (use it to spray on the areas daily) or diffusers in the room(s) can help with the problem but cannot be guaranteed to work with all cats. Bach Flower Remedies are often recommended, they can have an almost immediate effect on pets with no side effects, and can help with many behavioural problems.A combination of Cherry Plum (for the inability to control unwanted behaviour) and Chestnut Bud (for failing to learn from mistakes) has been successful in many cases although other remedies might be required for individual cases.
Specialist help
In some cases the problem is more complex than that outlined above, in which case we would advise that you discuss the situation with your veterinary surgeon initially. Occasionally, extreme behavioural problems can be treated with medication but drugs are always best used together with behaviour therapy, and not as a sole solution. Your vet will be able to refer you to a specialist in feline behaviour in your area.
Links
The Feline Advisory Bureau:
www.fabcats.org/behaviour/spraying
Feliway spray and diffuser:
www.feliway.uk.com
Hope some of that helps xxx
