Yes, cats can still spray after being fixed, but it’s less common and usually has an underlying reason.

Can cats spray after being fixed?

  • Neutering or spaying greatly reduces spraying, but it does not guarantee it will never happen again.
  • Around 10% of neutered males and about 5% of spayed females may continue to spray after surgery.
  • Some fixed cats will stop within a few weeks as hormones fade, while others may keep spraying long term.

Think of surgery as lowering the volume on the “spray instinct,” not always turning it completely off.

Why a fixed cat might still spray

Common reasons include:

  1. Stress and anxiety
    • New pets, people, babies, moving house, renovations, or even furniture changes can trigger spraying.
 * Inter-cat tension (bullying, chasing, resource guarding) is a big stress trigger.
  1. Territorial behavior
    • Seeing outdoor cats through windows, smelling unfamiliar animals, or sharing space with other cats can make a fixed cat mark territory.
  1. Learned/long-standing habit
    • If a cat sprayed for a long time before being fixed, it may keep doing it out of habit even once hormones are reduced.
  1. Medical problems
    • Urinary tract infections, bladder stones, or other urinary issues can cause inappropriate urination and sometimes spraying-like behavior.
 * Pain or discomfort can make a cat associate the litter box with “bad feelings” and choose vertical surfaces instead.
  1. Incomplete hormonal shutoff or rare issues
    • It can take up to about a month for testosterone to clear after neutering, so spraying can continue for a while post-op.
 * Rarely, retained tissue or unusual hormone issues could keep some drive to spray. (This is uncommon but your vet can check.)

How to tell if it’s spraying vs peeing

  • Spraying:
    • Cat backs up to a vertical surface (wall, door, furniture) with tail quivering, releases a small amount of urine in a thin stream.
  • Normal peeing (but in the wrong place):
    • Cat squats on a horizontal surface (floor, bed, clothes) and releases a larger puddle.

Both need attention, but spraying is more often about communication (stress/territory), while floor-puddles often hint more at litter box or medical issues.

What you can do about spraying

1. Rule out medical causes first

  1. Book a vet visit if:
    • The behavior is new or suddenly worse.
    • There’s blood in urine, straining, crying, or frequent tiny trips to the box.
  1. Ask for:
    • Urinalysis, maybe imaging if the vet suspects stones or other urinary problems.

If there is a medical issue, treating it can sometimes completely resolve the “spraying.”

2. Clean and manage current spray spots

  • Use an enzymatic cleaner specifically for pet urine; normal cleaners leave scent markers behind that invite more spraying.
  • Clean all previously marked areas thoroughly; cats have a much stronger sense of smell than we do.
  • If possible, temporarily block access to chronic spray zones (baby gates, closed doors, moving furniture).

3. Reduce stress and territorial triggers

  • Provide a stable routine for feeding, play, and sleep; predictability helps anxious cats.
  • Create “safe zones” with high perches, shelves, and hiding spots so the cat can escape conflict and feel in control.
  • Increase environmental enrichment :
    • Daily interactive play with wands, hunting-style games, puzzle feeders.
  • If there are outdoor cats outside the window:
    • Use frosted film on windows or move furniture so your cat sees them less.

Synthetic calming pheromones (like Feliway-style diffusers or sprays) can help lower anxiety for some cats, especially in multi-cat homes or during big changes.

4. Optimize the litter box situation

  • Follow the “one box per cat plus one ” guideline (for 2 cats, aim for 3 boxes).
  • Spread boxes out in different rooms, not all in one corner.
  • Use large, uncovered boxes with unscented, clumping litter; many cats dislike covered or perfumed boxes.
  • Scoop at least once daily, and fully change/clean boxes regularly.

If one cat is bullying another away from the box, give separate boxes in locations where the more timid cat feels safe.

5. Address multi-cat tension (if you have more than one)

  • Watch for subtle bullying: staring, blocking hallways, guarding litter boxes, chasing the other off resting spots.
  • Provide multiple resources :
    • Food stations, water bowls, resting spots, scratching posts, and litter boxes in different locations.
  • In more serious cases, gradual re-introductions or working with a feline behaviorist can help reset relationships.

Online, many cat owners report big improvements when they increase vertical space (cat trees, shelves) and play with cats separately to burn off tension.

What if my fixed cat keeps spraying anyway?

  • Some cats do spray on and off throughout life despite being fixed, especially if they started young and did it for a long time before surgery.
  • However, in many cases, combining medical treatment (if needed), environmental changes, and behavioral strategies significantly reduces how often it happens.
  • A feline behavior specialist or vet with behavioral training can offer tailored plans, and in a few severe cases, medication for anxiety may be considered.

Mini FAQ

Does neutering or spaying usually help with spraying?
Yes, it significantly reduces the odds and intensity of spraying, and most cats either stop or spray much less after hormones fade post-surgery.

How long after surgery can a cat still spray?
Hormones like testosterone can linger for several weeks, so some cats may continue to spray for up to about a month after being fixed before improving.

Can female cats spray after being fixed?
Yes, females can spray, and some continue after spaying, usually related to stress or territorial issues rather than reproduction.

SEO-style meta note

  • Focus key phrase: can cats spray after being fixed
  • Meta description (example):
    Fixed cats can still spray, usually due to stress, territory, or medical issues. Learn why it happens after neutering or spaying and how to calm and help your cat.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.