I’m at my wits' end and I just can't find a solution... We have a neutered cat who goes out a bit during the day, but we keep him in with us at night. He has a cat flap so he can come and go as he pleases during the day, and we lock it at night. This cat flap is built into our front door.
For several weeks now, a cat—almost certainly an entire male—has been coming to spray around our front door every night and sometimes in the mornings. I can't pinpoint the exact spot as there aren't any visible marks (which I don't really understand!!), but the smell is horrendous and really lingers... I've been advised to use a repellent, but if I do that, then my own cat won't be able to use his cat flap and it'll probably just confuse him...
Does anyone have any bright ideas? I know most of the neighbours' cats and they're all neutered with no marking issues, so I think it's a cat from further away. I never see him, of course; he must come round when everything is quiet...
Thanks in advance for your help!!
Have a lovely day everyone!
Translated from French
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I could give the camera a go, but the battery might run out quite quickly ^^ but with a bit of luck... I'm not sure if just seeing the cat will solve the problem though; I know the ones in the neighbourhood that are neutered and don't spray, but there are quite a few strays or ones from the housing estate behind us (I don't know all the neighbours lol). As for whether it's my cat, I don't think so as he's kept indoors at night and can't get out; he was neutered at 4 months old and has never marked, so I really don't think it's him... It's a real head-scratcher!! ^^ Thanks for your help!
There are camera models with motion sensors, or more generally, I reckon you can find products with decent battery life online.
Finding out who the culprit is and their habits would be a huge help, I think. You might even be surprised to find several cats doing it. Even when neutered, some cats still feel the need to mark.
Knowing where the intruders are getting in, for example, could allow you to set up "deterrents" (there are various options: motion-activated gadgets that give a sharp puff of air, or others you can hook up to your garden sprinkler system).
There’s also the possibility of putting up temporary barriers to block off the area being marked.
I also know you can get enzymatic sprays to get rid of the smells completely. https://www.univers-chat.com/odeur-urine-chat/destructeur-urine/
Without any lingering urine scent, the cat(s) might be less likely to return to the scene of the crime.
I could definitely give the camera a go, but the battery might run out quite quickly ^^ but with any luck... Mind you, I’m not sure if just seeing the cat would actually solve the issue. I know the ones in the neighbourhood that have been neutered and don’t spray, but there are quite a few strays or cats from the housing estate behind us (I don’t know all the neighbours lol!). As for whether it’s my cat, I don’t think so as he’s kept indoors at night and can’t get out; he was neutered at 4 months and has never sprayed, so I really don’t think it’s him... It’s a real head-scratcher!! ^^ Thanks for your help!
Hi,
Actually, it might be worth trying to see who the culprit is. Would you be able to set up a camera to get a proper look at the culprit, or culprits? Are you definitely sure it’s not your cat doing it, by the way?
Thanks for your reply! I didn’t know about the torch, I’ll give it a go! Yes, I’m cleaning it straight away with white vinegar; I think I’m getting the worst of it off. I’m washing the whole door, the floor, the sides, and the surrounding area. I spray white vinegar directly onto the walls of the house, but the smell lingers and, worst of all, nothing stops the cat from coming back more and more often!! It’s so frustrating because since the cat flap lets a bit of a draught in, the smell is starting to linger inside the house...
Does anyone else have any tips??... The worst part is I’ve never even come face-to-face with this cat, even though it’s coming around in the mornings now too!! Thanks for your help!
To start with, you could try using a UV (ultraviolet) torch to find any urine stains (I saw it on a TV show once and it actually works).
Then, simply clean the spot with some white vinegar; that did the trick for me. I’m not sure if just spraying the whole area around your door would be enough, though.
But you’re right, if the smell lingers, it’ll encourage the cat to come back and pee there again. It might even attract others, leading to a bit of a marking competition—Cat 1: 'this is my spot', Cat 2: 'no, it's mine!'... and so on.
