why do nuetered cats still spray

a male nuetered cat sprays the furniture,the curtains,and our bed.

First, the standard disclaimer: Be sure that your cat is actually "spraying". depositing a small blast of urine on a USUALLY vertical surface, accompanied by a treading or stamping of the feet and a quivering tail. If the cat is squatting, he may be urinating instead. Check with your vet to be sure the cat doesn't have a urinary infection. If that checks out okay, then read on.

Neutered cats, and even some females will spray to mark their territory. It's a very powerful signal to other cats to "Stay away!!" and of marking bounds. It's not always a sexual marker. In some cases, it can even be a sign of domination-- displaying superiority by declaring HIS territory. And, it's a warning-- "Cross the line and it's game ON!!"

Early neutering or spaying reduces the hormones that drive sex-linked behaviors. That's "sex" as in "gender". It doesn't entirely stop hormone production. Most of the testosterone and estrogen that males and females produce are produced by the gonads-- the sex organs, such as the testes in males and the uterus and ovaries in females.

Sometimes, we hear the question, "Doc, are you SURE you neutered Ol' Roy last week? He's still as orn'ry as he ever was!"When an animal is spayed or neutered, these organs and their associated hormone production are removed. However, there may still be levels of circulating hormone in the bloodstream if the animal was neutered near or after "puberty". It takes several weeks for these hormones to be depleted, and their influence can be rather strong during this time. Also, lower levels of these sex hormones are produced by the pituitary gland, even during fetal development. From conception, every cell in the cat's brain and body is bathed with pituitary testosterone and estrogen. These primordial hormones tell the body to develop certain basic male or female characteristics, things that are "normal" male or female features (body size, head shape, etc.). In other words thanks to pituitary hormones, "boys will be boys and girls will be girls", even after spaying or neutering. It's in their brains and bodies. If a certain behavior has been previously learned, prior to spaying or neutering, it will be more likely to persist after the surgery.