I don't have much confidence in Feliway diffusers, although other people on
this ng do, but I have had luck with Feliway spray.

I also understand that buspar is often given for this problem.  I know he is on
elavil but have you tried buspar?

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other
than human."  (Loren Eisely)

AJ, I have a cat that sprays...he's very territorial.  I consulted with an
animal behaviorist, Dr. Nicholas Dodman, at Tufts.  They offer a service
called PETFAX where you and/or your vet consults with Dr. Dodman and his
staff concerning behavioral problems.  It's a little expensive, but
definitely worth it.  I have gotten my cat's spraying under control.  Dr.
Dodman recommended prozac for my cat.  Buspar was not an option because
buspar has a tendency to make a cat more confident or aggressive and my cat
already had enough "confidence."  They also recommended some behavior
modification techniques.  Here's some info about Dr. Dodman and PETFAX.
http://www.tufts.edu/vet/facpages/dodman_n.html

Good luck.

Sue

I have a cat with similar issues. Your cat feels insecure around the other cats
so he sprays which is his way of sending a memo saying "I'm here too!" You need
to make that cat feel more confident and comfortable around the other cats.
Here is what a cat behavioral psychologist told me to do with my kitty. Maybe
it can help you.

first, I recently bought "No Mark" at Petco. I cleaned where he sprayed then
sprayed this over it and he hasn't resprayed! He did then spray two feet from
where he sprayed before but it was a lot less.

The doctor spent two hours counseling me about Patches and Mimi so he could
understand why Patches was spraying. Patches was spraying because he's upset by
outdoor cats spraying the outside of the house. He's also not that comfortable
with Mimi. I thought I'd share this counseling session so that it might help
others (and they could save the $395!) So far I've done everything the doctor
said to do and Patches hasn't sprayed. It's only been a week. I'll keep you
updated in another few weeks to see if he really stops spraying for good. I
transcribed the below from the big behavioral prescription he gave me.

Dr. Polsky http://www.drpolsky.com 

Behavioral therapy interview

Problem: Cat is spraying to communicate. He is upset by other cats spraying the
outside of the house. He is upset by other inside cat. He is basically not very
confident psychologically so he sprays.

Solution: Keep outside cats away from the house so they can't spray the
exterior doors and upset him. Make spraying cat feel more comfortable with
other cat. Make it so he doesn't have to compete for resources, has his own cat
tree, extra litter boxes. Make it so he eventually will like the other cat more
by associating closeness to the other cat with positive things such as food,
brushing, play time. Make previously sprayed areas unattractive by cleaning and
making it impossible for him to spray there again.

A. Increase number of litter boxes from one to four so cat won't feel
competition for resources. Switch to sand litter which they both prefer. Keep
very clean. Two boxes in the living room, one in the office, one in the dining
room.

B. Keep music room closed. Cat was spraying in there and it's easy to block off
that room for the time being.

C. Feed both cats at very close distance, bowls touching. You may have to
slowly move the bowls together. This will make the sprayer associate the other
cat with good things such as food.

D. Brush cat at close distance to other cat so he will associate good things
with the other cat. He likes being brushed.

E. Teach cats to come in command for food treat together so they associate each
others presence with good things.

F. Mutual play sessions in each others presence. Include both of them playing
with a toy.

G. Mutual grooming. Hold finger with petromalt or other yummy food on finger.
Put finger near other cat. Let spraying cat lick food off finger very close to
other cat. Eventually put finger on other cat then put food on other cat so he
can lick off. This should encourage mutual grooming.

H. Provide ample marking locations for spraying cat so he can rub his face and
scratch on posts or brushes to mark using his scent glands instead of spraying.

I. Add a cat tree for spraying cat in location that doesn't have view of
street. View of street may upset him if he sees other cats or dogs. He needs
his own cat tree to sit on because other cat is on other tree.

J. Abut previously marked areas with upside down carpet runners with the sharp
plastic points up so he can't back up and spray areas again.

K. Keep outside cats away from exterior of house with ultrasonice devices,
upside down carpet runners so they can't spray exterior doors and mousetraps
(won't hurt cats, just scare them.)

L. Use Feliway where he has sprayed before. Clean sprayed areas with
anti-icky-poo enzymatic cleaner.

M. Drug administration. buspirone (Buspar Rx)
5-10 mg. BID (2.5 x day).

http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?Story_No=305
http://www.hssv.org/behavior/cat/cat_spray.htm
http://www.ivis.org/advances/Behavior_Houpt/seksel/chapter_frm.asp?LA=1

Thanks for everyone's advice & help, on this ng and in private
email.  The kitten in question tonight had his first dose of Prozac
(successfully dosed, inside a small piece of turkey) and we will
implement some of the other changes this weekend.

Again, my heartfelt thanks for all the help!

--AJ