Litter), so this may be a good litter for clients to try as an option in their litterbox trial 24 . Overall, cats show no clear preference between scented and unscented litters, so clients should offer both options to see which type their individual cat prefers 16 . In cases where a cat has developed a clear substrate preference for cloth, carpeting, or some non- litter substrate, the owner can offer this material in a litterbox; cloth rags in a litterbox may be less convenient than cat litter, but more convenient than cleaning multiple areas of the home. Once the cat has demonstrated its preferred litter and litterbox, through consistently using that particular litter/litterbox combination, the owner should use this combination exclusively and follow all litter hygiene guidance as outlined above. This approach will ensure that the cat has a maximally appealing litterbox for elimination, thus increasing the likelihood that it will eliminate in the litterbox instead of using an alternative elimination site. Reduce stress and conflict through environmental management Although inappropriate toileting is managed largely through changes in the litterbox environment, it also correlates with anxiety and intercat aggression, and therefore, other environmental modifications related to feline urine marking may prove beneficial. In multi-cat homes, the owner should work to decrease intercat stress/conflict by creating an environment of plenty. Owners should increase the number of feeding stations, watering bowls, resting areas, and litterboxes 9 . Each cat should be provided with separate resting and eating areas. Quiet resting places should be on elevated perches, and in areas that are free from disruption by other cats, dogs, small children, or loud noises 17 . Feeding stations should be in quiet areas, away from other cats, allowing each cat to eat privately 18 . Owners should monitor cats for signs of intercat aggression and address it promptly, if noted 17 . Timid cats may benefit from staying in a small, quiet area where they can go in order to have a break from the other pets in the home. Giving the cat four to six hours per day in this quiet, isolated area (complete with food and water bowls, a litterbox, resting places, and one-on- one interaction with the owner) can Conclusion Although inappropriate elimination is a common and frustrating problem among many cat owners, it can be successfully addressed if the owners are committed to appropriate diagnostics and management. Medical conditions must be ruled out before considering behavioral therapy, and behavioral therapy must then be geared towards the specific type of inappropriate elimination that is noted (marking vs. References 1. Scherk M. (2011, October 10-13). Eliminating Inappropriate Elimination: What is this Cat Trying to Tell You? Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference, Atlantic City, NJ. 2. Herron M. (2011, October 10-16). Feline Inappropriate Elimination . Wild West Veterinary Conference, Reno, NV. 3. Neilson J. (2010, March 3-5). Fostering Feline Friendships . American Association of Feline Practioners Spring Meeting, San Diego, CA. 4. Norsworthy G. (2012, October 17-21). Inappropriate Elimination . Wild West Veterinary Conference, Reno, NV. 5. Amat M, de la Torre JLR, Fatjó J, Mariotti VM, Van Wijk S, Manteca X. (2009). Potential risk factors associated with feline behaviour problems. Appl Anim Behav Sci, 121 (2), 134-139. 6. Radosta L. (2012, February 19-23). Urine Trouble: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Housesoiling . Western Veterinary Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
alleviate anxiety in many timid or anxious cats9. Some cats may even respond well to a free-access crate, which they can retreat to for privacy 17 . Other pets can be kept out of these ‘safe havens’ using a variety of methods. For example, a baby gate can be used at the entrance to a room to keep dogs out while allowing cats to jump over the gate, or an electronic cat door can be used to limit access to one specific cat 18 . Environmental enrichment can provide significant benefits in the management of feline anxiety, and thus, help mitigate problems with inappropriate toileting. Veterinary professionals should encourage owners to play with their cats regularly, using fishing-rod style toys and other play options as preferred by their cat 10 . Owners may also be able to provide a window perch or play cat-friendly DVDs on the television 17 , and use three- dimensional surfaces, such as climbing toys and ladders. One easy and effective method of providing environmental enrichment for cats is changing the way that these cats are fed. Owners can use puzzle feeders to deliver small amounts of food or hide small amounts of food around the home (ideally on elevated surfaces, such as a bookcase) in order to promote normal foraging behavior and provide an outlet for play and activity. 17 As with cases of urine marking, owners should refrain from using any sort of punishment 7 . The use of cat repellants or “booby traps” in soiled areas will only encourage the cat to seek out other areas of the home for marking. Additionally, the increased stress and anxiety triggered by aversive methods can sometimes lead to worsening of the urine marking, or to new behavioral problems in the cat (such as over grooming, FLUTD, intercat aggression, etc.) 10 . For these reasons, aversive methods of managing urine marking should be avoided. Consider drug therapy Drugs are rarely used in the management of inappropriate toileting, because they do not typically provide significant benefit 14 . In especially timid or anxious patients, however, there may be some benefit to considering the use of Feliway™ or psychotropic medications. Studies have not been performed to determine efficacy in these cases, however, so clients should be warned that this is off-label use and benefits may or may not be noted. inappropriate toileting). While medication can play a role in the management of some cases, the mainstay of treatment is environmental modification to decrease stress levels; successful treatment requires the owner to understand this concept and be willing to invest the necessary time and resources to promote success. 7. Dandrieux J. (2011, March 31-April 3). Is There a Medical Cause for the Abnormal Behaviour? British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress, Birmingham, England. 8. Landsberg G. (2013, February 17-21). Help My Cat Is Marking (... or Is It?). Western Veterinary Conference, Las Vegas, NV. 9. Neilson J. (2012, July 11-14). The Link between Behavior and Medicine: Feline Idiopathic Cystitis and Feline Obesity . Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Convention, Montreal, Quebec. 10. Burns K. (2011, February 20-24). FLUTD: New Treatments for an Old Disease . Western Veterinary Conference, Las Vegas, NV. 11. Denenberg S, Landsberg G, Horwitz D. (2005). A comparison of cases referred to behaviorists in three different countries. In: Mills D, et al. (eds.) Current Issues and Research in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine (56-62). West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.
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