Small amounts of urine are frequently deposited around door frames and windows as a means of marking territory, with a high frequency of spraying at specific sites from which the outdoor cat is visible 1 . In multi-cat homes, territorial spraying can also be triggered by other cats within the home. This is most often seen in homes with inadequate space or resources for the numbers of cats present 14 . In these cases, owners may note spraying at multiple areas within the home, for example internal doors, walls, and furniture, as cats attempt to delineate separate core areas and compete for limited resources. There may also be an anxiety-related component in these cases of overcrowding, and therefore, the marking may be multifactorial. Anxiety-related marking Anxious cats frequently demonstrate urine marking as the only visible sign of their anxiety 13 . In some cases, cats may mark possessions belonging to the owner, visitors to the home, or the family dog, in order to demonstrate anxiety regarding those relationships 8 . Unfortunately, many owners perceive this sort of marking as vengeful behavior, resulting in punishment of the cat and contributing to worsening of the anxiety. Treatment of urine marking The prognosis for urine marking depends largely upon the underlying trigger. If the trigger can be identified and addressed, such as in the case of outdoor cats approaching the home as a trigger of territorial marking, the prognosis is good. Studies have suggested that, while some cases of urine marking cannot be fully eradicated, the frequency of marking can often be significantly decreased 14 . A reduction in marking may be enough to make the situation tolerable for the owner, thus allowing a cat to keep its home and avoid being relinquished to the shelter. Managing urine marking involves a four-pronged approach. First, owners must clean soiled areas thoroughly. Next, owners should make the litterbox as appealing as possible. Third, owners should use environmental management to remove triggers for marking and decrease conflict and anxiety. Finally, veterinarians and owners should consider drug therapy as an adjunct to these other measures. Clean soiled areas thoroughly The first step in the management of any elimination problem is the thorough cleaning of all affected surfaces, in order to remove odors. The smell of urine and feces will remain present for extended periods of time and will attract elimination in these areas if aggressive cleaning is not performed. A black light can help owners locate soiled areas within the home, especially in the case of marking, where urine deposits are often very small and not easily visible. All washable items, such as bedding and soiled laundry, should be washed using hot water and bleach. Carpets should be cleaned with an enzymatic cleaner (some behaviorists recommend a product called Zero Odor Pet ™ 4 ), and tile/wood surfaces should be cleaned aggressively with appropriate cleaners. In homes with a long-standing issue, carpets and carpet padding should be removed and the subfloor should be sealed; tile floors may also need to be replaced in these cases. Concrete flooring and walls, such as on patios or in a garage, can be sealed or painted over 1 . The importance of thorough cleaning cannot be overstated, and clients should understand the importance of this step. Additionally, the cat’s access to previously sprayed areas should be limited. Owners can accomplish this through the use of physical barriers, such as closed doors, or through the use of creative means such as moving furniture or placing
Cats utilize scent markings to orient themselves within the environment, and changes to odors within the home may lead to anxiety in some cats. The introduction of new furniture, bedding, and other items may change the scent profile of the home, and therefore, a cat may deposit urine, presumably in order to surround itself with its own scent and decrease feelings of anxiety 15 . Again, clients often attribute more malicious motivation to this form of spraying, so explaining the cat’s possible underlying motivation may help to improve the human-animal bond. Sexual marking A primary function of feline urine marking is the attraction of mates 14 . Studies have demonstrated that male cats sniff urine from in-heat females for longer periods of time than the urine of a female cat that is not in heat, and in-heat females will spend significant amounts of time sniffing the urine of male cats, especially strange male cats 15 . Sexual spraying is a normal feline behavior, often accompanied by other sexual behaviors such as characteristic vocalization 15 . Neutering will reduce urine marking by up to 90 percent in males and 95 percent in females 8, 14 , so veterinarians should always instruct clients to neuter urine-marking cats if they have not already done so. bowls of potpourri near previously soiled areas 14 . Owners may also wish to change the function of the marking area, by adding food and water bowls, beds for sleeping, catnip, or a scratching post 8 . All of these measures are designed to break the habit of urine marking and discourage further marking in these areas. If these measures are ineffective at preventing repeated spraying at the site, or cannot be implemented thoroughly, owners should use aluminum foil to cover and prevent access to previously marked areas. This aluminum foil should be secured with masking tape, and left in place until the elimination problem has been resolved 4 . Make the litter box appealing While an emphasis on litterbox hygiene may seem less important in urine marking than in cases of inappropriate toileting (because the cat is still using the litterbox), it does have benefits even in marking cases. In order to encourage cats to use the litterbox, the litterbox and litter should be kept clean. Litter should be scooped at least once daily, ideally twice daily (or more often in multi-cat homes). Clay litters should be emptied fully every three to four days, while clumping litters can go as long as one week between full litter changes. When the litterbox is emptied, the box should be thoroughly disinfected with an ammonia-free cleaner, with care taken to ensure that no chemical scent remains on the litterbox 16 . Most cats prefer uncovered litterboxes, as a cover can trap odors and decrease the cat’s ability to survey its surrounding 17 . Some cats seem to prefer clay litter to clumping litter, so the client may want to try changing litter to see if that helps to make the litterbox more appealing 14 . Additionally, the level of litter in the box should always be kept at least 3–4 inches deep, to allow room for scratching and burial of waste 14 . In multi-cat homes, owners must provide at least one litterbox per cat and these litterboxes should be distributed throughout the home 14 . Confining the litterboxes to a single room may lead to more assertive cats ‘guarding’ the litterbox while more timid cats are anxious to enter that room; distributing litterboxes around the house promotes ease of access for all cats in the home.
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