this product has not been studied for the management of urine marking, it can be beneficial in cats for the treatment of anxiety or fear-related disorders 21 . Due to a low risk of side effects and high margin of safety, this product may be a viable option for clients who would like to alleviate anxiety without the drawbacks that can accompany psychotropic medications. uses the litterbox, without any changes in substrate or to the box itself, the problem can be diagnosed as an aversion to the area where the litterbox was previously located 22 . These aversions often relate to fearful or painful situations, for example a cat who was injured by the door of the room leading to the litterbox, a cat who was startled in the litterbox by the noise of the washer or dryer, or a cat who was tormented in that room by a child or the family dog 18 . Location aversions are a simple fix in many homes, because the problem can often be resolved by moving the litterbox to another room. In multi-cat homes, hostility between cats can often trigger location aversions. Certain locations make it easier for a dominant cat to bully other cats in the home, for example if the litterbox is in a confined room with only one entrance and exit 22 . Relocating the litterbox often solves the inappropriate elimination piece of this puzzle, but the client may also wish to seek help for the intercat aggression issues to prevent other behavioral problems. Older cats and cats with subclinical arthritis may find it difficult to go up or down a flight of stairs to get to the litter box. In these cases, owners should consider placing a litterbox on each floor of the house, in order to provide easy Cats may develop a preference for a variety of alternative substrates, including cloth, wood floors, linoleum, bathtubs, etc. These preferences are often very specific, with cats eliminating only on their preferred substrate. The preferred substrate is usually something soft (for example sheets or bath rugs), but this is not always the case; some cats prefer open, reflective areas 18 . Substrate preferences are often, but not always, associated with substrate aversions. As the cat develops an aversion to its regular litter, it finds a new, preferred substrate for elimination 1 . Illness can also be associated with the development of a substrate preference. For instance, cat with cystitis or diarrhea may eliminate on the floor because it cannot make it to the litterbox, and then discover that it likes carpeting for elimination 18 . Approximately one-third of cats with substrate preferences who show a poor response to treatment have occult UTIs. Therefore, veterinarians should consider repeating urinalysis and urine culture in these patients, even if they obtained negative results during the initial pre-treatment medical workup 18 . Location preference Cats may prefer an alternative location for elimination, especially in situations where intercat conflict exists within the home. For an anxious or timid cat, a covered box in a quiet area of the house may actually be preferred to the open, accessible litterbox that most cats use 1 . Most cats prefer a litterbox that is located in the core area of the home, where they spend most of their time 6 . If a cat consistently eliminates in one specific location within the house, this can suggest a location preference issue; relocating the litterbox to this location can confirm the diagnosis 1 . If this move is successful and the cat again access for these pets 4 . Substrate preference
form has been reported to reduce or resolve urine marking, and may prove especially beneficial in cases of marking caused by a recent change in the environment (moving, renovations, new furniture, new pets, etc.) 8 . Anxitane™ Anxitane™ is a supplement containing L-theonine (green tea extract). L-theonine is a neurologically active amino acid, increasing levels of GABA and dopamine in the brain. While Inappropriate toileting In contrast to marking or spraying, the term inappropriate toileting describes a cat who urinates or defecates in a normal manner (large volumes on horizontal surfaces), but does so in an inappropriate location (outside of the litterbox). Like marking, this behavior is frequently associated with anxiety and is observed more frequently in multi-cat households, suggesting an association with intercat aggression 18 . In inappropriate toileting, however, the behavior is not associated with signaling, but is instead associated with an aversion to some aspect of the litterbox setup and/or a preference for an alternative substrate or location. Understanding the cause of the cat’s inappropriate toileting can often help veterinarians and owners to determine effective solutions in these cases. Litterbox aversion In a cat with a litterbox aversion, there is some aspect of the box itself that the cat does not like. This can be related either to the physical setup of the box (for example, motorized self- cleaning litterboxes) or to previous experiences within the litterbox (for example, a cat with a history of urinary discomfort may come to fear entering the litterbox due to its association with that discomfort) 2 . Some litterbox aversions can be overcome by changing the characteristics of the litterbox, while other cases will require more intensive management. Although covered litterboxes offer many advantages from an owner perspective, odors become trapped within the box, which can make covered litterboxes undesirable to many cats 4 . Additionally, covered litterboxes can provide an opportunity to become cornered by another cat in the home, the family dog, or children, all of which can also lead to a litterbox aversion. Cats experiencing early subclinical arthritis or other mobility issues may have trouble climbing out of litterboxes with high sides, thus making the litterbox an unappealing site for elimination 4 . Finally, extremely fastidious cats may develop an aversion to the litterbox due to a history of themselves or a housemate having an episode of diarrhea within the box; this experience may discourage them from returning to the litterbox in the future. Substrate aversion Substrate aversion refers to the cat disliking the litter itself. These cases often involve owners who are using litters that contain very large particles or a heavy scent 2 , or owners who are not regularly changing their cats’ litter 1 . Additionally, cats may develop a substrate aversion if they are returned to regular litter too soon after declaw surgery, as the litter irritates the healing incisions on their toes 1 . Cats with substrate aversion may perch on the edge of the litterbox instead of walking in the litter, and owners may notice that the cat does not truly dig or manipulate the litter to any significant extent 2 . The cat may urinate immediately next to the litterbox, without entering the litter itself 1 . Location aversion Location aversions are uncommon, but can occur. In order to test for location aversion, owners should simply move the litterbox to another area of the house. If the cat then
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Book Code: VFL1526
EliteLearning.com/Veterinarian
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