Changes

Once the initial history taking has been completed and the case has been categorised as one of elimination, it is important to spend time investigating the potential trigger factors which lead to the onset of the behaviour. Only once the underlying reasons for the alteration in toileting behaviour have been identified can effective behavioural therapy be instituted and the cat taught to return to more acceptable patterns of elimination.

Once the initial history taking has been completed and the case has been categorised as one of elimination, it is important to spend time investigating the potential trigger factors which lead to the onset of the behaviour. Only once the underlying reasons for the alteration in toileting behaviour have been identified can effective behavioural therapy be instituted and the cat taught to return to more acceptable patterns of elimination.

In some cases, the cat may never have achieved a state of successful house training but these are relatively uncommon. In the past, a belief that kittens needed to observe their mother’s eliminatory behaviour in order to learn how to toilet appropriately was thought to be supported by the over representation of certain breeds, such as Persians, and the occurrence of house soiling issues within familial lines in those breeds. However, research suggests that

In some cases, the cat may never have achieved a state of successful house training but these are relatively uncommon. In the past, a belief that kittens needed to observe their mother’s eliminatory behaviour in order to learn how to toilet appropriately was thought to be supported by the over representation of certain breeds, such as Persians, and the occurrence of house soiling issues within familial lines in those breeds. However, research suggests that observational learning is not involved in this process and that a lack of opportunity to explore and experiment with suitable substrates early in life is more likely to influence a failure to house train successfully. Obviously this access to suitable litter is going to be influenced by the mother’s behaviour since kittens will follow her when she goes to use the tray and will thereby come into contact with an acceptable substrate. Kittens from mothers with poor toileting skills are therefore likely to have less interaction with a suitable substrate and may develop problems as a result but, even when the mother is a very clean individual, lack of suitable facilities near to the nest will have a similar effect. Failure to provide suitable substrate can also lead to the development of undesirable substrate associations.

observational learning is not involved in this process and that a lack of opportunity to explore and experiment with suitable substrates early in life is more likely to influence a failure to house train successfully. Obviously this access to suitable litter is going to be influenced by the mother’s behaviour since kittens will follow her when she goes to use the tray and will thereby come into contact with an acceptable substrate. Kittens from mothers with poor toileting skills are therefore likely to have less interaction with a suitable

substrate and may develop problems as a result but, even when the mother is a very clean individual, lack of suitable facilities near to the nest will have a similar effect. Failure to provide suitable substrate can also lead to the development of undesirable substrate associations.

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

It is very important to properly identify the [[Housesoiling - Cat#Identifying the Culprit|culprit[s] for the indoor housesoiling]].  

It is very important to properly identify the [[Housesoiling - Cat#Identifying the Culprit|culprit[s] for the indoor housesoiling]].  

A behavioural diagnosis should only be attempted after [[Housesoiling - Cat#Medical Assessment|medical underlying and contributory factors]] have been investigated. A diagnosis is reached after collecting a detailed history and [[[[Housesoiling - Cat#Behavioural Assessment|making diagrams of the soiling locations]]. Causes of housetraining breakdown are many and varied and detailed history taking and in-depth consultations are essential to get an accurate picture. Post trauma breakdown is relatively common and examples of trauma can include a period of enforced confinement, fear of the litter tray due to administration of medication or negative associations with the tray as a result of medical problems. <font color="red">Inappropriate facilities </font>may be at the root of inappropriate toileting problems and it is important to consider the type of litter used in the tray, the sort of tray that is being offered and also the location of that tray. The cleaning regime may also be relevant since most cats are reluctant to use trays that are dirty and some others will fail to bond successfully to their latrine if it is cleaned too frequently. Other potential causes of a breakdown in house training include challenges to security in nervous individuals, overcrowding within a small-sized territory where there is competition over the resource of the latrines or access to the trays is controlled and manipulated by one individual within the household. There is also the issue of old age and debilitation.

A behavioural diagnosis should only be attempted after medical underlying and contributory factors have been investigated. A diagnosis is reached after collecting a detailed history and making diagrams of the soiling locations. Causes of housetraining breakdown are many and varied and detailed history taking and in-depth consultations are essential to get an accurate picture. Post trauma breakdown is relatively common and examples of trauma can include a period of enforced confinement, fear of the litter tray due to administration of medication or negative associations with the tray as a result of medical problems. Inappropriate facilities may be at the root of inappropriate toileting problems and it is important to consider the type of litter used in the tray, the sort of tray that is being offered and also the location of that tray. The cleaning regime may also be relevant since most cats are reluctant to use trays that are dirty and some others will fail to bond successfully to their latrine if it

is cleaned too frequently. Other potential causes of a breakdown in house training include challenges to security in nervous individuals, overcrowding within a small-sized territory where there is competition over the resource of the latrines or access to the trays is controlled and manipulated by one individual within the household. There is also the issue of old age and debilitation.

 

==Typical Causes==

==Typical Causes==