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→Psychoactive Drug Therapy
===Psychoactive Drug Therapy===
===Psychoactive Drug Therapy===
Medication can be very effective; a study by Landsberg & Wilson found that 20 out of 25 cats treated with clomipramine at a mean dose of 0.54mg/kg showed a reduction in spraying within 4 weeks<ref>Landsberg, G.M., Wilson, A.L. (2005) Effects of clomipramine on cats presented for urine marking. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 41(1), 3-11.</ref>. In a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of treatments used for indoor spray marking both fluoxetine and clompiramine were found to reduce spraying by at least 90%<ref>Mills, D.S., Redgate, S.E., Landsberg, G.M. (2011) A Meta-Analysis of Studies of Treatments for Feline Urine Spraying. PlosOne. 6(4), 1-10.</ref>
Medication can be very effective; a study by Landsberg & Wilson found that 20 out of 25 cats treated with [[Clomipramine|clomipramine]] at a mean dose of 0.54mg/kg showed a reduction in spraying within 4 weeks<ref>Landsberg, G.M., Wilson, A.L. (2005) Effects of clomipramine on cats presented for urine marking. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 41(1), 3-11.</ref>. In a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of treatments used for indoor spray marking both [[Fluoxetine|fluoxetine]] and clompiramine were found to reduce spraying by at least 90%<ref>Mills, D.S., Redgate, S.E., Landsberg, G.M. (2011) A Meta-Analysis of Studies of Treatments for Feline Urine Spraying. PlosOne. 6(4), 1-10.</ref>.
Psychoactive drug therapy is often prescribed for cats with indoor marking problems. However, to be successful, the '''underlying reasons for the indoor marking must also be addressed'''. Medication does have a role in longstanding cases where the number of marked sites is large, or when marking has become habitual, or there is an emotional problem that may benefit from temporary drug support. Analysis of the general emotional state of the animal is important. SRI/SSRI drugs such as fluoxetine and clomipramine are beneficial for cats that are habitual indoor markers, or show a pattern of anxious, reactionary spraying. Selegiline benefits behaviourally-inhibited cats that will not explore their environment, or that display fearful reactions followed closely by reactionary spraying when they see certain cats lurking outside the home. These drugs will not help confident cats that show no signs of anxiety or fear and are merely using spray marks, albeit inappropriately, as part of a calmly considered strategy to control territory in the house. Hormonal preparations have no role in the treatment of indoor marking.
Psychoactive drug therapy is often prescribed for cats with indoor marking problems. However, to be successful, the '''underlying reasons for the indoor marking must also be addressed'''. Medication does have a role in longstanding cases where the number of marked sites is large, or when marking has become habitual, or there is an emotional problem that may benefit from temporary drug support. Analysis of the general emotional state of the animal is important. SRI/SSRI drugs such as fluoxetine and clomipramine are beneficial for cats that are habitual indoor markers, or show a pattern of anxious, reactionary spraying. [[Selegeline|Selegiline]] benefits behaviourally-inhibited cats that will not explore their environment, or that display fearful reactions followed closely by reactionary spraying when they see certain cats lurking outside the home. These drugs will not help confident cats that show no signs of anxiety or fear and are merely using spray marks, albeit inappropriately, as part of a calmly considered strategy to control territory in the house. Hormonal preparations have no role in the treatment of indoor marking.
====The Decision to Use Psychoactive Drugs for Indoor Marking====
Psychoactive drugs may be of value when
'''Psychoactive drugs may be of value when:'''
* Individual cats are showing signs of chronic anxiety (SRI/SSRI) or inhibition of normal behaviour (Selegiline).
* Individual cats are showing signs of chronic anxiety (SRI/SSRI) or inhibition of normal behaviour (Selegiline).
* The problem is of 6+ months duration.
* The problem is of 6+ months duration.
* Multiple sites are being sprayed
* Multiple sites are being sprayed.
* Response to environmental change has been incomplete.
* Response to environmental change has been incomplete.
* Spraying is a reaction to specific fear (Selegiline).
* Spraying is a reaction to specific fear (Selegiline).
* A rapid resolution is demanded and the client can be relied upon to complete environmental modification.
* A rapid resolution is demanded and the client can be relied upon to complete environmental modification.
Problems with using psychoactive drugs include:
'''Problems with using psychoactive drugs include:'''
* Disinhibition of aggression: SRI/SSRI/benzodiazepine drugs.
* Disinhibition of aggression: SRI/SSRI/benzodiazepine drugs.
* Poor owner compliance: owners may not give medication consistently, or they may rely on its effects and fail to introduce the prescribed environmental modifications.
* Poor owner compliance: Owners may not give medication consistently, or they may rely on its effects and fail to introduce the prescribed environmental modifications.
* Relapse: This is likely if drugs are withdrawn before environmental and social factors have been remedied. Relapse is seen in 80% of cats treated for indoor marking with benzodiazepine drugs, so this class of drug is no longer recommended.
* Relapse: This is likely if drugs are withdrawn before environmental and social factors have been remedied. Relapse is seen in 80% of cats treated for indoor marking with benzodiazepine drugs, so this class of drug is no longer recommended.
* Potential adverse effects of drugs: fatal hepatic disease after oral benzodiazepine administration, cardiovascular effects of SSRI/SRI drugs.
* Potential adverse effects of drugs: Fatal hepatic disease after oral benzodiazepine administration, cardiovascular effects of SSRI/SRI drugs.
* Interactions with concurrent medication or disease: drugs that affect the function of cytochrome P450 can interfere with the metabolism of SRI/SSRI drugs (e.g. Cimetidine). SRI drugs should be used with care in cats with thyroid disturbance, or with bladder disease (risk of outflow obstruction).
* Interactions with concurrent medication or disease: Drugs that affect the function of cytochrome P450 can interfere with the metabolism of SRI/SSRI drugs (e.g. Cimetidine). SRI drugs should be used with care in cats with thyroid disturbance, or with bladder disease (risk of outflow obstruction).
* [[Management of Items Contaminated by Urine or Faeces|Soiled sites should be cleaned properly.]]
* [[Management of Items Contaminated by Urine or Faeces|Soiled sites should be cleaned properly.]]
* The cats should not be punished or threatened and chased when spraying, as this may increase stress or encourage the development of spraying to gain attention.
* The cats should not be punished or threatened and chased when spraying, as this may increase stress or encourage the development of spraying to gain attention.
* Strategically install F3 diffusers (Feliway)
* Strategically install F3 diffusers (Feliway).
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| '''External Threat
| '''External Threat
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* Install one or more coded electronic cat flaps to prevent entry by non-resident cats. Transparent cat doors should be coated with a solid coloured paint or film so that they are completely opaque, otherwise non-resident cats may threaten residents through it.
* Install one or more coded electronic cat flaps to prevent entry by non-resident cats. Transparent cat doors should be coated with a solid coloured paint or film so that they are completely opaque, otherwise non-resident cats may threaten residents through them.
* Use a film or spray coating to prevent outside cats from seeing into the home through windows close to where the resident cats have sprayed, or which overlook resources. These sprays and coatings are commonly sold as obscure glass coatings for bathroom windows.
* Use a film or spray coating to prevent outside cats from seeing into the home through windows close to where the resident cats have sprayed, or which overlook resources. These sprays and coatings are commonly sold as obscure glass coatings for bathroom windows.
* Install scratching posts, vantage points and latrines in the garden so that territorial control is shifted from inside to outside.
* Install scratching posts, vantage points and latrines in the garden so that territorial control is shifted from inside to outside.
| '''Internal Conflict
| '''Internal Conflict
|
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* Follow general advise on resource distribution, giving each faction its own feeding stations and other resources. Consider providing an additional cat-door if one cat is controlling access to it.
* Follow general advice on resource distribution, giving each faction its own feeding stations and other resources. Consider providing an additional cat-door if one cat is controlling access to it.
* Introduce simulated foraging (activity feeding).
* Introduce simulated foraging (activity feeding).
* Use scent reintroduction and scent swapping to re-establish a group odour.
* Use scent reintroduction and scent swapping to re-establish a group odour.
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* Regularly clean doorways, paths and walls where non-resident cats are spray marking (scrub with a solution of biological washing powder and hose clean).
* Regularly clean doorways, paths and walls where non-resident cats are spray marking (scrub with a solution of biological washing powder and hose clean).
* Fit draft excluder around doors and frames to prevent odours from coming in, and install a weatherboard to the bottom of external doors so that urine marks do not run down the door and into the house.
* Fit draft excluders around doors and frames to prevent odours from coming in, and install a weatherboard to the bottom of external doors so that urine marks do not run down the door and into the house.
* Take off outdoor shoes and put them on a high shelf when entering the house.
* Take off outdoor shoes and put them on a high shelf when entering the house.
* Apply a squirt of F3 (Feliway) to bags when they are brought into the house.
* Apply a squirt of F3 (Feliway) to bags when they are brought into the house.