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Inappropriate Elimination - Cat (view source)
Revision as of 18:28, 3 March 2014
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==General Aspects of Investigation of Housesoiling Cases==
==General Aspects of Investigation of Housesoiling Cases==
===Medical assessment===
===Medical Assessment===
Medical factors are very important in housesoiling and [[marking problems]]. Certain conditions are directly involved in the generation and maintenance of behavioural problems, whilst others are contributory in an indirect sense ''[see box].''
Medical factors are very important in housesoiling and [[marking problems]]. Certain conditions are directly involved in the generation and maintenance of behavioural problems, whilst others are contributory in an indirect sense ''[see box].''
If a case is to be referred to a non-veterinary behaviourist, it is essential to rule out any potential underlying or contributory medical factor.
If a case is to be referred to a non-veterinary behaviourist, it is essential to rule out any potential underlying or contributory medical factor.
===Behavioural Assessment===
Housesoiling and [[indoor marking behaviour]] may be difficult to differentiate in some cases, and in many they occur together. It is important to collect all of the information needed to make a judgement:
* Age of onset
* Previous record of house training
* Present reaction to litter facilities
* Pattern of deposits – location, frequency, volume
* Orientation of deposits – onto vertical or horizontal surfaces
* Posture of cat during deposition
* Relationships between animals in the household
* Presence or absence of the owner or other animals around the time of soiling [including other cats seen outside].
* Owner’s reaction to the deposits
* Events in the household or the neighbourhood coinciding with the onset of the behaviour
* Assessment of the cat’s emotional reactions to novelty in the environment and to strangers