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Claw marking often exists as a sub-problem in indoor marking cats. Claw marks have a similar territorial function to urine spraying and the rate of claw marking may increase along with other forms of indoor marking. Providing cats with good claw marking sites that fit with their need to defend territory can be an effective way to displace the pattern of marking from spraying to clawing. Most owners find this desirable. Claw marking posts or pads may be positioned close to windows, doorways and cat doors. They are made more attractive by rubbing them against existing clawing sites and then raking them with a wire brush to simulate real claw marks. Bold vertical stripes made with a permanent marker pen will draw attention to the object as a suitable clawing place. Undesirable claw marking can be deterred by daily application of F3 spray, combined with the provision of a nearby alternative scratching place. ''Client information on the provision of clawing places is provided in a handout in the appendix.''
Claw marking often exists as a sub-problem in indoor marking cats. Claw marks have a similar territorial function to urine spraying and the rate of claw marking may increase along with other forms of indoor marking. Providing cats with good claw marking sites that fit with their need to defend territory can be an effective way to displace the pattern of marking from spraying to clawing. Most owners find this desirable. Claw marking posts or pads may be positioned close to windows, doorways and cat doors. They are made more attractive by rubbing them against existing clawing sites and then raking them with a wire brush to simulate real claw marks. Bold vertical stripes made with a permanent marker pen will draw attention to the object as a suitable clawing place. Undesirable claw marking can be deterred by daily application of F3 spray, combined with the provision of a nearby alternative scratching place. ''Client information on the provision of clawing places is provided in a handout in the appendix.''
Psychoactive drug therapy is often prescribed for cats with indoor marking problems, but this will not offer a solution. The underlying reasons for the indoor marking must 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 DRUGS
'''The decision to use psychoactive drugs for indoor marking'''
Psychoactive drugs may be of value when
* Individual cats are showing signs of chronic anxiety [SRI/SSRI] or inhibition of normal behaviour [Selegiline].
* The case is longer than 6 months duration.
* Response to environmental change has been incomplete.
* Spraying is a reaction to specific fear [Selegiline].
* A rapid resolution is demanded and the client can be relied upon to complete environmental modification.
Risks of using psychoactive drugs include:
* Disinhibition of aggression: SRI/SSRI/benzodiazepine drugs.
* Clients may assume that changes in behaviour are solely due to medication, so that they do not comply with behavioural therapy or environmental modification.
* There may be a relapse if drugs are withdrawn before environmental and social factors have been remedied.
* 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].