Difference between revisions of "Housesoiling - Cat"

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==Introduction==
 
==Introduction==
  
House soiling is the commonest behavioural problem reported by cat owners <ref>Beaver, S. (1989) Housesoiling by cats: a retrospective study of 120 cases. "JAVMA". 25:631-637.</ref>. There are generally two types, [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|inappropriate elimination]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor marking behaviour]]. It is important to differentiate between them to identify the route of the problem, but they can also be present concurrently. Any underlying medical conditions must also be ruled out before behavioural assessment is made.
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House soiling is the most common behavioural problem reported by cat owners <ref>Beaver, S. (1989) Housesoiling by cats: a retrospective study of 120 cases. "JAVMA". 25:631-637.</ref><ref>Borchelt, P.L., Voith, V.L. (1986) Elimination behavior problems in cats. "Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet". 197-207, 1986.</ref>. '''House soiling is an umbrella term for problems in which urine or faeces are deposited inappropriately in the home''', with two sub categories of problem being [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|inappropriate elimination]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor marking behaviour]]. It is important to differentiate between these problems as they require differing types of treatment. Since they often relate to an underlying cause due to fear or anxiety, inappropriate elimination and indoor marking can occur concurrently. Underlying medical conditions must also be ruled out before a behavioural diagnosis is considered.
  
 
==Medical Assessment==
 
==Medical Assessment==
Medical factors are very important in housesoiling and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|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 beforehand.
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Medical factors are very important in housesoiling and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking problems]]. Medical problems can underlie and cause behavioural problems, or they can contribute to them (see table). For example, conditions causing PU/PD can cause an indoor elimination problem by increasing the urgency to urinate in a cat that has problems accessing a latrine quickly, or it can contribute to an increased frequency of indoor elimination in a cat that already has a behavioural problem.
  
 
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| Diseases causing debilitation: [[osteoarthritis]], senile dementia, and sensory loss.
 
| Diseases causing debilitation: [[osteoarthritis]], senile dementia, and sensory loss.
 
|-
 
|-
| Diseases affecting cognition: senile dementia, [[:Category:Central Nervous System - Pathology|CNS pathology]] (primary or secondary to systemic disease).
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| Diseases affecting cognition: [[Feline Cognitive Dysfunction|cognitive dysfunction syndrome]], [[:Category:Central Nervous System - Pathology|CNS pathology]] (primary or secondary to systemic disease).
 
|}
 
|}
 
</center>
 
</center>
  
In any case of house soiling it is important to consider medical differentials before embarking on a purely behavioural assessment of the problem. Any condition which affects gastrointestinal or urinary tract function is a potential candidate for involvement in cases of [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|inappropriate elimination]] and a full medical examination is therefore essential. Conditions which result in polydipsia and polyuria may also be implicated when urine deposits are found in unusual locations and endocrine disorders should be considered when investigating these cases. Any medical condition which alters the cat’s mobility may limit its ability to gain access to latrines, and conditions which alter the animal’s cognitive ability or sensory perception may also contribute to a breakdown in previously well-established house training. Organic disease may also be a factor in cases of [[Indoor Marking - Cat|undesirable marking behaviour]].
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Any condition which affects gastrointestinal or urinary tract function is a potential candidate for involvement in cases of [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|inappropriate elimination]] and a full medical examination is therefore essential. Any medical condition which alters the cat’s mobility or cognition may limit its ability to gain access to latrines or disrupt established elimination routines and housetraining. Organic disease may also be a factor in cases of [[Indoor Marking - Cat|undesirable marking behaviour]].
  
  
The medical workup must include:
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'''The medical workup must include:'''
 
* Medical history
 
* Medical history
 
* Clinical examination – including abdominal palpation
 
* Clinical examination – including abdominal palpation
 
* Urinalysis
 
* Urinalysis
 
* Assessment of mobility, cognitive function and sensory perception
 
* Assessment of mobility, cognitive function and sensory perception
* Further investigation through haematology, biochemistry or imaging techniques
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* Further investigation through haematology, biochemistry or imaging techniques, as required.
  
==Behavioural Assessment==
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==Investigation==
  
[[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|Inappropriate elimination]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|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:
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It may be difficult in some cases to differentiate between [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|inappropriate elimination]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor marking behaviour]], and in some cases these two problems may occur together. It is important to collect all of the information needed to make a judgement:
 
[[File:House plan Housesoiling.jpg|350px|right|thumb|Example of a house plan]]
 
[[File:House plan Housesoiling.jpg|350px|right|thumb|Example of a house plan]]
 
* Age of onset
 
* Age of onset
 
* Previous record of house training
 
* Previous record of house training
* Present reaction to litter facilities
 
 
* Pattern of deposits – location, frequency, volume
 
* Pattern of deposits – location, frequency, volume
 
* Orientation of deposits – onto vertical or horizontal surfaces
 
* Orientation of deposits – onto vertical or horizontal surfaces
* Posture of cat during deposition
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* Posture and behaviour of the cat during deposition
 
* Relationships between animals in the household
 
* 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).
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* 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
 
* Owner’s reaction to the deposits
 
* Events in the household or the neighbourhood coinciding with the onset of the behaviour
 
* 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
 
* Assessment of the cat’s emotional reactions to novelty in the environment and to strangers
 +
* Assessment of the environment: quality and location of resources, including latrine sites such as litter trays
  
 
===Using a House Plan===
 
===Using a House Plan===
  
One of the most useful tools when investigating a problem of feline house soiling is a plan of the house in which the cat lives. This does not need to be a detailed scale drawing but rather a basic plan indicating the layout of rooms in the house, the position of windows, doors and major furniture and the location of major resources such as feeding and watering stations, sleeping  locations and play areas. Each individual cat’s favourite resting places and rooms they prefer to inhabit should be noted on the diagram. The client should mark onto this diagram the location of urine and faeces that they have found (see figure).
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Owners should be asked to draw a floor plan of the house, indicating when and where urine and faeces have been discovered. The owner should mark onto this diagram the location of urine and faeces that they have found, as well as the location of major resources (food and water locations, litter trays, cat doors), and the position of doors and windows (see figure). This can be annotated during the consultation with information about the cat(s) preferences for resting locations, and the frequency, volume and characteristics of deposited of urine/faeces. The client should also be asked to indicate in which locations urine/faeces was first found, and how this spread to other locations. A standard method of annotation is to mark the frequency of urine deposition using a number of "X"s, and a number to indicate whether the location was one of the first, or later, places that was soiled (see example).
  
To give a better indication of the development of the problem, the client should note the current frequency of urine/faecal deposition at a particular site, as well as how early in the development of the problem urine or faeces were first found there. A convenient way to do this is to label each location on the diagram with a number of stars to indicate current frequency and a number that indicates whether that spot was one of the first, or last places to be soiled, or somewhere in between. The clinician may use this diagram (see example) as a basis for recording additional information about each mark, such as the volume of urine at a site, where precisely on furniture or decorations it is located and whether any particular event appears connected to it.
+
The pattern of urine and faecal deposits can point to the source of the problem. For example, if the first deposits were found close to external doors and windows, this suggests that the perceived threat is from outside the home, whilst initial deposits near furniture and internal doorways and passages would suggest that the problem originates in the relationship between resident cats in a multi-cat household.
 
 
The pattern of urine and faecal deposits can point to the source of the problem. For example, if the first deposits were found close to doors and windows, it is suggestive that the perceived threat was coming from outside the home whilst initial deposits in the centre of rooms or onto new pieces of furniture would suggest that the disruption of the cat’s security was coming from within the household.
 
  
 
Once all of this information has been collected, it is then possible to make judgments about the nature of the problem, whether it is a matter of '''[[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor marking]] or [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|elimination]]''' and what the motivation may be.
 
Once all of this information has been collected, it is then possible to make judgments about the nature of the problem, whether it is a matter of '''[[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor marking]] or [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|elimination]]''' and what the motivation may be.
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==Differentiating Between Elimination and Marking==
 
==Differentiating Between Elimination and Marking==
  
Once full information has been collected about the location and characteristics of each urine or faecal deposit, it is possible to differentiate between its cause.
+
Once full information has been collected about the location and characteristics of each urine or faecal deposit, it is possible to make a judgement about the cause.
  
===Positioning of Deposits and Reaction to the Litter Tray===
+
===Location and Orientation of Deposits===
 +
The type of locations used for marking are different from those used for elimination.
 +
In the case of [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]], the location of marks is intended to convey a signal to other cats; the function of spray marking is to maintain temporal and spatial distance between cats. Marks are therefore left in visible locations close to points of entry to an area; for example in a doorway into a room, or at the bottom of a flight of stairs. They may also be left in places where the cat is responding to an interaction with another cat; for example, by a window or on a spot where a non-resident cat has recently been seen. The act of [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|spraying]] also involves an element of [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Visual Communication|visual display]]. When cats spray mark, urine is normally deposited onto vertical surfaces, but in some situations cats will spray onto a horizontal surface if there is no other a choice.
  
In the case of [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]], the areas that the cat uses to deposit urine or faeces will often be of behavioural significance, for example areas that smell of the owner or of the new cat in the household or locations which are associated with potential threat from the outside world. There is often a provoking stimulus for this inappropriate behaviour such as some disruption to the home environment or competition within the local neighbourhood and the location of the marking deposits will reflect this. Urine or faecal marks are placed strategically in order to provide a signal to other cats, which means that they must be placed in locations that are likely to be noticed. The act of [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|spraying]] itself also involves an element of [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Visual Communication|visual display]]. It should be remembered that odour marks are not merely of use to the ‘sender’ of the signal, who is trying to maintain distance from other cats. They are also of use to the ‘receiver’, who is equally keen to avoid direct physical conflict. The location of scent marks therefore follows conventions that allow other cats to find and investigate them easily. Such places might include on door frames, or on doors, or on pieces of furniture that face doors or windows.
+
[[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|Inappropriate indoor elimination]] is not a display, and cats seek to maintain privacy whilst eliminating. Eliminated urine and faeces are therefore usually deposited in quiet secluded locations where the cat will not be disturbed. In households, common locations are quieter places like bathrooms and bedrooms. Cats usually have preferences for the kind of substrate that they will eliminate on, which may relate to their rearing environment; kittens that are reared a cage or crate may develop a preference for eliminating on bedding or newspaper because these were the first substrates they encountered. This can lead to adult preferences for urinating or defecating on carpets, sofas or bedding. When cats eliminate, they usually deposit urine onto a horizontal surface, but cats with LUTD may urinate standing up, or stand up as they urinate, leading to urine deposits on vertical surfaces or outside the litter tray.
  
[[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|Inappropriate indoor elimination]], on the other hand, will usually take place in quiet secluded locations which reflect the sort of places which cats would naturally choose to use as latrines. It is also likely that elimination sites will have certain common characteristics in terms of the substrate that is used and cats will often develop preferences for the inappropriate substrate, such as carpet or linen, and return to similar surfaces repeatedly. These inappropriate substrates may be similar to those the cat was forced to use as a kitten, through an inadequate provision of proper latrines in the rearing environment.
+
Cats with [[:Category:Urological Diseases - Cat|lower urinary tract disease]] will often have episodes of using multiple sites to urinate around the house. It is thought that pain associated with [[Micturition - Anatomy & Physiology|micturition]] in a latrine site discourages repeated use of that location: The cat chooses a different latrine site next time. This pattern of urination is often cyclical, with cats eliminating normally for a few weeks and then displaying a bout of housesoiling in multiple locations. This fits with the waxing and waning cyclical nature of feline lower urinary tract disease. With cystitis, the volume of urine found at each site is usually small, and the urine has a strong odour.
 
 
One useful difference between indoor ‘markers’ and ‘toileters’ is their reaction to the indoor latrine facilities, with ‘markers’ often continuing to use the litter tray and ‘toileters’ actively avoiding the facilities provided. Indeed, in cases of a lack of, or a breakdown of house-training, signs of aversion to the litter tray may be the first thing that the owner notices.
 
 
 
Cats with [[:Category:Urological Diseases - Cat|lower urinary tract disease]] will often use several different sites in the house during the same period, breaking the usual pattern of the cat using only one or two latrines. This is because pain associated with [[Micturition - Anatomy & Physiology|micturition]] in each of the latrine sites discourages repeated use of the same locations. The cat associates eliminating in that place with pain or dysuria and chooses somewhere else next time. Amounts of urine found at each site may be smaller then normal and have a strong odour or contain blood. This pattern of urination is often cyclical, with cats eliminating normally for a few weeks and then suffering another bout of generalised housesoiling. This fits with the cyclical nature of the severity of lower urinary tract disease, which may wax and wane.
 
  
 
===Frequency of Deposits===
 
===Frequency of Deposits===
  
If a cat is depositing urine and faeces, as part of the normal function of elimination, the frequency will reflect this and deposits will be limited in their number. However, when cats are using the deposits as a form of marking there is no limit on the frequency of deposition and it is not unusual for a urine spraying cat to leave in excess of thirty marks within the home in a 24-hour period.
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Cats will usually urinate and defecate one to three times daily depending on food intake and meal timing. The frequency of elimination may be increased if the cat has a urinary tract or bowel problem. Cats will leave urine scent marks in many locations every day, typically returning to leave a fresh urine mark at each location at least daily. It would not be unusual for a cat to leave a scent mark in thirty or more locations per day.
  
 
===Volume of Deposits===
 
===Volume of Deposits===
  
The amount of urine that is deposited can also help to determine the motivation for the behaviour with [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|toileting problems]] usually involving larger quantities than [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]] problems. However, this can be confusing since a small amount of urine can be absorbed by carpets and other fabrics and the size of the moist patch on the floor can be misleading! Cats with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease will pass many small quantities of urine in several sites, causing confusion with a marking problem. Likewise, cats with chronic diarrhoea. However, the choice of location will still fit with normal defaecation or urination.
+
Cats with [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|inappropriate elimination problems]] usually deposit larger volumes of urine at each site than cats with [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]] problems. However, cats with LUTD will only pass only small volumes of urine at each of multiple sites. As do cats with chronic diarrhoea. However, the choice of location will still fit with normal defecation.
 
 
===Posture of Cat and Orientation of Deposits===
 
 
 
The posture of the cat can help in the differentiation process, since [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor urine spraying]] is usually associated with a [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|characteristic stance]]. This is related to the function of the marking behaviour since a standing posture allows the cat to deposit urine on a vertical surface at just the correct height for another cat to sniff at it and take in the important information.
 
 
 
However, urine marking does not exclusively occur from a standing posture and it can be performed from a squatting position, which closely resembles the posture adopted during the act of elimination. This fact must be borne in mind when attempting to differentiate between motivations as it is easy to dismiss squatting urination on horizontal surfaces as always being eliminative and yet there are occasions when the cat is actually using that sort of urination as a marking behaviour.
 
  
===Pattern of Urine and Faeces Deposition (identified using a [[Housesoiling - Cat#Using a House Plan|house plan]])===
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===Posture and Behaviour of the Cat===
  
Certain patterns are classic indicators of a specific underlying motivation. For example, if the first urine marking deposits were found close to external doors and windows it is suggestive that the perceived threat was coming from outside the home, whilst initial deposits in the centre of rooms, corridors or staircases, or onto new pieces of furniture would suggest that the disruption of the cat’s security was coming from within the household. As a situation progresses, the pattern becomes more confusing so that it becomes very difficult to identify the originating cause unless the historical development of the pattern of the [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]] or [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|elimination]] is known. For example, urine marking may progress from door and window areas to hallways and rooms if a neighbourhood despot begins to invade the resident cat’s home.
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When cats spray in a location, they start by sniffing the spot (and often show a flehmen behaviour). The cat will then back up to the spot and spray urine with the tail erect. The cat often has a glazed look on its face, its tail will twitch and it will paddle with its back feet. This [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|characteristic stance]] is different from urination behaviour, even when cat urinates standing up. Urine marking does not exclusively occur from a standing posture and it can be performed from a squatting position, but with tail movements, and foot paddling that differentiate this form urination.  
  
 +
When cats urinate, they usually do not investigate the area by sniffing, and the tail movements and foot paddling are not seen. If cats with LUTD urinate standing up, they usually adopt an uncomfortable posture, strain as they urinate and may vocalise painfully.
  
 
<center>
 
<center>
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| style="width: 40%; background-color: white;"|'''Indoor Marking
 
| style="width: 40%; background-color: white;"|'''Indoor Marking
 
| style="width: 40%; background-color: white;"|'''Inappropriate Elimination
 
| style="width: 40%; background-color: white;"|'''Inappropriate Elimination
|-
 
|'''Characteristic patterns in urine and faeces deposition''':
 
|
 
* Initial locations are around cat flap, external doors and windows: external threat
 
* Initial locations are entry points to internal rooms, on landings and in corridors: internal conflict within home
 
* Spread of marking sites into the home from around cat flap: potential intruder cat
 
* Random locations throughout the home: emotional disturbance within the household
 
* Initial deposits on new items in the household, shoes or shopping bags: insecurity and reaction to potential threat
 
|
 
* Single indoor toilet location or substrate (litter box available): location or substrate of litter tray is unsuitable, or cat may be afraid to use the litter tray
 
* Single indoor toilet location or substrate (no litter box, cat previously used garden latrine): cat is unable to use outdoor latrine because it is unusable (e.g. waterlogged, frozen, or paved over), or inaccessible (e.g. cat is unwell, or a dog now inhabits garden where the latrine is sited), or it is defended by other cats as part of their territory (e.g. despotism)
 
* Multiple indoor toilet locations and substrates: cat is unable to use a regular latrine due to conflict with other cats, aversive experiences during elimination (e.g. pain associated with FLUTD, or owner punishment)
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|'''Behaviour and Posture''':
 
|'''Behaviour and Posture''':
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* The cat may have a glazed and vacant look on its face
 
* The cat may have a glazed and vacant look on its face
 
|
 
|
* The location may be sniffed and investigated before elimination.
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* The location may be sniffed and investigated before elimination
* Urine or faeces are deposited whilst the cat is in a crouched position with slight back arching.
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* Urine or faeces are deposited whilst the cat is in a crouched position with slight back arching
* Abnormal postures may be seen during elimination: urination whilst standing up, or when crouched with a greatly arched or flattened back is indicative of pain or dysuria. In extreme cases, cats may cry or run away from the area where they have eliminated, as if in pain.
+
* Abnormal postures may be seen during elimination: urination whilst standing up, or when crouched with a greatly arched or flattened back is indicative of pain or dysuria. In extreme cases, cats may cry or run away from the area where they have eliminated, as if in pain
* Unlike marking behaviour, there is no visual ‘display’ element to normal elimination.
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* Unlike marking behaviour, there is no visual ‘display’ element to normal elimination
 
|-
 
|-
 
|'''Deposit''':
 
|'''Deposit''':
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* Usually highly visible locations, where marks will be easily noticed
 
* Usually highly visible locations, where marks will be easily noticed
 
* Most often urine is placed on vertical surfaces, but occasionally horizontal
 
* Most often urine is placed on vertical surfaces, but occasionally horizontal
* Urine may be placed high up the vertical object
+
* Urine may be placed high up on the vertical object
 
* Objects that heat up and cool down may attract spray marks (heaters, toasters, TV and audio equipment)
 
* Objects that heat up and cool down may attract spray marks (heaters, toasters, TV and audio equipment)
* Bags, shoes and other objects that may carry foreign odours into the home may be targetted
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* Bags, shoes and other objects that may carry foreign odours into the home may be targeted
 
* Faeces (middening) are deposited, unburied, in open spaces where they will be most visible
 
* Faeces (middening) are deposited, unburied, in open spaces where they will be most visible
 
|
 
|
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</center>
 
</center>
  
==Emotional Factors==
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===Pattern of Deposition of Urine and Faeces (identified using a [[Housesoiling - Cat#Using a House Plan|house plan]])===
 +
 
 +
As a situation progresses, the pattern of deposition of urine and faeces can become increasingly confusing so that it becomes very difficult to identify the originating cause unless the historical development of the pattern of the [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]] or [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|elimination]] is recorded using a house plan. If the first urine marks were deposited close to external doors and windows, this suggests that the cat was responding to a threat from outside the home, such as a non-resident cat entering its territory. If the first urine marks were mostly deposited on furniture in rooms, around doorways, corridors or staircases, this suggests that source of stress is the relationship with resident cats. Cats will also spray mark on mirrors, and electrical items. The following table summaries common patters of urine deposition in problem situations.
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 +
 
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<center>
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="color: black; background-color: white;" width="85%;"
 +
| style="width: 20%; background-color: white;"|
 +
| style="width: 40%; background-color: white;"|'''Indoor Marking
 +
| style="width: 40%; background-color: white;"|'''Inappropriate Elimination
 +
|-
 +
|'''Characteristic patterns in urine and faeces deposition''':
 +
|
 +
* Initial locations are around cat flap, external doors and windows: external threat from non-resident cat(s) in the resident cat's outdoor territory.
 +
* Initial locations are entry points to internal rooms, on landings and in corridors: internal conflict within home
 +
* Marking sites are initially at the cat flap, and expand into the house: potential home invasion by non-resident cat
 +
* Initial deposits on new items in the household, shoes or shopping bags: insecurity and reaction to unfamiliar odours that have been brought into the home on those items.
 +
|
 +
* Single indoor toilet location or substrate (litter box available): location or substrate of litter tray is unsuitable, or cat may be afraid to use the litter tray
 +
* Single indoor toilet location or substrate (no litter box, cat previously used garden latrine): cat is unable to use outdoor latrine because it is unusable (e.g. waterlogged, frozen, or paved over), or inaccessible (e.g. cat is unwell, or a dog now inhabits garden where the latrine is sited), or it is defended by other cats as part of their territory (e.g. despotism)
 +
* Multiple indoor toilet locations and substrates: cat is unable to use a regular latrine due to conflict with other cats, aversive experiences during elimination (e.g. pain associated with FLUTD, or owner punishment)
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
</center>
 +
 
 +
==The Relationship Between Resident Cats==
 
[[File:Cat relationships example.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Example of a diagram illustrating the relationships between cats within the same household]]  
 
[[File:Cat relationships example.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Example of a diagram illustrating the relationships between cats within the same household]]  
In situations of both [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]] and [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|elimination]] behaviour within the home, it is important to assess the cat’s emotional status and to attempt to identify any triggers for alteration in that status. Perception of threat either from within or outside the home is commonly associated with the onset of marking behaviour but it is also important to remember that cats that are feeling threatened and insecure may be reluctant to use litter facilities that are positioned in vulnerable locations or that pose difficulties for the cat in terms of competition with other feline household members. In general, it is the '''insecure and timid feline that is more likely to present with problems of marking behaviour '''and individuals that do not cope well with change in their environment are going to be predisposed to the use of urine deposits that are designed to increase home security. In addition, cats that are living in a hostile social environment, where there is underlying tension between feline housemates, may use marking behaviour in an attempt to increase distance between them and to avoid overt physical confrontation. Therefore, an assessment of the '''compatibility between cats in the household''' is an important part of the investigation process. Likewise, the relationship between the cat and the owner should be considered and questions about the owner’s reaction to the discovery of deposits within the home should be included in the consultation. It is perfectly understandable for people to find it unacceptable that their pet is depositing urine or faeces within their home but the use of punitive techniques may be a factor in perpetuating the behaviour and confirming the cat’s perception that the house is no longer a secure [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]].
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In situations of both [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]] and [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|elimination]] behaviour within multi-cat households, the relationship between resident cats is often an underlying factor in problem expression. Competition between resident cats for access to constrained resources, such as food, a litter tray or an outdoor access point, leads to stress. Cats may use urine spray and claw marking in an attempt to organise access to space; trying to maintain temporal and spatial separation from one another. This is intolerable for owners, and is ultimately dysfunctional for the cats. Hostile encounters around the litter tray or an outdoor access point may force less confident and assertive cats to find other places to eliminate within the home. An assessment of the '''relationship between resident cats''' is therefore an important part of the investigation process.  
  
Owners often misinterpret relationships between cats in multi-cat households because they are unaware of the significance of certain behaviours. For example, cats will often be described as ‘getting on well’ because they eat and rest in proximity to one another on the owner’s bed or couch. Unfortunately, this apparent tolerance may exist only because the cats are forced to be close to each other when they are feeding or resting. They have no other choice because there are no other feeding stations or equivalent resting places. The cats may be very wary and hesitant whilst feeding and the owner will report that there are frequent bouts of hissing or spitting around the food bowl. Likewise, as one cat leaves a resting place or feeding area, it may be pursued or attacked and cats may attempt long distance intimidation, such as staring eye contact, to frighten each other away from resting places or latrines. Some cats will try to pull food out of a dish with their paws so that they can take it to eat in private. The same desire for privacy will drive them to make a toilet of their own somewhere in the house.
+
Owners cannot be relied upon to assess the relationship between cats, because they frequently misinterpret feline communication and social relationships. For example, they may interpret all chasing behaviour as playful, and underestimate the significance of fights and aggressive vocalisations between cats. Most importantly, positive signs of stress and anxiety, such as the typical whining, agitation and restlessness observed in dogs, are very noticeable, but negative signs, such as the typical inhibition and reduced activity observed in cats, are often overlooked.
  
It is important to make a formal assessment of the relationships between cats in the household. A diagram should be constructed to illustrate the relationships. The social function of cats that have died or been re-homed may be important so it may be necessary to draw more than one diagram to illustrate the changing relationships as cats have departed or been added to the group.
+
Within multi-cat households, there may also be "factions"; groups of cats that show affiliative behaviour with each other, but which are indifferent or hostile toward other resident cats. A simple way to evaluate the relationship between resident cats, and identify factions,  is to create a diagram of affiliative and aggressive behaviours between them (see example). This can be annotated with information about changes in the relationship, such as after the death of one of the resident cats.
  
Positive affiliative reactions that should be noted include allorubbing and allogrooming, tail up and trilled greeting between cats. [[Feline Aggression|Aggressive behaviours]] include active threats such as chasing, hissing or spitting and physical attacks, as well as more passive or distant threats such as staring eye contact, threatening body or facial posture, or spraying in front of other cats. These classes of behaviour and their direction should be noted on a diagram of interactions, as illustrated in the figure. This may enable certain factions to be identified within the household. Combined with the information already obtained about where cats spend most of their time in the household, this makes the allocation of resources easier during treatment. It may also help to identify feline despots. Making an assessment of this kind is important even when looking at a multi-cat household with what appears to be reactionary spraying due to conflict with outside cats. If resources in the home are sparse, then certain cats may perceive there to be a local  overpopulation problem which is made worse by competition with outside cats. Sorting out internal conflict is likely to improve the cats’ general welfare as well as help to resolve [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|elimination]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking problems]].
+
The names of the cats are written in a circle, and information about behavioural signs of the relationship between each pair of cats is added to the diagram. Positive affiliative behaviours include allorubbing and allogrooming, tail up and trilled greeting between cats. Overtly [[Feline Aggression|aggressive behaviours]] include chasing, hissing or spitting and physical attacks, as well as more passive threats such as staring eye contact, and threatening body or facial posture. Positive and negative interactions and their direction should be noted on the diagram (see example).
 +
 
 +
The diagram should indicate the general relationship between the cats, and whether there are factions within the group. In combination with information about where in the home the cats (or factions) tend to spend time, this diagram can provide useful information about where to place resources so that they are easily accessible by individual cats and factions. It can also provide an indication of social problems that may need to be resolved. Constructing the diagram with the owner also offers a valuable opportunity to explain feline communication and social organisation with the owner.
  
 
==Identifying the Culprit==
 
==Identifying the Culprit==
  
It is very important to properly identify the culprit(s) for the indoor housesoiling. Clients frequently blame a particular animal, usually because they have seen it eliminating in the house. However, other cats may also be involved. Fluorescein dye or sweet corn may be administered, starting with the cats that are least likely to be involved in the problem.
+
It is very important to properly identify the culprit(s) of the indoor housesoiling, particularly when treatment with psychoactive medication is being considered. It is common for more than one cat in a multi-cat household to be involved, particularly when the problem is indoor spray marking. 
 +
 
 +
===Identifying Cats Responsible Faecal Soiling===
 +
If faecal soiling is involved, then a small amount of indigestible material is added to each cat’s food for several days and the faeces are inspected. When added to the diet, crushed sweet corn or finely chopped raw carrot are both easily visible in faeces, and are unlikely to cause gastrointestinal problems.  
 +
 
 +
===Using Fluorescein to Identify Cats Responsible for Urine Marking or Elimination===
 +
When ingested, fluorescein dye is excreted intact in urine, and can be made to fluoresce using a UV lamp. This can be used to identify the cat responsible for leaving urine deposits. A dose of 50mg/cat once daily is given, which is equivalent to the amount of dye in the tips of six fluorescein test strips (commonly used for ulcer detection in ophthalmology)<ref>Neilson, J. (2003) Feline House Soiling: Elimination and Marking Behaviors. "Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice". 33(2):287-301.</ref>. However, the fluorescence of fluorescein varies considerably with pH<ref>Sjoback, R., Nygren, J., Kubista, M. (1995) Absorption and fluorescence properties of fluorescein. "Spectrochimica Acta Part A". 52. 7-21.</ref>, so that it only strongly fluoresces in a neutral or alkaline solution; in an acidic solution it may hardly fluoresce at all. Spots may therefore need to be sprayed with a buffer solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which will produce a pH of around 8, before testing with a UV lamp.  
  
If faecal soiling is involved, then a small amount of indigestible material is added to each cat’s food for several days and the faeces are inspected. Crushed sweet corn works very well because it is easy to identify in the faeces and does not upset digestion.
+
* Fluorescein is available as large sterile paper strips, for ophthalmic examination. These contain approximately 9 mg of fluorescein per strip, but this should be checked with the manufacturer.
 +
* The dye containing tips of six test strips are torn off and either rolled to fit into gelatine capsules, or chopped up and mixed with food.
 +
* This dose is given once daily for 1-3 days, depending on results.
 +
* Urine sites are checked daily for fluorescence with a UV lamp (now cheaply available for checking of paper currency).
 +
* If necessary, each site is lightly sprayed with an aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking powder; approximately 1 tablespoonful in 125ml water).
 +
* Leave 3 to 5 days between testing successive cats, to allow all of the dye to be excreted.
  
===Using Fluorescein to Identify Urine Marking or Soiling Cats===
+
Although fluorescein is water-soluble and can usually be removed with normal cleaning, it can leave yellow stains on light coloured fabric, leather, carpets or wall paper.
It is possible to use fluorescein dye to identify the urine of each cat in the household so that the identity of the soiling cat can be confirmed. Recent research has shown that the fluorescence of urine spots from fluorescein treated cats may vary with urine pH. The fluorescence of fluorescein varies with pH, such that it only strongly emits light under UV illumination when it is in a neutral or alkaline solution. In acidic solution it may hardly glow green at all. Spots should therefore be sprayed with a buffer solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which will produce a pH of around 8, before testing with a UV lamp.  
+
Owners must be warned of this, because considerable damage can result. In addition, it is best to start by dosing those cats which are believed least likely to be responsible for the urine deposits. Using this method it is possible to make an identification based on exclusion, and therefore avoid any dye contamination of the owner's home.
  
* Fluorescein is available as sterile paper strips, for ophthalmic examination. These contain approximately 1 mg of fluorescein per tip, but this should be checked with the manufacturer.
+
===Use of Video Cameras===
* The tips should be torn off and rolled to fit into gelatine capsules, giving approximately 5 per capsule (5mg).
+
Most mobile devices have a video capability, and webcams are relatively cheap. Movement triggered apps and software enable the video function to be activated when a cat comes into range. If certain locations are regularly marked or soiled, movement triggered video recording can be used to identify the culprit. This can be particularly valuable when it is suspected that urine marks are being deposited by non-resident cats entering the home.
* This dose is given once daily for 3-4 days.
 
* Urine sites are checked daily.
 
* Lightly spray each site with a solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking powder), mixed in water (1 tablespoonful in 125ml water).
 
* A UV lamp is then used to check the site for fluorescence.
 
* It is vital to start by testing the least probable culprits first, working up to the most probable. Otherwise fluorescence marks left by one cat will obscure those of another. If it is certain that the culprit is a resident cat then the culprit may be identified by a process of elimination, which minimises the risk of leaving lots of fluorescent stains for the client to
 
clean up.
 
* A 5-day washout is left between testing of each cat, to make sure that each individual has excreted all of the dye before testing the next.
 
* Although fluorescein is water-soluble and can usually be removed with normal cleaning, this testing method may leave stains on fabric, carpets or wall paper and owners must be warned of this.
 
  
 
==Cooperation Between Cat Owners==
 
==Cooperation Between Cat Owners==
  
Cat ownership is increasing, which means that local feline population density may be very high, and rising. The problems of [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|house soiling]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor marking]] that affect one cat owner may also be affecting others. Indoor and outdoor environmental modification can have a much more dramatic effect on the welfare and behaviour of cats, if all cat owners in a neighbourhood make the same changes. Veterinary practices should encourage neighbours to work together to solve problems that arise form overpopulation and inter-cat conflict. Distribution of advice leaflets and running educational evening can help, and will gain good publicity for the practice. It can be beneficial for clients to be educated in feline behaviour, social structure and resource requirements.
+
According to Pet Food Manufacturers Association data, the pet cat population in the UK more than doubled between 1965 and 2004, with an estimated 10-million cats being kept as pets in the UK (2010)<ref>Murray, .K., Browne, W.J., Roberts, M.A., Whitmarsh, A. Gruffydd-Jones, T.J (2010) Number and ownership profiles of cats and dogs in the UK. "Veterinary Record". 166:163-168.</ref>. This increase in population density may contribute to problems of intercat aggression, [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|house soiling]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor marking]]. In urban areas with high pet cat population densities, veterinary practices may need to encourage or organise cooperation between neighbours in a community in order to improve outdoor space for cats (for example, improving availability of outdoor latrine sites). Providing resident cats with access to a stimulating outdoor environment, with densely planted borders, trees, resting sites, and wildlife (birds and insects) improves their quality of life.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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[[Category:Feline Housesoiling]]
 
[[Category:Feline Housesoiling]]
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Latest revision as of 09:45, 16 July 2015

Introduction

House soiling is the most common behavioural problem reported by cat owners [1][2]. House soiling is an umbrella term for problems in which urine or faeces are deposited inappropriately in the home, with two sub categories of problem being inappropriate elimination and indoor marking behaviour. It is important to differentiate between these problems as they require differing types of treatment. Since they often relate to an underlying cause due to fear or anxiety, inappropriate elimination and indoor marking can occur concurrently. Underlying medical conditions must also be ruled out before a behavioural diagnosis is considered.

Medical Assessment

Medical factors are very important in housesoiling and marking problems. Medical problems can underlie and cause behavioural problems, or they can contribute to them (see table). For example, conditions causing PU/PD can cause an indoor elimination problem by increasing the urgency to urinate in a cat that has problems accessing a latrine quickly, or it can contribute to an increased frequency of indoor elimination in a cat that already has a behavioural problem.

Medical factors underlying housesoiling problems
Conditions causing PU/PD: renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus.
Feline lower urinary tract disease.
Diseases causing debilitation: osteoarthritis, senile dementia, and sensory loss.
Diseases affecting cognition: cognitive dysfunction syndrome, CNS pathology (primary or secondary to systemic disease).

Any condition which affects gastrointestinal or urinary tract function is a potential candidate for involvement in cases of inappropriate elimination and a full medical examination is therefore essential. Any medical condition which alters the cat’s mobility or cognition may limit its ability to gain access to latrines or disrupt established elimination routines and housetraining. Organic disease may also be a factor in cases of undesirable marking behaviour.


The medical workup must include:

  • Medical history
  • Clinical examination – including abdominal palpation
  • Urinalysis
  • Assessment of mobility, cognitive function and sensory perception
  • Further investigation through haematology, biochemistry or imaging techniques, as required.

Investigation

It may be difficult in some cases to differentiate between inappropriate elimination and indoor marking behaviour, and in some cases these two problems may occur together. It is important to collect all of the information needed to make a judgement:

Example of a house plan
  • Age of onset
  • Previous record of house training
  • Pattern of deposits – location, frequency, volume
  • Orientation of deposits – onto vertical or horizontal surfaces
  • Posture and behaviour of the 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
  • Assessment of the environment: quality and location of resources, including latrine sites such as litter trays

Using a House Plan

Owners should be asked to draw a floor plan of the house, indicating when and where urine and faeces have been discovered. The owner should mark onto this diagram the location of urine and faeces that they have found, as well as the location of major resources (food and water locations, litter trays, cat doors), and the position of doors and windows (see figure). This can be annotated during the consultation with information about the cat(s) preferences for resting locations, and the frequency, volume and characteristics of deposited of urine/faeces. The client should also be asked to indicate in which locations urine/faeces was first found, and how this spread to other locations. A standard method of annotation is to mark the frequency of urine deposition using a number of "X"s, and a number to indicate whether the location was one of the first, or later, places that was soiled (see example).

The pattern of urine and faecal deposits can point to the source of the problem. For example, if the first deposits were found close to external doors and windows, this suggests that the perceived threat is from outside the home, whilst initial deposits near furniture and internal doorways and passages would suggest that the problem originates in the relationship between resident cats in a multi-cat household.

Once all of this information has been collected, it is then possible to make judgments about the nature of the problem, whether it is a matter of indoor marking or elimination and what the motivation may be.

Differentiating Between Elimination and Marking

Once full information has been collected about the location and characteristics of each urine or faecal deposit, it is possible to make a judgement about the cause.

Location and Orientation of Deposits

The type of locations used for marking are different from those used for elimination. In the case of marking, the location of marks is intended to convey a signal to other cats; the function of spray marking is to maintain temporal and spatial distance between cats. Marks are therefore left in visible locations close to points of entry to an area; for example in a doorway into a room, or at the bottom of a flight of stairs. They may also be left in places where the cat is responding to an interaction with another cat; for example, by a window or on a spot where a non-resident cat has recently been seen. The act of spraying also involves an element of visual display. When cats spray mark, urine is normally deposited onto vertical surfaces, but in some situations cats will spray onto a horizontal surface if there is no other a choice.

Inappropriate indoor elimination is not a display, and cats seek to maintain privacy whilst eliminating. Eliminated urine and faeces are therefore usually deposited in quiet secluded locations where the cat will not be disturbed. In households, common locations are quieter places like bathrooms and bedrooms. Cats usually have preferences for the kind of substrate that they will eliminate on, which may relate to their rearing environment; kittens that are reared a cage or crate may develop a preference for eliminating on bedding or newspaper because these were the first substrates they encountered. This can lead to adult preferences for urinating or defecating on carpets, sofas or bedding. When cats eliminate, they usually deposit urine onto a horizontal surface, but cats with LUTD may urinate standing up, or stand up as they urinate, leading to urine deposits on vertical surfaces or outside the litter tray.

Cats with lower urinary tract disease will often have episodes of using multiple sites to urinate around the house. It is thought that pain associated with micturition in a latrine site discourages repeated use of that location: The cat chooses a different latrine site next time. This pattern of urination is often cyclical, with cats eliminating normally for a few weeks and then displaying a bout of housesoiling in multiple locations. This fits with the waxing and waning cyclical nature of feline lower urinary tract disease. With cystitis, the volume of urine found at each site is usually small, and the urine has a strong odour.

Frequency of Deposits

Cats will usually urinate and defecate one to three times daily depending on food intake and meal timing. The frequency of elimination may be increased if the cat has a urinary tract or bowel problem. Cats will leave urine scent marks in many locations every day, typically returning to leave a fresh urine mark at each location at least daily. It would not be unusual for a cat to leave a scent mark in thirty or more locations per day.

Volume of Deposits

Cats with inappropriate elimination problems usually deposit larger volumes of urine at each site than cats with marking problems. However, cats with LUTD will only pass only small volumes of urine at each of multiple sites. As do cats with chronic diarrhoea. However, the choice of location will still fit with normal defecation.

Posture and Behaviour of the Cat

When cats spray in a location, they start by sniffing the spot (and often show a flehmen behaviour). The cat will then back up to the spot and spray urine with the tail erect. The cat often has a glazed look on its face, its tail will twitch and it will paddle with its back feet. This characteristic stance is different from urination behaviour, even when cat urinates standing up. Urine marking does not exclusively occur from a standing posture and it can be performed from a squatting position, but with tail movements, and foot paddling that differentiate this form urination.

When cats urinate, they usually do not investigate the area by sniffing, and the tail movements and foot paddling are not seen. If cats with LUTD urinate standing up, they usually adopt an uncomfortable posture, strain as they urinate and may vocalise painfully.

Indoor Marking Inappropriate Elimination
Behaviour and Posture:
  • Cat approaches and sniffs the location
  • It then turns around and reverses up to the spray site
  • Whilst spraying the cat will paddle its feet
  • The tail will twitch and vibrate
  • The cat may have a glazed and vacant look on its face
  • The location may be sniffed and investigated before elimination
  • Urine or faeces are deposited whilst the cat is in a crouched position with slight back arching
  • Abnormal postures may be seen during elimination: urination whilst standing up, or when crouched with a greatly arched or flattened back is indicative of pain or dysuria. In extreme cases, cats may cry or run away from the area where they have eliminated, as if in pain
  • Unlike marking behaviour, there is no visual ‘display’ element to normal elimination
Deposit:
  • Small to medium volumes of urine, perhaps with a greasy or oily appearance
  • Intense odour, often musty
  • Dries to a yellow-brown colour, with a greasy appearance and occasionally containing crystals
  • Faeces (middening) are of normal appearance
  • Relatively large volumes of normal urine or faeces
Location:
  • Usually highly visible locations, where marks will be easily noticed
  • Most often urine is placed on vertical surfaces, but occasionally horizontal
  • Urine may be placed high up on the vertical object
  • Objects that heat up and cool down may attract spray marks (heaters, toasters, TV and audio equipment)
  • Bags, shoes and other objects that may carry foreign odours into the home may be targeted
  • Faeces (middening) are deposited, unburied, in open spaces where they will be most visible
  • Unless a particular location is excessively soiled and becomes objectionable to use, the cat will tend to use only a small number of latrine sites for elimination: one for urine and one for faeces
  • Latrines are usually in quiet locations where the cat will have some privacy when eliminating

Pattern of Deposition of Urine and Faeces (identified using a house plan)

As a situation progresses, the pattern of deposition of urine and faeces can become increasingly confusing so that it becomes very difficult to identify the originating cause unless the historical development of the pattern of the marking or elimination is recorded using a house plan. If the first urine marks were deposited close to external doors and windows, this suggests that the cat was responding to a threat from outside the home, such as a non-resident cat entering its territory. If the first urine marks were mostly deposited on furniture in rooms, around doorways, corridors or staircases, this suggests that source of stress is the relationship with resident cats. Cats will also spray mark on mirrors, and electrical items. The following table summaries common patters of urine deposition in problem situations.


Indoor Marking Inappropriate Elimination
Characteristic patterns in urine and faeces deposition:
  • Initial locations are around cat flap, external doors and windows: external threat from non-resident cat(s) in the resident cat's outdoor territory.
  • Initial locations are entry points to internal rooms, on landings and in corridors: internal conflict within home
  • Marking sites are initially at the cat flap, and expand into the house: potential home invasion by non-resident cat
  • Initial deposits on new items in the household, shoes or shopping bags: insecurity and reaction to unfamiliar odours that have been brought into the home on those items.
  • Single indoor toilet location or substrate (litter box available): location or substrate of litter tray is unsuitable, or cat may be afraid to use the litter tray
  • Single indoor toilet location or substrate (no litter box, cat previously used garden latrine): cat is unable to use outdoor latrine because it is unusable (e.g. waterlogged, frozen, or paved over), or inaccessible (e.g. cat is unwell, or a dog now inhabits garden where the latrine is sited), or it is defended by other cats as part of their territory (e.g. despotism)
  • Multiple indoor toilet locations and substrates: cat is unable to use a regular latrine due to conflict with other cats, aversive experiences during elimination (e.g. pain associated with FLUTD, or owner punishment)

The Relationship Between Resident Cats

Example of a diagram illustrating the relationships between cats within the same household

In situations of both marking and elimination behaviour within multi-cat households, the relationship between resident cats is often an underlying factor in problem expression. Competition between resident cats for access to constrained resources, such as food, a litter tray or an outdoor access point, leads to stress. Cats may use urine spray and claw marking in an attempt to organise access to space; trying to maintain temporal and spatial separation from one another. This is intolerable for owners, and is ultimately dysfunctional for the cats. Hostile encounters around the litter tray or an outdoor access point may force less confident and assertive cats to find other places to eliminate within the home. An assessment of the relationship between resident cats is therefore an important part of the investigation process.

Owners cannot be relied upon to assess the relationship between cats, because they frequently misinterpret feline communication and social relationships. For example, they may interpret all chasing behaviour as playful, and underestimate the significance of fights and aggressive vocalisations between cats. Most importantly, positive signs of stress and anxiety, such as the typical whining, agitation and restlessness observed in dogs, are very noticeable, but negative signs, such as the typical inhibition and reduced activity observed in cats, are often overlooked.

Within multi-cat households, there may also be "factions"; groups of cats that show affiliative behaviour with each other, but which are indifferent or hostile toward other resident cats. A simple way to evaluate the relationship between resident cats, and identify factions, is to create a diagram of affiliative and aggressive behaviours between them (see example). This can be annotated with information about changes in the relationship, such as after the death of one of the resident cats.

The names of the cats are written in a circle, and information about behavioural signs of the relationship between each pair of cats is added to the diagram. Positive affiliative behaviours include allorubbing and allogrooming, tail up and trilled greeting between cats. Overtly aggressive behaviours include chasing, hissing or spitting and physical attacks, as well as more passive threats such as staring eye contact, and threatening body or facial posture. Positive and negative interactions and their direction should be noted on the diagram (see example).

The diagram should indicate the general relationship between the cats, and whether there are factions within the group. In combination with information about where in the home the cats (or factions) tend to spend time, this diagram can provide useful information about where to place resources so that they are easily accessible by individual cats and factions. It can also provide an indication of social problems that may need to be resolved. Constructing the diagram with the owner also offers a valuable opportunity to explain feline communication and social organisation with the owner.

Identifying the Culprit

It is very important to properly identify the culprit(s) of the indoor housesoiling, particularly when treatment with psychoactive medication is being considered. It is common for more than one cat in a multi-cat household to be involved, particularly when the problem is indoor spray marking.

Identifying Cats Responsible Faecal Soiling

If faecal soiling is involved, then a small amount of indigestible material is added to each cat’s food for several days and the faeces are inspected. When added to the diet, crushed sweet corn or finely chopped raw carrot are both easily visible in faeces, and are unlikely to cause gastrointestinal problems.

Using Fluorescein to Identify Cats Responsible for Urine Marking or Elimination

When ingested, fluorescein dye is excreted intact in urine, and can be made to fluoresce using a UV lamp. This can be used to identify the cat responsible for leaving urine deposits. A dose of 50mg/cat once daily is given, which is equivalent to the amount of dye in the tips of six fluorescein test strips (commonly used for ulcer detection in ophthalmology)[3]. However, the fluorescence of fluorescein varies considerably with pH[4], so that it only strongly fluoresces in a neutral or alkaline solution; in an acidic solution it may hardly fluoresce at all. Spots may therefore need to be sprayed with a buffer solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which will produce a pH of around 8, before testing with a UV lamp.

  • Fluorescein is available as large sterile paper strips, for ophthalmic examination. These contain approximately 9 mg of fluorescein per strip, but this should be checked with the manufacturer.
  • The dye containing tips of six test strips are torn off and either rolled to fit into gelatine capsules, or chopped up and mixed with food.
  • This dose is given once daily for 1-3 days, depending on results.
  • Urine sites are checked daily for fluorescence with a UV lamp (now cheaply available for checking of paper currency).
  • If necessary, each site is lightly sprayed with an aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking powder; approximately 1 tablespoonful in 125ml water).
  • Leave 3 to 5 days between testing successive cats, to allow all of the dye to be excreted.

Although fluorescein is water-soluble and can usually be removed with normal cleaning, it can leave yellow stains on light coloured fabric, leather, carpets or wall paper. Owners must be warned of this, because considerable damage can result. In addition, it is best to start by dosing those cats which are believed least likely to be responsible for the urine deposits. Using this method it is possible to make an identification based on exclusion, and therefore avoid any dye contamination of the owner's home.

Use of Video Cameras

Most mobile devices have a video capability, and webcams are relatively cheap. Movement triggered apps and software enable the video function to be activated when a cat comes into range. If certain locations are regularly marked or soiled, movement triggered video recording can be used to identify the culprit. This can be particularly valuable when it is suspected that urine marks are being deposited by non-resident cats entering the home.

Cooperation Between Cat Owners

According to Pet Food Manufacturers Association data, the pet cat population in the UK more than doubled between 1965 and 2004, with an estimated 10-million cats being kept as pets in the UK (2010)[5]. This increase in population density may contribute to problems of intercat aggression, house soiling and indoor marking. In urban areas with high pet cat population densities, veterinary practices may need to encourage or organise cooperation between neighbours in a community in order to improve outdoor space for cats (for example, improving availability of outdoor latrine sites). Providing resident cats with access to a stimulating outdoor environment, with densely planted borders, trees, resting sites, and wildlife (birds and insects) improves their quality of life.

References

  1. Beaver, S. (1989) Housesoiling by cats: a retrospective study of 120 cases. "JAVMA". 25:631-637.
  2. Borchelt, P.L., Voith, V.L. (1986) Elimination behavior problems in cats. "Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet". 197-207, 1986.
  3. Neilson, J. (2003) Feline House Soiling: Elimination and Marking Behaviors. "Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice". 33(2):287-301.
  4. Sjoback, R., Nygren, J., Kubista, M. (1995) Absorption and fluorescence properties of fluorescein. "Spectrochimica Acta Part A". 52. 7-21.
  5. Murray, .K., Browne, W.J., Roberts, M.A., Whitmarsh, A. Gruffydd-Jones, T.J (2010) Number and ownership profiles of cats and dogs in the UK. "Veterinary Record". 166:163-168.


Also see:

Inappropriate Elimination - Cat
Indoor Marking - Cat



The creation of this content was made possible by Ceva Santé Animale as part of the feline behaviour project. Ceva logo.jpg


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