Feline Inappropriate Elimination

Cooper, Lilli

doi:10.1016/s0195-5616(97)50055-6

Cited by 22 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…For example, if the cat experiences pain while in the litter box, the cat may avoid using the box thereafter. 5 Horwitz 6 found that past history of urinary tract disorders was significantly associated with current inappropriate elimination behaviors in a retrospective study of 144 cats. Ideal litter box management should be considered in all periuria and perichezia cases, even when medical causation is identified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Litter box preference in domestic cats: covered versus uncovered

Grigg

Pick

Nibblett

2012

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

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Feline inappropriate elimination (periuria and/or perichezia) remains a very common behavioral complaint of cat owners. Treatment recommendations often include improving the attractiveness of the litter boxes available to the cat. One frequent recommendation is to avoid covered litter boxes, although this has not previously been tested experimentally. The goal of this study was to assess whether, all else being equal, cats preferentially used uncovered litter boxes over covered litter boxes. Twenty-eight cats were enrolled in the study and offered the choice of a covered or uncovered box. Waste was scooped daily from each box, and the weight of waste in the different box styles was compared and evaluated using paired t-tests and χ(2) analyses. Overall, there was no significant difference between use of the two box styles. Eight individual cats did exhibit a preference (four for covered, four for uncovered), but individual preference results are not evenly distributed, with more cats than expected showing no preference between litter box types. We postulate that, if boxes are kept sufficiently clean (ie, once daily minimum cleaning), most cats will not show a preference for either box type. The observation that a minority of cats in the study exhibited a preference supports the recommendation of providing individual cats with a 'cafeteria' of litter box styles, including a covered box, to determine whether such a preference exists. These findings add to existing literature on the topic of feline inappropriate elimination and provide additional information for clinicians recommending treatment options for cats exhibiting this behavior.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Litter box preference in domestic cats: covered versus uncovered

Grigg

Pick

Nibblett

2012

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

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“…Although deposition of urine on horizontal surfaces could have been marking behavior, the quantity seemed suggestive of true urination. 1 Substrate aversion was diagnosed because cat A avoided digging and scratching in the substrate in the litter box. [5][6][7] Urine spraying has been attributed to territorial marking, intraspecies aggression, stressful environmental changes, hormonal influences, high cat density, and medical problems.…”

Section: Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was recommended that at least 3 litter boxes be provided, 1,4,11 and that the owner monitor litter box activities. It was recommended that at least 3 litter boxes be provided, 1,4,11 and that the owner monitor litter box activities.…”

Section: Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…12 The litter preference trial was done by placing at least 2 litter boxes in the same location, each containing a different substrate. 1,4,8,10 Medications were selected on the basis of safety concerns and the owner' s desire for a rapid response because euthanasia was being considered. 7 For the urine spraying, it was recommended that cat A' s visual access to unfamiliar cats be restricted by covering windows, moving furniture away from windows, and using deterrents to keep outside cats away.…”

Section: Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7 For the urine spraying, it was recommended that cat A' s visual access to unfamiliar cats be restricted by covering windows, moving furniture away from windows, and using deterrents to keep outside cats away. 1,7,12 The owner was also advised that fatal hepatic disease had been identified in a small number of cats being treated with diazepam and that although not reported for alprazolam, hepatic disease was a possible risk. Soiled areas were cleaned with an enzymatic odor eliminator, and cat A' s access to these areas was somewhat restricted by closing doors and covering the couch with plastic.…”

Section: Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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