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Inappropriate
Urination.
The most common behavior made to veterinarians, feline housesoiling can
be divided into those eliminating outside the litterbox, and those related
to marking behavior. In ALL cases it is imperative that medical causes
be eliminated before proceeding to behavior therapy! General history should
explore changes in eating, drinking or activity patterns. Appropriate
screening tests should be performed. For urine related problems, a urina
lysis
(including specific gravity and sediment analysis) is the minimum data
base. A complete blood count with differential and serum biochemistry
should be performed as a screen on any cat with suspicious findings on
physical examination. Inappropriate urination may be associated with a
number of medical conditions! If you are not willing to pursue medical
diagnosis first, you may well be wasting your time with behavioral inter
ventions!
Inappropriate urination occurs on horizontal surfaces outside of the lit
terbox
and may be present in individuals of any age breed or sex. Often the loc
ation
is in the vicinity of the litterbox, just not in it. Remote, private spa
ces
may be favored (behind a piece of furniture). There may be specific subs
tance
preference (house plants, area rugs).
One common cause of inappropriate urination is dissatisfaction with some
quality of the litterbox, including insufficient cleaning. Another facto
r
may be the social relationship with other cats in the household. Evaluat
ing
both of these requires a systematic approach of determining what the cat
prefers. This approach includes providing litter boxes of different type
s,
using different types of litter, and experimenting with different locati
ons
for the box. It is helpful to keep a chart and give each change at least
a week before determining it is or is not successful. Many cats don't
like covered litter boxes, particularly if they feel threatened by someo
ne
or something in the environment. Location is key - make sure the box is
not in a dark corner, scary location (near loud washing machine for exam
ple)
or where the cat feels there is no privacy. Many cats hate the pan liner
s
- try not using them. Some cats have a preference for clumping over clay
or vice versa, many are bothered by the perfumes put into some litter.
A clean litter box is a must; cleaning at least once a day is often nece
ssary.
In a multicat household, one box per cat plus one extra is recommended,
with differing locations for the boxes.
Fecal housesoiling:
Again - a fecal examination should be performed to rule out medical conc
erns
- constipation, diarrhea and internal parasites. Discomfort associated
with the litterbox may cause the cat to search for alternate places to
eliminate.
Recommendations
Environmental - Litterbox. Scoop daily. Clean thoroughly once a
week. Do not use scented cleaners or deodorants near the litterbox. Prov
ide
one box per cat plus one, and distribute them. Be sure litterbox not in
high traffic or high noise area. Move food bowls away from the litterbox
.
Provide both covered and uncovered box options. Offer a variety of litte
r.
Do not use a liner as odor of plastic may be objectionable.
Inappropriate elimination sites - Place an alternate litterbox
over the sites of accidents. Once the box is being used regularly, move
it slowly several inches a day to a site more acceptable. Use deterrents
at the site of elimination. Aluminum foil, plastic sheeting or odor dete
rrents
such as citrus spray. Pine cones may be placed at the base of houseplant
s
to physically deter elimination.
General management - for long-standing problems it may be necessa
ry
to confine the cat to a small room remote from the sites of housesoiling
.
Provide the cat with litterbox, food and water. When regular litterbox
use is achieved or when cat is well supervised, it can be let out of the
room for increasing periods of time. Clean all inappropriate sites with
an enzymatic cleaner. Use a citrus deodorant spray or doublesided tape
to discourage the cat from visiting problem areas. Use an electronic sou
nd
alarm or electronic mat to deter a cat from an area where eliminations
occur.
Behavior Modification - Positive reinforcement - reward the cat
with a favorite treat for use of the litterbox. Punishment is rarely eff
ective
as it must follow within one second of the offensive behavior. Rubbing
the cat's nose in the elimination product is not effective. Punishment
associated with sounds or movements by the owner (as reaching for a spra
y
bottle) may condition the cat to avoid the owner. Counterconditioning
may be used by feeding or playing with the cat at inappropriate eliminat
ion
sites.
Feline Leukemia Virus
What is it? FeLV may
well be the most common cause of serious illness and death among domesti
c
cats. FeLV causes cancer and attacks the immune system, making affected
cats susceptible to many diseases they otherwise might be able to fight
off. It is not contagious to humans or to other species.
How is it transmitted? FeLV is transmitted via saliva, mucus, uri
ne,
feces and blood. Mutual grooming and biting are the most likely means
of transmission. Transmission via sneezing, hissing, sharing food and
water bowls and sharing litter boxes is also possible. FeLV can also be
transmitted from queen to kittens, however, with a FeLV+ mom only some
kittens may become infected. Kittens may also convert from a positive
test result to a negative one if they are able to mount a sufficient imm
une
response. Testing may also miss infections in very young kittens, so rep
eated
testing is recommended when they are older. The virus does not live long
outside an infected cat. Warm, dry environments will deactivate the viru
s,
and common household detergents and disinfectants can quickly eliminate
it from any contact surfaces.
What does the virus do? Once inside the cat's system, usually ent
ering
through the mucous membranes, FeLV reproduces in the tonsils and lymphoi
d
tissues. Some cats are able to mount a sufficient immune response agains
t
it and defeat the virus at this stage. If not, then the virus moves into
the bone marrow.
FeLV infection is global in occurrence, with prevalence rates varying
by location. The best means of preventing this disease is by preventing
exposure to FeLV + cats.
Testing - The ELISA test is recognized as the preferred screening
test for FeLV. The IFA (indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test is more
appropriate as a confirmatory test for FeLV. After screening by an ELISA
test, a positive test result should be repeated
Vaccination - A vaccine for FeLV became available in 1985. A two
dose series followed by annual boosters, there is variable efficacy amon
g
products. Vaccination does not affect the carrier state or the developme
nt
of disease in cats with existing infection, so all cats should be tested
prior to receiving the vaccine.
Signs & Symptoms - Anemia, a lack of pink or red color in the gum
s.
Weight loss. Recurring or chronic Illness. "Fading kitten syndrome" duri
ng
which a kitten becomes progressively weaker. A cat syndrome similar to
distemper - lethargy, fever and diarrhea. Persistent or recurring fevers
,
infections or chronic illness, breathing difficulty or rapid breathing.
Jaundice, a yellow color in the mouth or the white of the eyes. (These
symptoms can also be associated with many other diseases. Pls see your
veterinarian for further information).
FeLV positive cats may live for months or even years. Effective FeLV man
agement
involves preserving the health of the infected cat, preventing the sprea
d
of the infection, and early recognition and aggressive treatment of FeLV
associated disease.
FIV - Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus is in the same family o
f viruses as FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). They are both retroviruses. But the s
ubfamily of FIV is different: It is a lentivirus (or "slow virus"). The other fa
miliar lentivirus to all of us is HIV, which causes AIDS in humans. So, humans a
re not alone in having a virus that affects the immune system.
FIV is not limited to domestic (house) cats but can be found in the big cats as
well. 84 percent of Serengeti lions harbor FIV and the virus has been identified
in 25 species of cats around the globe from cougars in Wyoming to snow leopards
in the Himalayas. It appears that felines have gradually developed the ability
to live with the FIV virus for long periods of time.
FIV is a cat-only disease. This immunodeficiency virus (like all immunodeficienc
y viruses) is very species specific - so specific, in fact, that the virus domes
tic cats have is different from the kind the big cats have.
Don't worry, humans CANNOT catch FIV from a cat that has it.
Casual, nonaggressive contact among cats does not appear to be an efficient rout
e of spreading FIV. Casual includes sharing litter boxes, water and food bowls o
r snuggling and playing. It is even unlikely for an FIV mother to give FIV to he
r kittens. Feline immunodeficiency virus is fairly unstable outside the cat and
will not survive for more than a few hours in most environments.
No vaccine against FIV is available. Owners can protect their cats only by prev
enting them from contacting infected cats. Pets kept indoors and away from free-
roaming cats are highly unlikely to contract FIV infection. Ideally, catteries,
rescues and multiple-cat households should test all their cats and remove any th
at are infected. Once FIV-negative status of resident cats has been established,
all prospective feline newcomers should be tested for FIV antibodies, and only
FIV-negative animals should be brought into the household or cattery. A quaranti
ne period of about 8 weeks to 12 weeks, followed by a repeat test, is recommende
d for a cat with an uncertain history of exposure to the virus, such as a stray
cat.
Of course, there are all kinds of contagins out there that we all come into cont
act with every day, the common cold virus is just one example. As a precaution w
hen you are sharing equipment with a cat that has unknown history, say a stray y
ou are helping or a cat you are helping to transport, you should thoroughly clea
n and disinfect or replace food and water dishes, bedding, litter pans, toys and
carriers. A dilute solution of household bleach (4 oz. bleach in 1 gal. water)
makes an excellent disinfectant.
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