Page 2749 - Cote clinical veterinary advisor dogs and cats 4th

1430.e2 Inappropriate Elimination, Cat

Inappropriate Elimination, Cat
VetBooks.ir Inappropriate or undesirable urination

Obtain a complete history.
• Signalment (age, sex, repro) • Litter box history—cont’d:
• Indoor/outdoor status (behavioral issues - Type(s) of litter (recommended soft)
more common in indoor cats) - Liners? (do not use)
• Age at neutering (role for learned marking - Frequency of scooping (at least daily)
behaviors) - Frequency of dumping and fully changing
• Previous behavioral and medical problems (every other day)
(focus on urinary tract–associated - Frequency of topping off (daily)
conditions) - Frequency of washing box (every week)
• Diet (consistency and type) - Frequency of replacing box (every 1 to
• Any history of trauma (anatomic concerns)? 6 months)
• Description of complaint (obtain video) - Deodorants? (do not use)
• Dysuria or pollakiuria (medical concerns) - Are odor eliminators used anywhere?
• Number of animals in the household (check What types? How frequent? (Enzymatic
for social stability) and those affecting molecular weight of
• Litter box history: aerosolizable compounds are best.)
- Number of boxes
(number of cats + 1 = minimum)
- Type (e.g., covered versus uncovered,
deep versus shallow, manual versus
automatic, large [preferred] versus small)

Ensure, emphasize, and/or implement No Stranguria, hematuria,
excellent litter box hygiene while laboratory pain on urination
tests are being run or while the client
agrees to have them done.
Yes
Resolved Unresolved

File laboratory data for future reference, and Continue with diagnostics.
emphasize the importance of good litter
box hygiene and the potential effects of
changes in social systems (e.g., the
addition of new cats).

Some parts are adapted from Overall KL,
Labato M, 2006.

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