Feline house-soiling problems

Failure to use the litter box or house soiling is a common feline behavior problem, accounting for 59 of 100 cases of feline behavior problems presented to the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Of the 59 cases, 19 (32%) of all house soilings were urine spraying, 19 (32%) urinating, 10 (17%) defecation and 11 (19%) were urination and defecation. Many factors appear to contribute to house soiling, including environmental and social stress, medical problems, in particular feline urological syndrome, and individual cats' idiosyncratic preferences for elimination sites. Twenty-four percent of cats had been unsuccessfully treated with progestins by the referring veterinarians. Treatment of inappropriate elimination behavior may involve treatment of medical problems, elimination of stress factors, increasing the attractiveness of the litter box and drug therapy. Results of the therapies suggested to owners were: 22% cured; 37% improved; 10% no change; 27% lost to follow-up. Therapies included recommendations to change the litter daily, to add more litter boxes, to cease punishing the cat, to have the cat neutered and prescription of progestins.