Inappropriate Urination in Cats

The two main reasons for behavioral consultation in cats are aggression and inappropriate urination, the second being by far the more common presentation for most veterinarians. Inappropriate urination problems are, in many cases, eventually successfully treated by the use of medical diagnostic techniques and drugs (in situations where a pathological urinary condition exists), but when a cat starts to urinate indoors the owner will often consult a behaviorist rather than an internal medicine veterinarian. Inappropriate urination in cats can be classified into one of three etiological groups.

The first group comprises healthy animals in which the problem is reactional. The second group comprises those whose urination problems are the consequences of psychological disorders. The third group comprises animals where the primary problem is due to urinary tract disease.

However, this classification draws lines that nature does not always respect; in practice these categories often overlap. The actions of the owners and their reactions to the cat’s urination behavior will often result in the emergence of a complex and multifactorial disease. Furthermore, the speed with which cats acquire habits complicates the etiological diagnosis of these urinary disorders. [...]

Key Points

• Feline inappropriate urination may be multifactorial; check for medical as well as behavioral causes
• Careful history taking is essential for accurate diagnosis
• Owners may unwittingly make the problem worse
• Treatment may be multifaceted and on-going