Cat urination question

Re: Cat urination question

Dove — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:09:24 GMT

This is why I say it is a stress response but this one doesn't agree.

Re: Cat urination question

Fuzzyduck — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:00:05 GMT

It sounds like the same behaviour my grandmothers cat did at her previous home, she used to urinate on the front door mat, not spray just squat and urinate, it was discovered to be a stress response to a new dog being brought in to the home.

The cat was rehomed to my grandmother as the owner couldnt put up with the cats urination and wanted to keep the dog more than the cat, she never did anything like it again once at her new home with my gran.

Re: Cat urination question

Dove — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:51:14 GMT

Ok, so in my reply I copied and pasted the FAB text and this was her reply

However, as the cat has been caught in the act and isn't marking - ie isn't standing with tail erect and quivering this isn't a marking behaviour. It could well have a stress element, in that the cat finds the current location of the litter tray aversive, hence the litter box preference testing. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that the cat has a UTI, though - and a vet check up is first on my list.

Would you like me to paste in all my lecture notes from my MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour and the differentials between the two issues?

?confident, heh?

Re: Cat urination question

Dove — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:03:04 GMT

Thank you, you knew when you begin to doubt yourself? This person is non veterinary trained but is under going her masters and comes across as very confident in her advice, although I think her main interest is dog behaviour.

The reply she gave didn't match the Sarah Heath lectures I've attended.

That info is really useful.

Re: Cat urination question

Claire Cameron — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:34:43 GMT

I'd be inclined to disagree, I have seen horizontal urinating as a result of stressful stimuli.

The following is from my FAB coursenotes for Advanced Award in Feline Friendly Nursing

"Urine marking, as mentioned previously, is not just a sexual behaviour and it often happens when a cat feels threatened. This may be a response to a new cat or some changes in their environment that they find challenging. Marking is not necessarily on vertical objects and the volume of urine can be just as great as when going to the toilet, so it's important not to assume that the problem is necessarily associated with elimination; it might be related to another stressful situation"

The following is copied from my bosses website on cat behaviour

http://www.purrfectcatbehavior.com/inappropriate_urination.html

Inappropriate urination can consist of
Urine pooling in areas other than the litter tray or urine spraying onto vertical surfaces, people and possessions.
To urinate the cat squats and deposits a volume of urine on a horizontal surface. Common sites for inappropriate urination include carpet, settees, duvets, baths or sinks
To spray urine the cat stands up, usually making a treading motion with its back feet, quivers its tail and a small amount of urine is sprayed backwards onto a vertical surface such as a wall, leaving an obvious scent mark. Common sites for spraying include doors, windows, around cat flaps, curtains, electrical equipment and shopping or rubbish bags.
Once it has been ascertained which of the two the cat is doing it is necessary to take action to resolve the behaviour.