Elimination behavior patterns of domestic cats (Felis catus) with and without elimination behavior problems

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of litter box location as it relates to cats' use of space in the house, elimination problems, and certain behaviors associated with elimination. SAMPLE POPULATION: 40 cats in single-cat house-holds with or without elimination behavior problems (20 cats/group). PROCEDURES: Camcorders were used to record the cats' behaviors at the litter box and other areas in which they eliminated during a 72-hour period. Use of space in the house was recorded by direct observation during 400 minutes of the 72-hour period. Elimination behaviors and other cat- and litter box-associated variables were compared between groups; litter box location with respect to inappropriate elimination was assessed. RESULTS: Litter box location did not differ between cats with and without elimination behavior problems. An inverse correlation was found between time spent sniffing and the distance of the litter box from the central core area. Cats with elimination problems spent significantly less time digging at the litter box than cats without elimination problems. There was no significant difference in the time spent pawing in litter box, sniffing, or covering excreta after elimination between the 2 groups of cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Times spent digging in litter boxes by cats with and without elimination problems have been determined, and data suggest that actual digging times could be used as a means to test for litter preference and litter aversion. This information may also be used to identify cats with litter aversion prior to the development of an elimination problem.     

Litterbox size preference in domestic cats (Felis catus)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of healthy housebound domestic cats to the simultaneous provision of 2 litterboxes of differing sizes by recording the average daily frequency of urination and defecation in each box. Forty-three households with 74 privately owned cats were each provided with 2 different-sized plastic containers, with the larger box being 86 cm in length, exceeding the size of commercially available litterboxes. Owners were also provided with an unlimited supply of clumping cat litter and a logbook to record daily urine and fecal deposits in the boxes as they were scooped over a 4-week period. The 2 litterboxes were initially placed at opposite sides of the same room in the owner's home. After 2 weeks, the boxes were emptied completely, refilled with clean clumping litter, and replaced in the opposite location. Results were recorded as simple counts of urine and fecal deposits for each day and each household. Over the 28-day period, there were a total of 5031 urine and fecal deposits in the larger boxes and 3239 urine and fecal deposits in the regular boxes. The effects of phase (days 1-14 vs. 15-28) and box size (regular vs. large) on the number of deposits per cat were evaluated using a linear mixed model. In addition to evaluating phase and box size, the effects of number of cats in the house, their average age, and gender were also evaluated. Urine deposits were significantly more frequent than fecal deposits. Large boxes were preferentially selected over regular boxes in both phases, but this difference was greater in phase 1 than phase 2. Further analysis indicated that there was a location preference during the first 2 days in phase 2, and this effect decreased as the study progressed. Results indicate that most cats show a definite preference for a larger litterbox than is typically available to them in homes and that other factors such as box cleanliness and location may have a compounding influence on this choice.     

Advances in understanding and treatment of feline inappropriate elimination

Feline inappropriate elimination is the number one behavioral reason for relinquishment of cats to shelters and has historically been the most commonly reported feline problem addressed by behavior professionals. Veterinarians are hence challenged to uncover the underlying motivation for this behavior so that an accurate diagnosis can be made and an effective treatment plan implemented. Before a behavioral diagnosis can be made, underlying medical disease must be addressed, making a comprehensive physical evaluation imperative. After all medical issues have been addressed, a behavior diagnoses list is made based on detailed historical information obtained from the cat owner. A distinction is first established between marking and inappropriate toileting, according to elimination postures described by the owner and the social relevance of the sites of inappropriate eliminations. Next, inadequacies of the litter box management are identified and subsequent aversions and preferences, including litter box aversion, substrate aversion, location aversion, substrate preference, and location preference, can be diagnosed. The practitioner should be cognizant of the fact that anxiety from the environment and social conflict may play a major role in both marking and inappropriate toileting behaviors. Once both the medical and behavioral diagnoses are established, a treatment plan catered to the individual cat, owner, and household environment can be formulated. This should include acceptable forms of marking when indicated, appropriate litter box management and hygiene, reduction of environmental stressors, including resolution of social conflict in multicat households, proper treatment and restricted access to soiled areas, pheromone application, and, when indicated, anxiolytic drug therapy.     

Causes of urine marking in cats and effects of environmental management on frequency of marking.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of environmental management alone on marking frequency in cats with urine marking and to obtain demographic data on cats with urine marking and data on owner-perceived factors that contributed to urine marking behavior. DESIGN: Single-intervention study. ANIMALS: 40 neutered male and 7 spayed female cats. PROCEDURE: During a 2-week baseline phase, owners maintained a daily record of the number of urine marks. This phase was followed by a 2-week environmental management phase during which owners cleaned recently deposited urine marks daily, scooped waste from the litter box daily, and changed the litter and cleaned the litter box weekly while continuing to record urine marks. RESULTS: Male cats and cats from multicat households were significantly overrepresented, compared with the general pet cat population in California. The most commonly mentioned causative factors for urine marking were agonistic interactions with other cats outside or inside the home. Environmental management procedures resulted in an overall reduction in urine marking frequency. Among cats that marked > or = 6 times during the baseline phase, females were significantly more likely to respond to treatment (> or = 50% reduction in marking frequency) than were males. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that male cats and cats from multicat households are more likely to exhibit urine marking behavior than females and cats from single-cat households. Results also suggest that attention to environmental and litter box hygiene can reduce marking frequency in cats, regardless of sex or household status of the cats, and may come close to resolving the marking problem in some cats.     

Vomeronasal organ lesion disrupts social odor recognition,behaviors and fitness in golden hamsters

Most studies support the viewpoint that the vomeronasal organ has a profound effect on conspecific odor recognition, scent marking and mating behavior in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). However, the role of the vomeronasal organ in social odor recognition, social interaction and fitness is not well understood. Therefore, we conducted a series of behavioral and physiological tests to examine the referred points in golden hamster. We found that male hamsters with vomeronasal organ lesion showed no preference between a predator odor (the anal gland secretion of the Siberian weasels (Mustela sibirica) and putative female pheromone components (myristic acid and palmitic acid), but were still able to discriminate between these 2 kinds of odors. In behavioral tests of anxiety, we found that vomeronasal organ removal causes female hamsters to spend much less time in center grids and to cross fewer center grids and males to make fewer crossings between light and dark boxes than sham‐operated controls. This indicates that a chronic vomeronasal organ lesion induced anxious responses in females. In aggressive behavioral tests, we found that a chronic vomeronasal organ lesion decreased agonistic behavior in female hamsters but not in males. The pup growth and litter size show no differences between the 2 groups. All together, our data suggested that vomeronasal organ ablation disrupted the olfactory recognition of social chemosignals in males, and induced anxiety‐like and aggressive behavior changes in females. However, a vomeronasal organ lesion did not affect the reproductive capacity and fitness of hamsters. Our studies may have important implications concerning the role of the vomeronasal organ in golden hamsters and also in rodents.     

Effects of a synthetic facial pheromone on behavior of cats

OBJECTIVE: TO evaluate the effects of a synthetic feline facial pheromone (FFP) on behavior and food intake of healthy versus clinically ill cats. DESIGN: Original study. ANIMALS: 20 cats were used in each of 2 studies. In each study, 7 cats were considered healthy, and 13 cats were determined to be clinically ill. PROCEDURE: In study 1, cats were assigned either to exposure to FFP (treated group; 4 healthy, 6 ill cats) or to exposure to the vehicle (70% ethanol solution; control group; 3 healthy, 7 ill cats). Cats were placed in a cage containing a small cotton towel that had been sprayed with FFP or vehicle 30 minutes previously. Cats were then videotaped for 125 minutes, and food intake was measured during this period. Videotapes were scored at 5-minute intervals for various behaviors. In study 2, cats were categorized in 1 of 2 groups; group 1 (2 healthy, 8 ill cats) had a cat carrier placed in their cages, and group 2 (5 healthy, 5 ill cats) did not. All cats were exposed to FFP, and 24-hour food intake was measured. RESULTS: Differences between behaviors of healthy versus clinically ill cats were not identified. In the first study, significant increases in grooming and interest in food were found in cats exposed to FFP compared with vehicle. For all cats, significant positive correlations were detected between grooming and facial rubbing, walking and facial rubbing, interest in food and facial rubbing, eating and facial rubbing, grooming and interest in food, and grooming and eating. In the second study, 24-hour food intake was significantly greater in cats exposed to FFP and the cat carrier, compared with cats exposed to FFP alone. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that exposure to FFP may be useful to increase food intake of hospitalized cats.     

Lumbosacral intervertebral disk disease in six cats

Medical records of six cats diagnosed with lumbosacral intervertebral disk disease were reviewed. Clinical signs included reluctance to jump, low tail carriage, elimination outside the litter box, reluctance to ambulate, pelvic-limb paresis, urinary incontinence, and constipation. All cats had lumbosacral hyperpathia on palpation. Computed tomography in four cats revealed evidence of extradural spinal cord compression at the seventh lumbar (L(7)) to first sacral (S(1)) vertebral interspace. Compression was confirmed via myelography in three of these four cats, with confirmation in the fourth cat at the time of decompressive laminectomy. Each of the six cats underwent dorsal decompressive laminectomy at the L(7) to S(1) interspace. Postoperative clinical follow-up lasted 3 to 35 months, with most cats having excellent outcomes.     

Erythrocyte macrocytosis in feline leukemia virus associated anemia

Using erythrocyte volume distribution histograms (erythrograms), erythrocyte macrocytosis and anisocytosis were quantitated in 139 cats tested for feline leukemia virus group-specific antigen. Feline leukemia virus-negative cats with non-regenerative anemia or normal packed cell volumes had normal mean corpuscular volume values. Uninfected cats with regenerative anemia had prominent significantly increased macrocytosis and anisocytosis (p less than 0.01). Ninety percent of 62 feline leukemia virus-positive cats had altered erythrograms. Thirty-three feline leukemia virus-positive cats with non-regenerative anemia had marked macrocytosis. Their mean corpuscular volume values (mean 60 fl +/- 2 fl standard error, reference range of 37-49 fl) were significantly greater than those of feline leukemia virus-negative cats except for those with regenerative anemia. Feline leukemia virus-positive, non-anemic cats had significantly increased mean corpuscular volume values of intermediate magnitude. Nine adult cats experimentally infected with feline leukemia virus developed non-regenerative anemia with significant increases in mean corpuscular volume and anisocytosis. However, the macrocytosis observed in these cats was considerably less than in naturally occurring feline leukemia virus-positive cats with non-regenerative anemia. These observations indicate there are events in the pathogenesis of feline leukemia virus-associated anemia other than simple erythroid hypoplasia. We suggest that hemolysis and erythrocyte regeneration occur before erythroid hypoplasia and may partially account for macrocytosis observed in the face of non-regenerative anemia.     

Factors relating to urine spraying and fighting in prepubertally gonadectomized cats

The fact that male cats are routinely castrated prior to full sexual maturity for behavioral reasons prompted a survey of the prevalence of these behaviors in prepubertally gonadectomized male and female cats. About 10% of the 134 male and 5% of the 152 female cats studied engaged in spraying on a frequent basis later in adult life. Problem spraying and fighting in males was of the same order of magnitude as in males castrated in adulthood after the problem behaviors had appeared. The age of prepubertal castration, ranging from 6 to 10 months, had no influence on spraying or fighting later in life. It was found that male cats are more likely to spray and fight if they are in households with female cats than with other male cats. With regard to female cats, spraying or fighting was less than that of male cats. Age at the time of gonadectomy was not a factor in their tendency to spray or fight. Possible prenatal masculinization of female fetuses by male fetuses, as revealed by littermate composition, was not a factor in the predisposition of female cats to spray or fight.     

Flow cytometric detection of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein on feline circulating leucocytes

To assess whether alpha‐1‐acid glycoprotein (AGP) can be detected on the membrane of feline circulating leucocytes. Design The presence of AGP on circulating leucocytes was investigated in both clinically healthy cats and cats with different diseases. A group of feline coronavirus (FCoV)‐positive cats, comprising cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and cats not affected by FIP but seropositive for FCoV, were included in this study because the serum concentration of AGP increases during FCoV infection. Procedure Flow cytometry (using an anti‐feline AGP antibody), serum protein electrophoresis, routine haematology and measurement of the serum AGP concentration were performed using blood samples from 32 healthy cats (19 FCoV‐seropositive), 13 cats with FIP and 12 with other diseases (6 FCoV‐seropositive). The proportion of cats with AGP‐positive leucocytes in the different groups (e.g. controls vs sick; FIP vs other diseases, etc.) or in cats with different intensities of inflammatory response was compared using a Chi‐square test. Results AGP‐positive leucocytes were found in 23% of cats. Compared with controls, the proportion of patients with positive granulocytes and monocytes was higher among sick cats (especially cats with diseases other than FIP) and cats with high serum AGP concentration, but not in cats with leucocytosis or that were FCoV‐seropositive. Conclusion AGP‐positive leucocytes can be found in feline blood, especially during inflammation. Conversely, no association between AGP‐positive leucocytes and FIP was found. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism responsible for this finding and its diagnostic role in cats with inflammation.     

Changes in concentrations of serum amyloid A protein, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin, and C-reactive protein in feline sera due to induced inflammation and surgery

To identify candidates for feline acute phase proteins, the concentrations of serum amyloid A protein (SAA), alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AG), C-reactive protein (CRP), and haptoglobin (Hp) were measured in sera isolated from clinically normal and hospitalized (or diseased) cats, from cats with experimentally induced inflammation, and cats subjected to surgery for urinary diversion. Measurements were made by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and single radial immunodiffusion. The concentrations of SAA, alpha 1-AG, and Hp in sera from hospitalized cats were 7-11 times higher than in clinically normal cats. Similar results were obtained for the concentrations of SAA, alpha 1-AG, and Hp in cats with induced inflammation and cats subjected to surgery. By contrast, the serum concentration of feline CRP did not change significantly between clinically normal cats and hospitalized cats or inflammation-induced or post-surgery cats. Feline SAA concentration was found to increase earliest, with alpha 1-AG and Hp beginning to increase thereafter. From these results, feline SAA is concluded to be an acute phase reactant at the early stage of inflammation.     

Overweight and the feline gut microbiome – a pilot study

Compared with lean humans, the gut microbiota is altered in the obese. Whether these changes are due to an obesogenic diet, and whether the microbiota contributes to adiposity is currently discussed. In the cat population, where obesity is also prevalent, gut microbiome changes associated with obesity have not been studied. Consequently, the aim of this study was to compare the gut microbiota of lean cats, with that of overweight and obese cats. Seventy‐seven rescue‐shelter cats housed for ≥3 consecutive days were included in the study. Faecal samples were obtained by rectal swab and, when available, by a paired litter box sample. Body condition was assessed using a 9‐point scoring system. DNA was extracted, and the 16S rRNA gene was amplified with a high‐throughput quantitative real‐time PCR chip. Overweight and obese cats had a significantly different gut microbiota compared to lean cats (p < 0.05), but this finding could not be linked to differences in specific bacterial groups. The rectal samples obtained higher DNA concentration than litter box samples (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, overweight and obese cats seem to have an altered gut microbiome as compared to lean cats.     

A retrospective evaluation of lomustine (CeeNU) in 32 treatment naïve cats with intermediate to large cell gastrointestinal lymphoma (2006–2013)

Multi‐drug chemotherapy protocols for feline lymphoma have demonstrated variable efficacy and tolerability. In phase I trials, lomustine has demonstrated efficacy for cats with lymphoma though its use for treatment naïve feline intermediate/large cell gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma remains unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of lomustine for the treatment of feline GI lymphoma. Thirty‐two cats with histologically or cytologically confirmed intermediate/large cell GI lymphoma were evaluated retrospectively. Factors assessed included clinical signs, hematologic/biochemical parameters and use of l ‐asparaginase at induction. A response rate of 50% (16/32), with median duration of response of 302 days (range 64–1450 days), was found. Median progression‐free interval was 132 days (range 31–1450 days), with overall median survival time of 108 days (range 4–1488 days). History of hyporexia, presence of anaemia and dose of lomustine were significantly associated with progression‐free survival. Overall, lomustine is a well‐tolerated and effective treatment for feline GI lymphoma.     

Prevalence of Feline Chlamydia psittaci and Feline Herpesvirus 1 in Cats with Upper Respiratory Tract Disease

The epidemiology of feline chlamydiosis and feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV1) infection in cats was determined using a duplex polymerase chain reaction assay. In cats with upper respiratory tract disease (URTD), prevalences of 66 (14.3%) of 462 cats and 98 (21.2%) of 462 cats were found for Chlamydia psittaci and FHV1, respectively. In cats without URTD, prevalences were 1/87 (1.1%) for both pathogens. Younger cats, cats sampled in summer, and cats with conjunctivitis were more likely to be positive for C psittaci than were cats sampled in other seasons and cats without conjunctivitis. Cats with recent contact with cats outside the household, cats with acute disease, and sneezing cats were more likely to be positive for FHV1 than were cats that had not had recent contact with cats outside the household, cats with chronic disease, and cats that were not sneezing. Purebred cats were less likely to be positive for FHV1 than were mixed breed cats and prevalence varied with year of sampling. Coinfection with both pathogens was lower than would be expected from their respective prevalences. Vaccinated cats were equally likely to be positive for FHV1 as unvaccinated cats. In sneezing cats FHV1 was more likely to be detected than C psittaci, particularly in acute cases, and when sneezing was not accompanied by conjunctivitis. Cats with reproductive disease concurrent with URTD were more likely to be infected with FHV1 than with C psittaci. Thus, the factors that should be considered in clinical diagnoses of C psittaci infections are the presence of conjunctivitis, age, and season, whereas contact with other cats, acute disease, and sneezing should be considered in diagnoses of FHV1 infection.     

Feline bronchopulmonary disease.

This author is aware that not all cats fit so neatly into these subcategories. It is hoped, however, that through increased awareness of the differences between cats with bronchopulmonary disease, we can begin to focus and refine our diagnostic and therapeutic efforts and more accurately predict the prognosis of individual cats. The pulmonary functional changes in the cats presented here lend credence to the clinical use of these airway disease subtypes. However, relative to human disease syndromes, our current understanding of feline bronchopulmonary disease is in its infancy. One can only speculate as to why these cats developed airway inflammation in the first place. Constant exposure to dust through litter use or upper respiratory tract infections, seem to be likely causes. But, why do only certain cats become clinically ill when all cats are potentially exposed to similar conditions? Owing to the diversity of disease present in these cats, it is likely that multiple etiologies are involved. Alpha 1-antiprotease deficiency, for example, is a known genetic defect associated with the development of panacinar emphysema in homozygous humans. It is conceivable that similar genetic defects could be present in individual cats of the Siamese breed, as this breed is overrepresented in this syndrome and some of these cats appear to follow a progressive disease course.     

Assessment of feline abdominal adipose tissue using computed tomography

Obesity is a common nutritional disorder in cats and it increases the risk factors for various diseases. The aim of this study is to suggest a method for the evaluation of feline obesity using computed tomography. The attenuation range from -156 to -106 was determined as the range of feline abdominal adipose tissue. With this range, total (TAT), visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues were measured. The best correlation between the adipose tissue in cross-sectional image and entire abdomen volume was obtained at the L3 and L5 levels. The mean VAT/SAT ratio was 1.18±0.32, which was much higher than in humans. The cats with an overweight body condition had a significantly lower VAT/SAT ratio than cats with an ideal body condition. This technique may contribute to both the clinical diagnosis and the experimental study of feline obesity.     

Tumor necrosis factor alpha levels in cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus: effects of immunization and feline leukemia virus infection.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by cell culture bioassay in supernatants of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated feline monocyte cultures and in cat serum samples. There was a good correlation between the results obtained by the two methods. From the fact that TNF alpha was neutralized quantitatively by antibodies to human TNF alpha in feline monocyte supernatants and in feline sera, it was concluded that feline TNF alpha immunologically cross-reacts with human TNF alpha and that the human TNF alpha ELISA can be used to quantitate feline TNF alpha. During the first 6 months after experimental feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection no differences in serum TNF alpha values were observed between infected and non-infected cats. TNF alpha levels increased significantly after primary vaccination with a feline leukemia virus (FeLV) vaccine in FIV infected cats over those in the non-infected controls. During secondary immune response TNF alpha levels rose transiently for a period of a few days in both the FIV positive and the FIV negative cats. After FeLV challenge, TNF alpha levels increased in all animals challenged with virulent FeLV for a period of 3 weeks. This period corresponded to the time necessary to develop persistent FeLV viremia in the control cats. It was concluded from these experiments that in the asymptomatic phase of FIV infection no increased levels of TNF alpha are present, similar to the situation in asymptomatic HIV infected humans. Activation of monocytes/macrophages in FIV infected cats by stimuli such as vaccination or FeLV challenge readily leads to increased levels of TNF alpha.     

The use of a T-maze to measure cognitive–motor function in cats (Felis catus)

Few tests have been developed to evaluate the cognitive and motor capabilities of domestic cats, despite the suitability of cats for specific studies of neuroanatomy, infectious diseases, development, aging, and behavior. The present study evaluated a T-maze apparatus as a sensitive and reliable measure of cognition and motor function in cats. Eighteen purpose-bred, specific pathogen-free, male, neutered domestic short-haired cats (Felis catus), 1-2 years of age, were trained and tested to a T-maze protocol using food rewards. The test protocol consisted of positional discrimination training (left arm or right arm) to reach a predetermined criterion, followed by 2 discrimination reversal tests. The 2 reversal tests documented the ability of the subjects to respond to a new reward location by switching arms of the T-maze. Data were collected on side preference, number of correct responses, and latency of the responses by the subjects. Aided by a customized computer program (CanCog Technologies), data were recorded electronically as each cat progressed from the start box to the reward arm. The protocol facilitated rapid training to a high and consistent level of performance during the discrimination training. This learning was associated with a decrease in the latency to traverse the maze to a mean of 4.80 ± 0.87 seconds, indicating strong motivation and consistent performance. When the rewarded side was reversed in the test phase, the cats required more trials to reach the criterion, as expected, but again showed reliable learning. The latency to the reward in the first session of reversal increased 86% from the first to the last trial, indicating that it may provide a useful index of cognitive processing. Latencies subsequently decreased as the new reversal paradigm was learned. This paradigm provides a relatively rapid and reliable test of cognitive–motor performance that can be used in various settings for the evaluation of feline cognitive and motor function.