Inappropriate Elimination (Feline)

Inappropriate elimination is the most prevalent behavior problem in cats, with a reported 10% of all cats engaging in inappropriate elimination at some point in their lives. Approximately 30% of these cats are urine marking, which should not be considered a litter box problem. Most litter box usage disorders are indicative of an aversion to the box or area surrounding the box, a substrate or location preference for elimination, or litter box conflict with other cats in the home.

Common name: Litter box problems
Scientific name: Litter box problems

Diagnosis

Signalment
There is no reported age, gender or breed predilection toward inappropriate elimination in cases other than urine marking. Urine marking is more likely to be displayed by male cats and cats from multi-cat households than by females or cats from single-cat households.

Incidence/prevalence
Ten percent of all cats will engage in inappropriate elimination at some point in their lives. A reported 50% and 59% of all feline behavior problem cases presented to behavioral counseling centers involve inappropriate elimination, and it is estimated that between 40% and 75% of cats exhibiting undesired behavior have an elimination disorder.

Geographic distribution
The is no geographic predilection for feline inappropriate elimination.

Clinical signs (primary, most to least frequent, scientific term, synonyms)
Urine and feces deposits outside of litter box.

Clinical signs (secondary, most to least frequent, scientific term, synonyms)
Under certain circumstances, avoidance of other aggressive, assertive or overly playful cats in household.

Causes (scientific, common term)
Inadequate litter box management, Substrate preference, Litter preference/aversion, Location preference/aversion, Inability to use litter box, Negative litter box association, Household stress, Multi-cat household conflict.

Organ system affected
Central nervous system, Digestive system.

Diagnostic tests
Thorough medical work-up, Observation of expression and context of behavior.

Differential Diagnosis
Urinary tract infection, Kidney stones, blockage, Feline interstitial cystitis, Urine marking (i.e., the cat eliminates in the litter box but also deposits urine in other locations, often in small quantities. Characteristic posturing during marking includes erect body carriage with tail extended vertically positioned so that urine spray is directed at a vertical object).

Overview

Inappropriate elimination is the most prevalent behavior problem in cats, with a reported 10% of all cats engaging in inappropriate elimination at some point in their lives.

Approximately 30% of these cats are urine marking. Most non-marking eliminations outside of the litter box result from active avoidance of the litter, the litter box itself or the location of the box. Avoidance may be effected by a dislike for litter type, texture, consistency, depth or scent, litter pan size or shape, pan type or pan placement and cleanliness and odor of the box; it might develop following some aversive event that the cat associates with the box; it also can be a result of conflict between cats in the home as well as an insufficient number of boxes for the number of cats.

Aversions to litter, box type or box placement can be effected by association with any unpleasant occurrence such as pain during elimination, unpleasant or frightening stimuli during elimination or in proximity to the box, or intimidation by another cat when near or in the box. Cats can also develop substrate and location preferences secondary to avoidance behavior, and will then continue to eliminate in or on a now preferred area or substrate outside the box even after the original reason for avoidance has been corrected.

Cats like a clean large box with easy entry and no cover or liner. Cats prefer the type of litter they used as a kitten or unscented clumping litter filled to a low to moderate level. Place the box in a quiet area, with adequate view to see if other cats are approaching with more than one route of exit. Boxes should not be placed adjacent to the cat's eating areas.

Treatment

Home Care
Treatment begins with a complete physical examination to rule out diseases. Inappropriate elimination in multi-cat households can often be corrected by providing additional litter boxes--there should be one more box than number of cats--by arranging placement of the boxes to afford easy escape, by placing at least one box on each level of the home and by cleaning the boxes more often.

Litter should be scooped and sifted daily, and litter removed and boxes scrubbed thoroughly with water weekly. Soiled areas should be cleaned with an enzymatic cleanser designed to neutralize odor. To reduce attraction to areas, food and water bowls, the cat's bed and toys or other objects can be placed in the area; dark areas can be illuminated by regular or motion-activated lamps; flooring can be made less pleasant by placement of upside-down carpet runners, tin foil or double sided sticky tape.

Professional Care
Although the majority of feline inappropriate elimination cases are not caused directly by an underlying medical condition, an existing or previous condition may be a facilitating factor. Treatment design should begin with a complete physical examination, including CBC, blood biochemistry panel and urinalysis. Professional care can also be useful in multi-cat households to determine which cat is urinating outside the box through veterinarian administration of fluorescein dye which affords a will fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Medical therapy may also prove helpful when the behavior is in response to stress or anxiety, although some studies indicate stress is a rare causal factor.

Action
See treatment

Outcome
The causal factors behind inappropriate elimination can be complex, difficult to discern and occasionally challenging to rectify, particularly in multi-cat households. However, appropriate changes in the environment and other indicated treatments can often produce significant and lasting resolution to the problem.

References/Additional Readings

Borchelt, P.L. & Voith, V.L.. Readings in companion animal behavior. Trenton, New Jersey: Veterinary Learning Systems, 1996; 179-190.

Frank, D.F., Erb, H.N. & Houpt, K.A. Urine spraying in cats: Presence of concurrent disease and effects of a pheromone treatment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 1999; 61(3): 263-272.

Marder, A.R. & Engel, J.M. Long-term outcome after treatment of feline inappropriate elimination. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. 2002; 5(4): 299-308.

Olm, D.D. & Houpt, K.A. Feline house-soiling problems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 1988; 20(3-4): 335-345.

Overall, K. Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals. St. Louis, MO: Mosby, Inc., 1997; 260.

Pryor, P.A., Hart, B.L., Bain, M.J., & Cliff K.D. Causes of urine marking in cats and effects of environmental management on frequency of marking. Journal American Veterinary Medical Association. 2001; 219(12):1709-1713.

Author

Jennifer Sobie, PhD

Editor
Steven Hansen, DVM, MS, MBA
DABVT, DABT