Inappropriate Elimination Disorders in Cats

What is inappropriate elimination?

Inappropriate elimination generally refers to a cat is urinating and/or defecating in the house in places other than its litterbox.

What causes it?

This can be caused by either medical problems or a behavioral disorder. Behavioral causes of inappropriate elimination fall into two common categories: 1) a dislike of the litterbox or litterbox aversion, and 2) a stress-related misbehavior. It is important to rule out any medical cause of inappropriate elimination.

Why would a cat not like its litterbox?

One of the main reasons for this is because the litterbox has become objectionable to the cat. This usually occurs because it is not cleaned frequently enough or because the cat does not like the type of litter in it. The latter is called substrate aversion. It can occur because the litter was changed to a new, objectionable type or because the cat has associated a stressful event (such as a sudden fright) with the type of litter.

What stresses can cause inappropriate elimination?

There are probably hundreds of these, but the more common ones are as follows:

Can the problem be treated?

Yes, in the majority of cases. However, the treatment is more likely to be successful if several of the following are true:

• the duration of the behavior is less than one month when treatment begins.

• there are only one or two locations in the house that the cat uses for inappropriate elimination.

• it is possible to identify and relieve the stress-causing situation.

• it is possible to neutralize the odor caused by the urine or stool.

• you have only one cat.

What is involved with treatment?

Most successful treatments rely on a combination of behavior modification techniques and drug therapy.

What are behavior modification techniques, and how are they used?

In general, behavior modification techniques are either Aversion Therapy or Attraction Therapy. The former repels the cat from the inappropriate location, while the latter encourages the cat to choose an appropriate location.

"The purpose of Aversion Therapy is to make the area of inappropriate urination or defecation undesirable for the cat."

The purpose of Aversion Therapy is to make the area of inappropriate urination or defecation undesirable for the cat. There are many ways to do this, but the following steps have proven successful in a high percentage of cases:

• If the soil in potted plants is being used, place a lemon-scented air freshener at the base of the plant. This will usually repel the cat.

"The purpose of Attraction Therapy is to make the litter box more desirable than the inappropriate site."

The purpose of Attraction Therapy is to make the litter box more desirable than the inappropriate site. The following are usually successful:

• Purchase a new litterbox; even well cleaned litterboxes have odor deep in the plastic. It is important not to use a litterbox with a hood in cases of inappropriate elimination. Many cats find a hooded litterbox undesirable.

• It is important to have enough litter boxes in the home. It is generally recommended to have the number of cats plus one litter box available for use.

• To increase the chances of your cat using the new litterbox, purchase unscented clumping litter. Many cats prefer clumping litter to regular clay litter. And, although you might prefer a scented product, most cats do not.

• Place the new litterbox near the area of inappropriate urination until it is used for several days. Then move it 2-3 feet (0.7-1 m) per day until it is back in the desired location. In some cases, the litterbox may need to be moved shorter distances each time; in others, it may not be possible to relocate to the litterbox.

• Keep the existing litterbox in the normal location in case the aversion therapy causes your cat to return to it.

What medications are available to treat inappropriate elimination?

In general, two different categories of medications are used to treat these problems:

1. anti-depressant and/or anti-anxiety medications such as amitriptyline and buspirone.
2. tranquilizers such as diazepam and phenobarbital.

In the past, hormones such as megestrol acetate and medroxyprogesterone acetate were used to treat this problem. These medications can cause serious side effects in cats. They are no longer recommended for use. As mentioned above, it is important to rule out any underlying medical condition prior to beginning treatment.

Are anti-depressants and tranquillizers approved for this use in cats?

No. All of these were developed for use in humans. However, most have been used on enough cats for long periods of time to give us reason to believe that they are relatively safe.