title: Evaluation of the role of lower urinary tract disease in cats with urine-marking behavior.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether findings of urinalyses could be used to reliably distinguish gonadectomized cats with urine-marking behavior from those with no problem urination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  58 gonadectomized cats (47 males and 11 females) with urine-marking behavior (ie, marking of vertical surfaces) and 39 (26 males and 13 females) without problem urination or urinary tract-associated conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urine was collected by cystocentesis from all cats. Findings of urinalyses of cats with urine-marking behavior were analyzed statistically for sex-related differences and differences between cats that marked vertical surfaces only and those that marked both vertical and horizontal surfaces; findings of urinalyses of control cats were compared between sexes. Subsequently, results of urinalyses of cats with urine-marking behavior were compared with those of control cats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With regard to variables measured via urinalysis, there were no differences between male and female cats within either group. Among cats with urine-marking behavior, there were no differences between those that only marked vertically and those that marked vertically and horizontally. Analyses of data from all cats with urine-marking behavior and control cats revealed no differences that could be associated with urine marking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that urine-marking behavior by gonadectomized cats is an aspect of normal behavior. Clinicians are advised to focus on behavioral history of house-soiling cats to differentiate between urine-marking behavior and inappropriate urination; for the latter, urinalysis is appropriate to rule out lower urinary tract disorders.
authors.affiliation: Behavior Service, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Valarie V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Tynes
authors.forename: Benjamin L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pryor
authors.forename: Melissa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.forename: Locksley L McV
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Messam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004609:Eliminative Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000662:veterinary; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology*