Evaluation of the role of lower urinary tract disease in cats with urine-marking behavior.
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.
Tynes
Valarie V
VV
Behavior Service, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Hart
Benjamin L
BL
Pryor
Patricia A
PA
Bain
Melissa J
MJ
Messam
Locksley L McV
LL
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*