Urination problems in felines

IF your cat has their toilet outside then you may not notice urinary problems. Even those cats who use the outdoors for their toilet may come inside – don’t punish, investigate.

It may be a behaviour problem or a medical condition causing changes in urination behaviour.

Behaviour issues include problems with a litterbox (if used) such as type of litter, or the location or even privacy issues.

Cats spray urine to mark their territory. A cat who is spraying will typically hold his or her tail erect and quiver while spraying urine, often on an upright surface.

Neutering your male cat will reduce this behaviour but more importantly will decrease the very strong odor from urine of unneutered male cats.

Behaviour is highly unlikely to be due to retaliation for something humans perceive.

Toilet behaviours that change are for the most part due to cat issues whether environment or medical.

Signs to watch for which indicate a medical condition:

 straining to urinate;

 bloody or discolored urine;

 frequent urination;

 urinating in unusual locations;

 the inability to urinate (this is a critical emergency and your cat must be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible); and

 inability to urinate almost always has an identifiable cause. 1. Choose an appropriate litter and box

 Most cats prefer unscented, finer-textured litter about one to two inches deep;

 Young kittens, elderly cats, and cats with mobility problems need boxes with low sides;

 Overweight and large cats need bigger boxes;

 Most cats prefer an uncovered box that lets odors escape and allows a 360-degree view of their surroundings; and

 Keep as many litter boxes as cats in the house - plus one.

 Most cats prefer a location that is quiet, private, separate from their feeding area, and easily accessible 24 hours a day;

 Do not locate the litter box upstairs or downstairs if your cat has trouble climbing stairs; and

 Place multiple boxes in different areas of the house.

 If you use clumping litter, remove feces and clumps daily and add clean litter as needed;

 A liner may help keep the box cleaner, but many cats don’t like them;

 To clean the box, scrub it with a gentle detergent, dry it, and refill with clean litter. Litter should be changed often enough so that it looks and smells dry and clean. The more cats using the box, the more often this will need to be done; and

 Replace old boxes that smell or are cracked.

The cat pheromone Feliway has been used for some time for many behaviour problems including toilet issues.

It is available through online and overseas sources and might be just what you need to help your cat.

Picture: SUPPLIED Quick tips from Cornell University Feline Health Centre 2. Choose a good litter box location 3. Keep the litter box clean Most cats prefer unscented, finer-textured litter about one to two inches deep.