References
Treatment in cases of feline house soiling
Abstract
Treatment for house soiling is based on extensive diagnostic investigation to rule out medical causes and history taking to enable specific stressors to be identified and reduced or removed. These stressors may be present in the physical or social environment or in the owners' general husbandry and management of the cats. In the case of the marking cat the aims of treatment are to remove the cause of the unnecessary marking and to re-establish the home as a part of the cat's safe and secure core territory; while for the cat with unacceptable elimination, related to primary environmental or social factors, the aims are to re-establish appropriate associations with locations and substrates.
In part one of this article extensive history taking, identification of stressors and differentiation between underlying motivations were discussed (Halls and Heath, 2015). Where research is lacking, the recommendations within this article reflect the accumulated experience of the co-authors.
Once a history has been taken and a diagnosis made, the next step in addressing house soiling problems is to give advice based on the diagnostic investigation and history taking, to assist owners in removing or reducing the impact of the stressors that have been identified. This is a process that takes time and experience. In some cases it may be appropriate to refer directly to a suitably qualified behaviourist with a particular interest in cats. This decision will depend on numerous factors, including:
If first opinion advice is given, based on the diagnostic process outlined in part one of this article (Halls and Heath, 2015), then it is important to encourage feedback weekly so that progress can be monitored and further advice can be given or the client referred to a behaviourist within an agreed timescale.
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