Overview

Signalment

• Common in intact males, especially if estrus females are present.
• Can also occur in intact females or neutered individuals of either gender.
• No age or breed predilection for marking or roaming.
• Mounting can also be seen in sexually deprived, intact male cats mounting other males, females, kittens, people, and inanimate objects.

Signs

• Urine marking is characterized by the cat backing up to object with an erect and quivering tail and projecting a stream of urine backward and upward toward the object.
• May also occur with the cat assuming a squatting posture and depositing urine on horizontal surfaces, notably personal or novel items in the environment.
• Urine marking is thought to be characterized by the deposition of small amounts of urine, on multiple surface types, in conjunction with normal litter box use for toileting of urine and fecal material.
• Mounting of other cats, people, or objects.

Causes and Risk Factors

• Urine marking may function to delineate territory, aggressive intent, or reproductive goals between cats or may be a response to anxiety.
• Likelihood of urine marking within the household appears to increase with density of cats in the household; however, urine marking may occur in households with only 1 or 2 cats.
• Agonistic (aggressive) relationships between cats in the same household and the presence of outdoor cats are correlated with an increase in the likelihood of marking behavior.
• Roaming is a normal feline exploratory behavior with cats seeking environmental enrichment, food, or sexual activity.
• Roaming is more likely with outdoor cats being housed indoors, in intact male cats, and in cats with a barren indoor environment (resulting in increased motivation to explore the outdoors).
• Mounting can be seen in deprived males or isolated males or if males are housed in pairs.
• Roaming, marking, and mounting may be seen in 5–10% of neutered males.

Differential Diagnosis

• Rule out causes of lower urinary tract disease.
• Urine marking must be distinguished from inappropriate urination for the purpose of emptying the bladder. The latter problem is characterized by elimination on a consistent surface or location, may involve feces, and is usually associated with a decrease in litter box use. Cats can continue to use the litter for fecal elimination while avoiding it for urination, and the reverse is also possible. Cats that urine mark will continue to use the litter box for toileting of urine and feces.
• Roaming behavior may occur due to any disease process that might cause a cat to seek isolation due to illness.
• For marking and mounting also consider neonatal testosterone exposure, treatment with anabolic steroids or testosterone or retained or residual testicular tissue.

CBC/Biochemistry/Urinalysis

• Rarely do cats with roaming or mounting behaviors display abnormalities in lab work.
• CBC/biochemistry tests can provide helpful information to rule out coexisting conditions and provide baseline data prior to initiating drug therapy.
• Urine marking may be associated with underlying urinary tract disorders.

Other Laboratory Tests

• Unless indicated from baseline data, no further lab tests are necessary.
• In neutered and spayed females, rule out potential hormonal effects from retained or residual testicular tissue which might be associated with secondary sexual characteristics such as penile barbs and elevated testosterone in males or estrus like behaviors in females.
• Urine marking may be associated with medical conditions that might contribute to increased irritability such as hyperthyroidism.

Imaging

Radiographs and ultrasound if laboratory data indicates a need to further explore the urinary tract.

Diagnostic Procedures

None indicated

For Urine Marking

• Neuter and spay intact animals. When possible, reduce numbers of cats in the household to reduce density if overcrowding a factor.
• Provide alternate marking options such as scratching posts, scratch boxes, facial marking combs (Cat-A-Comb). Given that urine marking is a normal behavior, for some cats the use of a urine marking station (empty litter box placed vertically at location where marking occurs) may be appropriate.
• Multiple feeding stations and litter stations in multiple locations (one litter box per cat plus one additional).
• Manage litter hygiene so that boxes are scooped daily and completely cleaned weekly (clay litters) or monthly (clumping type litters) using hot water only (no cleansers).
• Increase perching and hiding opportunities (especially elevated locations) in each room of the home.
• Isolate cat from area being marked.
• Make urine marked areas aversive by using double-stick tape, mothballs, bubble wrap, etc.
• Manage stress factors in household (alter routine in home, address relationship issues between cats in the home, manage interactions between cats and people in home to increase positive relationships by encouraging play and positive reinforcement-based training).
• Reduce exposure to outdoor cats by blocking visual access, decrease number of cats in yard (use of fencing, motion-activated sprinkler, remove bird feeders, etc.).
• Increase (or decrease) time allowed outdoors.
• Use of synthetic facial pheromone (F3 fraction).

For Roaming Behavior

• Neuter if intact.
• Use double barriers at exits (for example, screen doors) or confine away from doors (e.g., room).
• Alternately, allow controlled access to outdoors using cat fencing or screened areas or outdoor access while walked on a leash and harness.
• Enrich home environment with increased food access, random treats, and increased play opportunities. Feed the cat as soon as it returns home.
• Remove outdoor reinforcements such as outdoor cats through the use of fencing, motion-activated water sprinklers, removing bird feeders, and insuring neighbors not feeding.
• ID cat (tags, tattoo, or microchips).

For Mounting Behavior

• Neuter if intact.
• Interrupt the behavior and redirect to more desirable behaviors such as play.
• Identify and remove any triggers which initiate the behavior.
• Provide alternative outlets for play/enrichment.

Drugs

Contraindications/Possible Interactions

• Use caution when prescribing clomipramine in cats with seizures.
• Do not use fluoxetine or clomipramine with MAO inhibitors such as selegiline.
• Caution in using TCAs, such as clomipramine, when treating cats with diabetes, glaucoma, or cardiac disease.
• Do not combine a TCA and an SSRI; serotonin syndrome possible.

Patient Monitoring

• Telephone follow-up within 2 weeks after consultation, repeat as needed to monitor progress and assess response to treatment.
• Electrocardiogram if concerns about cardiac status.
• CBC and biochemistry profile 3–4 weeks after initiating medical therapy and then q6–12 months while on medication.

Expected Course and Prognosis

• Response to therapy by diminished urine marking within 4 weeks.
• Continue drug therapy for a minimum of 8 weeks if response noted; continue 1 month beyond resolution.
• When the behavior is stable, wean dose by 25% per week.
• If behavior reoccurs, reinstitute lowest effective dose.
• Some animals may need to be maintained on medication indefinitely.

See Also

Housesoiling-Cats

Abbreviations

• GI = gastrointestinal
• MAO = monoamine oxidase
• SSRI = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
• TCA = tricyclic antidepressant

Author John J. Ciribassi

Consulting Editor Gary M. Landsberg