Cats who pee outside the litter box are 2-6 times more likely to be relinquished to a shelter. In today's episode, Dr. Lauren Harris talks about inappropriate elimination and the significant damage to the human animal bond. Restoring that bond requires appropriate diagnosis, which is obtained by partnering with the veterinarian to evaluate for underlying medical conditions. If no medical reason can be found, behavioral assessment can help determine a cat’s aversions and preferences to help get them going where they should. 

 

Resources:

Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder: https://yourvetwantsyoutoknow.com/CatFeeder

Feliway Feline Pheromones: https://yourvetwantsyoutoknow.com/Feliway

Feline House Soiling Brochure: https://catfriendly.com/brochures/house-soiling.pdf

House Soiling Cat Owner Questionnaire: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/1098612X14539092/suppl_file/Cat_owner_questionnaire.pdf

Instructions for Cat Owners: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/1098612X14539092/suppl_file/Take_home_instructions_for_cat_owners.pdf

Indoor Pet Initiative: https://indoorpet.osu.edu/home

“Scratching the Itch”: Elephant Rescue https://www.npr.org/2020/12/05/942214125/he-will-be-a-happier-elephant-vet-describes-what-it-was-like-to-rescue-kaavan