Dear DocSide Vet – My cat has started peeing outside the pan, what should I do?
- Cecilia – Federal Hill
Dear Cecilia –
Yuck! How frustrating! First, you want to rule out a medical problem. Urinary tract infections, crystals in the urine, bladder stones and interstitial cystitis (inflammation of the bladder wall) can all cause inappropriate urination. A urinalysis +/_ a bladder ultrasound can rule out most medical issues. If none are found, you may be dealing with a behavioral problem. Changes such as a move, a new roommate, a house guest, a new pet or schedule variations can be very stressful to cats and trigger inappropriate urination. In these cases we now often use anti-anxiety drugs (yes, even prozac!) to help cats adjust and start using the litter pan again. It is important to act quickly, the longer this behavior continues the harder it is to resolve.
- Deborah Tierney, DVM
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