These are papers from the July 2011 St. Louis AVMA conference. I’ve edited them to delete some of the vet only jargon and for space considerations. If you see (…) that means that information has been deleted due to these considerations. The ones listed here include HCM, and other heart related papers, treatments, papers on x-rays and echos, thrombosis, kidney disease, idiopathic cystitis, pain management, anesthesia and cardiac disease, supplements and other hazards for pets, and some other basic information I hope is helpful.
Interrelation of Behavior and Lower Urinary Tract (and other) Disease in Cats
C. A. Tony Buffington, DVM, PhD, DACVN
Professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center
Introduction
The American Veterinary Medical Association advises cat owners in populated areas of the
United States to house their cats indoors. With this authority comes the responsibility to
provide conditions that sustain good health and welfare for these cats. Cats appear quite
capable of living indoors, occasionally even in rather high population densities, especially
when resources are abundant. Cats are captive in these environments however, akin to zoo
animals. And as with zoo animals, cats’ health and welfare may be affected by their
surroundings. Cats retain their natural investigatory and communication behaviors, such as
scratching, chewing, and elimination when we bring them indoors, and sometimes display
undesirable behaviors when deprived of appropriate outlets for their expression.
We recently reported on the effects of unusual environmental events on sickness behaviors
(SB) …in the vivarium of The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. SB
referable to the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts, skin, and behavior were recorded by a
single observer (JS) for 77 weeks. Four instances of UEE; changes in caretakers, vivarium
routine, and investigator interactions were identified during 11 of the 77 weeks. No instances
of UEE were identified during the remaining 66 weeks, so these were considered control
periods. We found that the relative risk of SB was significantly higher in cats with FIC than in
healthy cats during control periods, although prevalence was quite low, and the distribution of
SB was similar between groups. Three SB, upper gastrointestinal tract expulsions (food, hair,
vomit), and decreased litter box use and food intake, accounted for 88 and 78% of total SB in
healthy and affected cats, respectively during control periods. All groups showed a significant
increase in SB associated with UEE…These results demonstrate that the environment of cats
may adversely affect their health and welfare.
Effective enhancement and treatment of the environment requires an accurate assessment
and diagnosis; which depends on a pertinent history and physical evaluation. We take a
similar approach to effective environmental enrichment. For enrichment, a pertinent history
means identification of features of the cat and environment that may precipitate the observed
problem. Physical evaluation means determination of the presence and quality of physical and
behavioral resources available to the cat…These questionnaires are designed to evaluate the environment
and to investigate problem behaviors when noted…one can methodically investigate each environmental system – physical resource, nutritional, social, and behavioral - to identify any features that may benefit from improvement.
Aspects of the environment can be organized into 5 basic “systems…
The Physical Resource System (“Space”)
Creating a physical environment that ensures a reasonable level of safety, certainty, and
predictability provides the foundation of enrichment. A living space that keeps the cat free
from fear and distress, and that provides a predictable daily routine over which the cat
perceives it has some control, is the starting point. Indoor cats need unrestricted access to
resting areas where loud noises, dogs, other cats, outdoor animals approaching the windows,
and pursuit by small children, are minimized. Cats also need perching options throughout the
household that offer safety and a decent vantage point above people and other animals.
Because of their heritage as both a predator and a prey species, climbing for observation and
safety are natural domestic cat behaviors. Owners of multi-cat households need to provide
enough space to permit each cat to keep a social distance of at least 1meter (horizontally as
well as vertically) when they share a room. Some cats within the same household rest
together and groom/rub each other, whereas most cats use common resting, perching, and
hiding locations at different times of the day. Hence, it is important to provide multiple safe and
comfortable options for them to avoid competition for these resources.
One means of providing cats with secure “micro-environments” is to create “safe havens” -
refuges from household stressors for each cat in a separate room or space in a quiet area of
the home. An example of this approach is called “Free Access Crate Training (F.A.C.T.).
Fresh food and water, clean litter boxes, appropriate scratching substrates, rotating toy
choices and comfortable resting and perching sites can be provided in this area. Electronic cat
doors can be installed to allow access only to the individual cat wearing the door-activating
collar. In the authors’ experience this option has been helpful when there is conflict between
household cats, or dogs in the household from which a cat may need complete escape.
The Nutritional System (“Food and Water”)
Although food resources may adequately satisfy cat’s nutrient needs, they may not promote
expression of normal hunting (exploratory) behaviors. Meeting nutrient needs in ways that
best mimics cats’ natural preferences provides additional enrichment. Kittens can display
strong food preferences based on foods they encountered with their mother, although these
can change with by experience in adulthood. Cats also sometimes show decreased
preference for foods that have formed a large part of their diet in the past, the so-called
“monotony effect”, and display preferences for novel diets. Despite these observations, some
owners perceive their cats to be “finicky eaters. Our recent evidence that food refusal occurs
commonly in cats exposed to environmental threat suggests that such factors may affect
owners’ perceptions. Cats also may be more interested in novel foods offered in a separate
container next to the usual food.
Because cats evolved as solitary hunters of small prey, separate feeding containers out of
sight of other cats’ containers facilitates “solitary” feeding that cats may perceive as “safe”.
Locating bowls in quiet areas, away from appliances or machinery that starts unexpectedly and
protected from interruption by other animals, prevents the cat from being disturbed while
eating. Cats with free access to food usually prefer to eat several small meals per day as
opposed to 1-2 large meals, and most will hunt for prey when given the option. Although free
access to food permits frequent feeding sessions, it does not require the cat to express its
natural predatory instincts. This situation deprives the cat of mental and physical activity,
which may contribute to development of obesity and other health problems.
One can accommodate cats’ natural eating habits, and increase their daily activity, by offering
food in puzzle toys, such as balls or other devices designed specifically for cats to release dry
food or treats when physically manipulated. Other options include hollow toys that can be
stuffed with wet food, which require cats to work to remove the contents. For cats that can
benefit from increased moisture content in their diets, consider offering wet food daily and (or)
multiple fresh water options.
The Elimination System (“Litter boxes”)
Appropriate litter box options are another important aspect of cats’ environment. Elimination
occurs by pre-elimination digging, elimination posturing, and post-elimination digging and
covering. Large, open boxes, such as plastic storage containers, located away from food and
water bowls, provide distinct spaces for these normal behaviors. Self-cleaning litter boxes
offer increased cleanliness, although cats who find their sound and movement aversive may
avoid them. Covered litter boxes may trap odors and prevent the cat from having a safe
vantage point for the approach of other animals during elimination, making them a less
desirable option for many cats. As with feeding containers, litter boxes should be located in a
safe, quiet area, away from machinery. In multi-cat households, provide a box for each cat,
plus one additional box, each out of sight of each other. Most cats display a preference for
unscented and finely particulate litter material, making clumping litter a desirable option. Avoid
plastic liners if possible, which many cats with intact claws find aversive. Scoop boxes daily,
and empty the contents fully and wash the box with mild, unscented soap and water weekly.
The Social System (“Social Contact”)
The social system of pet cats includes all animals that share their home space. These may be
perceived as threats (dogs, humans), competitors for resources (other cats), or prey (small birds,
fish and “pocket pets”). Let the cat determine the timing and duration of contact with non-prey
species to enhance the cat’s perception of control. Some cats may prefer to be petted and
groomed, whereas others may prefer play interactions with owners. Cats housed in groups do not
appear to develop distinct dominance hierarchies or conflict resolution strategies to the extent that
some other species do, often attempting to circumvent agonistic encounters by avoiding others or
decreasing their activity. Unrelated cats housed together in groups appear to spend less time
interacting with conspecifics than related ones do. Cats without close affiliative relationships
prefer to have their own food, water, litter box, and resting area resources out of sight of other
cats’ resources to avoid competition for resources, and to permit cats to avoid unwanted
interactions. Published guidelines for introducing new cats into a home are available for clients
wishing to add additional cats to their household. Inter-cat conflict commonly is present when
multiple cats are housed indoors together and/or when health problems are present. Conflict
among cats can develop because of threats to their perception of their overall status or rank in the
home, from other animals in the home, or from outside cats. Signs of conflict between cats can be open or silent. Signs of open conflict are easy to recognize; the cats may stalk each other, hiss, and turn sideways with legs straight and hair standing on end up to make themselves look larger. If neither cat backs down, the displays
may increase to swatting, wrestling, and biting. Silent conflict result in the threatened cat
spending increasingly large amounts of time away from the family, staying in areas of the
house that others do not use, or attempting to interact with family members only when the
bullying cat is elsewhere. Cats become socially mature between 2 and 5 years of age and
start to take some control of social groups and their activities, which can lead to open conflict.
The cats involved in the conflict may never be “best friends”, but they usually can live together
without showing signs of conflict or conflict-related disease. Severe cases can be referred to a
behaviorist for assistance.
The Behavioral System (Body Care and Activity)
Natural cat behavior includes scratching, chewing, and playing, which can be undesirable to
cat owners when they occur on valued household items. One can avoid owner frustration by
introducing appealing alternative items such as sisal covered posts or real bark-covered logs
that allow the cat to hook its claws in the material. Cats tend to scratch on prominent vertical
objects in areas where they spend much of their time, and scratch more often when stretching
after periods of rest or sleep. Placing scratching objects in frequently visited areas of the home
and in proximity to preferred resting places will promote use.
Undesirable chewing can be avoided by offering “cat-safe” plants and grasses such as live
planted greens and fresh catnip. An owner can rub the designated “cat plants” with tuna juice
or wet cat food to encourage investigation and chewing. Household plants should be clearly
separated from the cat’s core area (household location or room(s) where cats spend the
majority of their social, resting, and feeding time), and/or marked with bitter-tasting sprays to
make them less appealing. Remove toxic plants from the household, or keep them in a “catsecure”
room. Other chewing options include moistened rawhide chews, dried fish, and beef
or poultry jerky.
Appropriate outlets for play comprise an essential aspect of any enrichment program. Play
behaviors mimic the natural predatory sequence of stalking, chasing, pouncing, and biting.
Cats also enjoy play with items they can pick up, toss in the air, and pounce upon. Discourage
clients from permitting play and biting behaviors with hands and feet, which can teach the cat
that it is rewarding to stalk, pounce on and bite the owner, leading to play-related aggression
problems. Appropriate play outlets include wand toys, battery-operated, self-propelling toys
that mimic prey, balls inside a box or bathtub, and catnip-filled toys. Rotate toys every few
days to maintain novelty and interest. Window perches for wildlife observation and cat oriented
DVD programs also can provide useful forms of play enrichment and entertainment.
Making Changes
Whenever a change in a resource, space, food, litter, etc., is contemplated, offer the new
resource adjacent to the familiar resource to permit the cat to display its preference for the new
resource. If preferred, it will be used; it not, it will be avoided. Resources imposed on a cat
that it does not prefer to the familiar only serves to create an additional stressor in the cat’s
environment. Cats have a variety of unique behaviors and needs; thorough investigation into both the
physical and social environment is crucial to permit an accurate diagnosis of the quality of the
environment and an effective treatment plan to correct any deficiencies. Further information
about environmental enrichment for indoor housed cats is available at:
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