Urine spraying in cats: presence of concurrent disease and effects of a pheromone treatment

Abstract

Thirty four spraying cats, belonging to 24 households, had a complete physical examination, CBC, blood biochemistry panel, urinalysis, urine culture, urine cortisol:creatinine analysis and abdominal radiographs. Diagnostic procedures revealed some abnormalities and/or crystalluria in 13 patients (38%). Seven (20%) of these cats had medical conditions involving the urogenital system (renal calculi, renal failure, cystic calculi, bacterial urinary infection or cystitis associated with the presence of ammonium biurate crystalluria). The other six had crystalluria. A synthetic analogue of feline cheek gland pheromones (Feliway™, Sanofi Sante Nutrition Animale, Abbott Laboratories) was then evaluated as a treatment of urine spraying. The study was done on all 34 cats but complete data was obtained for only 22 cats belonging to 19 out of the 24 households. Nine of these cats had abnormalities and/or crystalluria. The results were highly significant: 14 households (74%; 95% confidence interval 49–91%) reported a decrease of spraying frequency.