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Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC V4.0, Open
Journal article
Factors associated with house-soiling in Italian cats
Journal of feline medicine and surgery, Vol.25(11), pp.1-12
01/11/2023
PMCID: PMC10812005
PMID: 37975187
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to identify factors associated with house-soiling in Italian cats.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey collected information on respondents’ and cats’ details and litter management, and whether the cat showed house-soiling. Univariable and multivariable regression models were performed using house-soiling (present/absent) and the type of house-soiling (ie, urinary, faecal, concurrent urinary and faecal) as dummy variables.
Results: Data from 3106 cats were obtained. The number of dogs and other cats in the household, the cat’s age, the number, type and location of the litter boxes, the type of litter, and the frequency of litter scooping and full replacement were retained in the final multivariable regression model for house-soiling (model P <0.001, Akaike information criterion [AIC] = 2454.30). Urinary tract diseases, the type and number of litter boxes and the number of dogs in the household were associated with urinary house-soiling (model P <0.001, AIC = 534.08), and gastroenteric/musculoskeletal diseases, number of litter boxes and litter box location were associated with faecal house-soiling (model P <0.001, AIC = 448.52). Healthy cats, the number of dogs in the household, the type of litter and litter full replacement frequency were retained in the final multivariable regression model for the concurrent expression of urinary and faecal house-soiling (model P <0.001, AIC = 411.47).
Conclusions and relevance: Meeting cats’ preferences for litter and litter box type, location, behavioural needs and strict litter hygienic conditions is recommended. Cat owners need to be educated to prevent and manage house-soiling in their cats.
Details
- Title
- Factors associated with house-soiling in Italian cats
- Creators
- Barbara Padalino - University of BolognaMartina Zappaterra - University of BolognaMartina Felici - University of BolognaClaire Ricci-Bonot - University of LincolnLeonardo Nanni Costa - Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, ItalyKatherine Houpt - New York State College of Veterinary MedicineAlessandra Tateo - University of Bari Aldo Moro
- Publication Details
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery, Vol.25(11), pp.1-12
- Publisher
- Sage
- Identifiers
- 991013293355402368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2023 Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Veterinary Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article