Align-ju FEATURE

Conclusions

One of the main reasons a healthy cat avoids its litter tray is because it deems the litter tray and / or substrate to be unsuitable [ 9 ] . Advising an owner on how to choose the litter type best suited to them and their cat can be difficult , but this guide provides some useful points for discussion and subsequent consideration by the owner . Getting the substrate right can be a simple way to remedy IE when there is no underlying medical issue .

REFERENCES

1 Venniker C . Cats and inappropriate urination – why it happens and what to do . KatKin . 2023 . Available from : https :// www . katkin . com / articles / cats-and-inappropriate-urination [ Accessed 12 February 2024 ].

2 Cats Protection . Thinking about giving up a cat . Available from : https :// www . cats . org . uk / what-we-do / giving-up-a-cat [ Accessed 12 February 2024 ].

3 Hill ' s Pet Nutrition . How to Handle Cat Spraying . Available from : https :// www . hillspet . com / cat-care / behavior-appearance / catspraying-and-urinating-indoors [ Accessed 7 July 2023 ].

4 Feliway UK . 5 Reasons Why Your Cat Might Be Urinating in the House . Available from : https :// www . feliway . co . uk / blogs / news / 5- reasons-why-your-cat-might-be-urinating-in-the-house [ Accessed 7 July 2023 ].

5 Sánchez-Vizcaíno F , Noble P-JM , Jones PH , Menacere T , Buchan I , Reynolds S , et al . Demographics of dogs , cats , and rabbits attending veterinary practices in Great Britain as recorded in their electronic health records . BMC Veterinary Research . 2017 ; 13 ( 1 ): 218 . Available from : https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12917-017-1138-9 .

6 International Cat Care . Soiling indoors . 2018 . Available from : https :// icatcare . org / advice / soiling-indoors / [ Accessed 12 February 2024 ].

7 Cats Protection . Toileting . Available from : https :// www . cats . org . uk / help-and-advice / home-and-environment / toileting [ Accessed 7 July 2023 ].

8 International Cat Care . Litter trays . 2019 . Available from : https :// icatcare . org / advice / litter-trays / [ Accessed 12 February 2024 ].

9 Villeneuve-Beugnet V , Beugnet F . Field assessment of cats ' litter box substrate preferences . Journal of Veterinary Behavior . 2018 ; 25 : 65 – 70 . Available from : https :// doi . org / 10.1016 / j . jveb . 2018.03.002 .

Veterinary nurses are vital to the care of patients in any veterinary environment . A practice can show its appreciation of veterinary nurses and support their career development and wellbeing by paying for their BVNA membership . This gesture conveys respect , provides meaningful support and helps to foster best practice across the veterinary profession . It may even save the practice money !

RVN from £ 6 / month | SVN from £ 4.15 / month | Associate from £ 4.92 / month

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

• VNJ online ( print also available )

• Access to financial support

• Mentoring and e-learning

• Volunteering opportunities

• Online CPD and webinars

• Members ' forum

• Independent advisory service

• Links to other organisations

• Discounted BVNA events

Volume 39 ( 2 ) • April 2024

15