Quantification of Urine Elimination Behaviors in Cats with a Video Recording System

Abstract

Background: Urinary disorders in cats often require subjective caregiver quantification of clinical signs to establish a diagnosis and monitor therapeutic outcomes. Objective: To investigate use of a video recording system (VRS) to better assess and quantify urination behaviors in cats. Animals: Eleven healthy cats and 8 cats with disorders potentially associated with abnormal urination patterns. Methods: Prospective study design. Litter box urination behaviors were quantified with a VRS for 14 days and compared to daily caregiver observations. Video recordings were analyzed by a behavior analysis software program. Results: The mean number of urinations per day detected by VRS (2.5 ± 0.7) was significantly higher compared with caregiver observations (0.6 ± 0.6; P