If cats at any life stage present with lower urinary tract signs, the practitioner must obtain a definitive history to differentiate various underlying causes for the signs. Urine marking, which is recognized as a normal felid behavior,⁷⁷ is certainly not desirable for solely indoor-housed cats. Most cats that mark have a characteristic posture, whereby their tail is lifted and voiding often occurs on vertical surfaces. However, cats can mark on horizontal surfaces, especially on owners’ personal items. A detailed physical examination and environmental history, including a description of the behaviors, should be obtained for these cases. For some questions to consider, see the “Investigating Urine Marking” box.

Urine marking, although often associated with intact male cats, can be displayed by both feline sexes, intact or neutered. Neutering is nonetheless advisable, supported by a study showing that urine-spraying behavior in a small group of 17 free-roaming domestic cats almost disappeared when the cats were evaluated after neutering.⁷⁸ Unfortunately, neutering will not eliminate or prevent spraying in all cats. Because environmental stressors can trigger urine-marking behavior, assuring that the environmental needs of the cat are met is critical.³⁸