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PubMed1985

Regulation of urine marking in male and female mice: effects of sex steroids.

Effects of sex steroids on urine-marking activity were studied in male, female, and neonatally androgenized female mice. Urine marking was estimated by suspending ceramic tubes that were connected in a horizontal row with a steel rod into the home cage of an isolated mouse. Intact males showed high marking activity, which was diminished after castration. Both testosterone propionate (TP) and estradiol benzoate (EB) were effective in restoring the marking activity of castrated males, while 5-alpha-dihydrotesterone (DHT) did not have any stimulative effects. Intact normal females showed quite low marking activity and ovariectomy further depressed it. TP and DHT enhanced the marking of ovariectomized females, but EB restored the activity only to the preovariectomy level. In intact females which were neonatally androgenized, the marking activity was much higher than that of normal females. The pattern of the change induced by gonadectomy and hormone treatment in these females resembled that in males. Thus, ovariectomy reduced the activity and both TP and EB restored the level. These results indicate that the sexual dimorphism in the urine marking in mice is primarily determined by hormonal environment during early postnatal age. Hormonal control of scent marking is discussed in relation to the studies in other rodents.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Emotional reactivity and alcohol preference among genetic crosses of the Maudsley and Roman rats.

The relationship between open-field emotional reactivity and alcohol preference was investigated in crosses of the Maudsley and Roman rat lines. No significant differences were found in any of the behaviors between the respective reciprocal crosses. The scores on the two variables showed a positive correlation between open-field defecation (OFD) and alcohol preference. The findings confirmed a prediction for the relationship between OFD and alcohol preference in these genetic crosses. In light of the previous findings it would seem that OFD and alcohol preference are not directly related to each other, and emotional reactivity acts as a mediating process between the two behaviors. However, in these genetic crosses the observed relationship between OFD and alcohol preference can be explained by a possible genetic overlap between the mechanisms mediating these two behaviors.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1985

Effects of social isolation in adulthood on odor preferences and urine-marking in male rats.

Male rats isolated for 60 days in adulthood spent less time investigating odors of females and urine-marked less over these odors than did males kept in groups of three. Isolated males did not differ from grouped males in their responses to odors of unfamiliar males or their own odors. After social experience the isolated males showed an increase in urine-marking but no change in odor preferences. Individual housing therefore appears to alter olfactory communication in the same way that it does other social behaviors and these changes may be mediated by the same mechanisms.

Aging↗
PubMed1985

Human-companion animal relationships and animal behavior problems.

The compatibility of the social systems of humans and companion animals has facilitated the formation of a unique interspecific relationship. Some of the most common behavior problems that people have with their pets are a result of the type of relationship that has formed between them. In most cases, neither pet nor owner is exhibiting abnormal behavior; rather, they are demonstrating normal species-typical behaviors that are unacceptable to the other species.

Aggression↗
PubMed2004

Prevalence of house soiling and aggression in kittens during the first year after adoption from a humane society.

OBJECTIVE: To determine frequency of house soiling, aggression toward people, and aggression toward other cats among kittens adopted from an animal shelter and whether frequency of these behaviors was associated with age at the time of neutering. DESIGN: Survey. ANIMALS: 126 kittens adopted from a humane society at 6 to 13 weeks of age. PROCEDURE: Owners of the kittens were contacted by telephone approximately 4, 18, and 52 weeks after kittens were adopted, and a behavioral assessment questionnaire was administered. Owners were asked to indicate whether the kitten had displayed the specific behavior in the preceding 30 days. Sixty-three kittens were neutered prior to adoption; the remaining 63 were neutered at 5 to 7 months of age, after the second behavioral assessment. RESULTS: In the month following adoption, 64 (50.8%) kittens were reported to have at least 1 of the 3 behaviors. There was no evidence that the 3 behaviors were related. The percentage of kittens reported to urinate or defecate outside the litter box decreased from the first to second evaluation and remained low at the third evaluation. The percentage of kittens reported to show aggression toward people and the percentage reported to show aggression toward other cats decreased from the first to second evaluation, but increased again at the third evaluation. There was no significant association between age at the time of neutering and any of the 3 behaviors. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest behavior problems may be common in kittens adopted from a humane society, particularly during the first month after adoption.

Adoption↗
PubMed1980

Emotional reactivity after frontomedial cortical, neostriatal or hippocampal lesions in rats.

Emotional reactivity following lesions in structures corresponding to the main components of dorsal prefrontal system of the monkey was evaluated in a total of 165 rats by a six-categorial rating scale. Frontomedial cortical damage (FM) and lesions in anterodorsal (DH) or posteroventral (VH) hippocampal regions elicited marked increases in emotional reactivity, relative to sham operated controls. The most profound effect was observed in FM rats. VH rats were somewhat more emotional than DH ones. Anteromedial neostriatal lesions (NC) evoked increased emotionality only on the first day of testing. Damage to different structures differentially affected the various categories examined. The magnitude of overall reactivity and the pattern of changes indicate a similarity of effects from frontomedial and hippocampal lesions. This similarity was stronger between FM and VH than DH lesions. The negligible eff.ect of NC damage on emotional reactivity suggests a functional dissociation between the enteromedial neostriatum and the anatomically related frontomedial cortex.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

[The use of megestrol acetate to stop urine spraying in castrated male cats (author's transl)].

The use of megestrol acetate to stop urine spraying in castrated male cats Four castrated male cats were treated with megestrol acetate because they were showing signs of urine spraying. The dosage used was 5 mg a day for seven days followed by 5 mg every three days for 21 days. The treatment did not exceed one month. Treatment was successful in three of the four animals with this therapeutic regime. A relapse was noticed one year after the initial treatment in two of these cats. Treatment was resumed in one case, while in the other case spontaneous regression of urine spraying occurred. No relapse have been reported after six months. Other methods of treatment used to suppress this undesirable behavior are also discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Objectionable urine spraying and urine marking in cats: evaluation of progestin treatment in gonadectomized males and females.

The increasing use of long-acting progestins to treat objectionable urine spraying and urine marking in gonadectomized cats prompted a survey of the comparative effectiveness of the injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and the orally administered megestrol acetate (MA). Both drugs were successful, overall, in about 1/3 of the patients. However, the proportion with favorable response was higher for males (48%) than for females (13%) and was higher for cats from single-cat homes (50%) than for cats from multi-cat homes (18%). Because of the reportedly higher frequency of depression and increased appetite following MA treatment, when compared with MPA treatment, it is recommended that MPA be used initially for routine treatment of these behavioral problems. The survey revealed that if MPA proves ineffective, subsequent treatment with MA can be expected to yield favorable results in some of these patients.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1983

Relationship between social interactions and sexual maturation in female Saguinus oedipus oedipus.

4 female Saguinus oedipus oedipus were paired with strange, unrelated males while 5 remained in their natal family groups. A comparison of the frequency of selected social interactions involving these females when sexually immature versus mature was made. The frequency of sexual and affiliative interactions in male-female pairs was basically unchanged by the female's maturation. Mother-daughter interactions were also not changed in a consistent fashion by the daughters' maturation. Females with strange, unrelated males, either alone or as part of their natal group, displayed increases in marking behavior in association with sexual maturation.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Neophobia in spontaneous hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive control (WKY) rats.

Latency of approaching a novel object (white-colored cube) placed in an unfamiliar open field, duration of object exploration, ambulation, rearing, grooming, and defecation were investigated in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR), their genetic normotensive controls (WKY), and standard Laboratory rats of Wistar origin (Tif:RAIf). The parameters measured were taken as indices of fear due to novelty (neophobia). Remarkable differences in behavior of all three strains were observed. By comparison to RAIf and WKY rats, SHR showed decreased neophobia as reflected in the significantly shorter latency of approaching the object and enhanced ambulation and rearing activity in the open field. By comparison to RAIf rats SHR also showed reduced grooming and defecation. WKY rats distinguished themselves from both SHR and RAIf by almost total absence of all responses in this test situation. This behavioral suppression was antagonized by 7.5 mg/kg ip of chlordiazepoxide. The results of this study further support the notion that, by comparison to standard laboratory rats, both SHR and WKY rats show possible genetically determined, altered behaviors which are diametrically opposite to each other.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Cat elimination behavior problems.

This article focuses on behavior problems for which pathophysiologic causes have been ruled out. General discussions of marking, urination, and defecation, the specific postures used for each behavior, and procedures for diagnosis and treatment are discussed briefly. New information is provided about cat's preferences for different types of litter materials.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Elimination behavior patterns of domestic cats (Felis catus) with and without elimination behavior problems.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of litter box location as it relates to cats' use of space in the house, elimination problems, and certain behaviors associated with elimination. SAMPLE POPULATION: 40 cats in single-cat house-holds with or without elimination behavior problems (20 cats/group). PROCEDURES: Camcorders were used to record the cats' behaviors at the litter box and other areas in which they eliminated during a 72-hour period. Use of space in the house was recorded by direct observation during 400 minutes of the 72-hour period. Elimination behaviors and other cat- and litter box-associated variables were compared between groups; litter box location with respect to inappropriate elimination was assessed. RESULTS: Litter box location did not differ between cats with and without elimination behavior problems. An inverse correlation was found between time spent sniffing and the distance of the litter box from the central core area. Cats with elimination problems spent significantly less time digging at the litter box than cats without elimination problems. There was no significant difference in the time spent pawing in litter box, sniffing, or covering excreta after elimination between the 2 groups of cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Times spent digging in litter boxes by cats with and without elimination problems have been determined, and data suggest that actual digging times could be used as a means to test for litter preference and litter aversion. This information may also be used to identify cats with litter aversion prior to the development of an elimination problem.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Risk factors for unsuccessful dog ownership: an epidemiologic study in Taiwan.

This retrospective study of 259 Taiwanese dog owners in 2004 addressed one of the major contributors to dog overpopulation in Taiwan: unsuccessful dog ownership. We found an inverse association between age of the dog at acquisition and risk of unsuccessful dog ownership: the younger the dog at acquisition the higher the risk. The incidence-proportion ratios (IPRs) of unsuccessful dog ownership for the owners who had a history of pet abandonment or losing a pet compared with those without such a history were 1.8 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1, 3.0) and 2.1 (95% CI=1.3, 3.3), respectively. Soiling (IPR=2.0, 95% CI=1.3, 3.1) and barking (IPR=1.6, 95% CI=1.0, 2.6) problems had the strongest effects on unsuccessful dog ownership among the post-acquisition variables studied. Preventing owners with a history of unsuccessful dog ownership from acquiring dogs was predicted to yield the largest reduction of risk of unsuccessful dog ownership among the investigated variables (population attributable fraction=33%, 95% CI=11%, 50%).

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2000

Nonlinearity in the predation risk of prey mobility.

Odorous waste products such as urine and faeces are unavoidable for most animals and are widely exploited by predators and their prey. Consequently, waste accumulations can be risky and prey which increase their mobility in order to disperse and dilute their waste should avoid a high predation risk until this benefit is balanced by the increasing risks of random predator encounter. This hypothesis was tested for voles (Microtus spp.) in Finland which are vulnerable to predation due to the scent and ultraviolet attractiveness of their urine. The mortality and mobility of radio-collared voles showed a U-shaped relationship, regardless of vole sex, species or population cycle phase. The low risks for prey making intermediate movements suggest that predation risk can exert strong selective pressures on prey such that they have little respite from the risk of being killed.

Animals↗