Characteristics of cats submitted to behavioral examination: a retrospective study

Veterinary practices are increasingly consulted about behaviour problems in cats1. This study aimed at characterizing similarities and differences in features underlying different cats behavior problems. 207 cats were visited in the Behavioral Clinic of University of Milan between 1999-2017. Each cat underwent to a behavior consultation focused on all aspect of cat’s behavior, management and health issue. Of all of the cats involved, 51.2% had a diagnosis of inappropriate elimination, 15.9% of intraspecific and 14.9% of interspecific aggression, 8.5% of compulsive disorders and 9.5% other diagnosis (e.g. cognitive dysfunctions, inappropriate play, management problems). Cats with interspecific aggression were mostly male (76.6%), adopted before 60 days of age (56.7%) and stray (53.3%) (p ≤ 0.05). Also about 50% of cats with compulsive disorders were stray, instead of cats with inappropriate elimination that were adopted mainly from another person (41%) (p ≤ 0.05). No difference was found regarding the source of adoption in cats with intraspecific aggression. Owners of cats with interspecific aggression (36.7%) were significantly more inclined to surrender the cat to a cat rescue or to other people than were owners of cats with other problem behavior (p ≤ 0.05). Our work supports some previous findings2,3,4,5 and suggests some new information. A referral population is not likely representative of the entire population and to better understand patterns of behavioral problems, we need more complete population data and data from cats across their lifetime.