Which agent is used to control urine marking and spraying?

Which agent is used to control urine marking and spraying?

• A. Diazepam
• B. Fluoxetine
• C. Ketamine
• D. Buspirone

Answer: (D)

Urine marking and spraying in cats are often driven by anxiety and territorial motivation. The most effective pharmacologic approach is to reduce the underlying anxiety, which lowers the drive to spray. Buspirone fits this goal because it is an anxiolytic that works primarily as a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist. By dampening the brain’s anxiety circuits, it reduces arousal and the compulsive-like urge to mark, helping to curb spraying behaviors. It generally has a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with less sedation than many other options, making it suitable for long-term use. Other choices can be used in related behavioral problems, but they have drawbacks here: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like fluoxetine can also help spraying, but they often take longer to show benefit and may carry more side effects; diazepam can provide quick short-term anxiety relief but is not ideal for chronic use due to sedation and potential dependence; ketamine is not a standard treatment for urine marking.

Urine marking and spraying in cats are often driven by anxiety and territorial motivation. The most effective pharmacologic approach is to reduce the underlying anxiety, which lowers the drive to spray.

Buspirone fits this goal because it is an anxiolytic that works primarily as a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist. By dampening the brain’s anxiety circuits, it reduces arousal and the compulsive-like urge to mark, helping to curb spraying behaviors. It generally has a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with less sedation than many other options, making it suitable for long-term use.

Other choices can be used in related behavioral problems, but they have drawbacks here: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like fluoxetine can also help spraying, but they often take longer to show benefit and may carry more side effects; diazepam can provide quick short-term anxiety relief but is not ideal for chronic use due to sedation and potential dependence; ketamine is not a standard treatment for urine marking.