Buspirone is also used to control urine marking and spraying.

Buspirone is also used to control urine marking and spraying.

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

Answer: (C)

Urine marking and spraying in cats is driven by anxiety and stress related to territory and environmental triggers. A medication that lowers anxiety and arousal without causing heavy sedation or dependence is particularly helpful for this behavior. Buspirone fits this need because it is an anxiolytic that acts as a partial agonist at serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. By reducing the brain's fear and arousal responses, it decreases the impulse to spray, helping to curb the behavior. It generally has a favorable safety profile in cats, with fewer sedative effects and no strong risk of dependence, making it suitable for longer-term management. Diazepam can provide quick anxiety relief but often causes sedation, disinhibition, and potential dependence with long-term use, which is less ideal for a chronic behavior issue. Fluoxetine can help some behavioral problems but typically takes several weeks to become effective and may have other side effects. Ketamine is not used for chronic behavior modification like spraying.

Urine marking and spraying in cats is driven by anxiety and stress related to territory and environmental triggers. A medication that lowers anxiety and arousal without causing heavy sedation or dependence is particularly helpful for this behavior. Buspirone fits this need because it is an anxiolytic that acts as a partial agonist at serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. By reducing the brain's fear and arousal responses, it decreases the impulse to spray, helping to curb the behavior. It generally has a favorable safety profile in cats, with fewer sedative effects and no strong risk of dependence, making it suitable for longer-term management.

Diazepam can provide quick anxiety relief but often causes sedation, disinhibition, and potential dependence with long-term use, which is less ideal for a chronic behavior issue. Fluoxetine can help some behavioral problems but typically takes several weeks to become effective and may have other side effects. Ketamine is not used for chronic behavior modification like spraying.