Changes

Cats control access to their [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territory]] using [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Olfactory Communication|scent marks]] and by [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Visual Communication|watching and threatening]] their enemies from vantage points that they spend time at around the edge of their territory. In order for the cats to do this, the garden must be filled with hiding and climbing places as well as places for scratching. Otherwise the cat may use vantage points in the home, and could start to scratch and spray mark inside.

Cats control access to their [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territory]] using [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Olfactory Communication|scent marks]] and by [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Visual Communication|watching and threatening]] their enemies from vantage points that they spend time at around the edge of their territory. In order for the cats to do this, the garden must be filled with hiding and climbing places as well as places for scratching. Otherwise the cat may use vantage points in the home, and could start to scratch and spray mark inside.

Making improvements to the outdoor environment has several benefits including increasing the space available to the cats and reducing competition for [[Cat Latrines|toilets]], resting places and space within the home. It provides the cat with things to do so that it is able to carry out a wider range of its normal activities. The cat may stay closer to home because all of its needs are met locally and it enables the cat to successfully maintain the garden as a territory, thus reducing fighting with other cats.

Making improvements to the outdoor environment has several benefits, including increasing the space available to the cats and reducing competition for [[Cat Latrines|toilets]], resting places and space within the home. It provides the cat with things to do so that it is able to carry out a wider range of its normal activities. The cat may stay closer to home because all of its needs are met locally and it enables the cat to successfully maintain the garden as a territory, thus reducing fighting with other cats.

Necessary provisions:

'''Necessary provisions:'''

:'''[[Cat Latrines#Outdoor Latrines|Outdoor toilets]]'''

*'''[[Cat Latrines#Outdoor Latrines|Outdoor toilets]]'''

:'''Scratching places''': Cats tend to leave [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Claw Marks|claw marks]] at the edge of their territory to keep other cats out. Creating some outdoor scratching places will enable the resident cat to maintain its territory more effectively. These are simply made from softwood posts, which have been rubbed against existing scratching places to pick up claw marking smells. The surface is scratched with a wire brush to simulate scratch marks, as this often attracts further scratching. They should be positioned around the edges of the garden.

*'''Scratching places''': Cats tend to leave [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Claw Marks|claw marks]] at the edge of their territory to keep other cats out. Creating some outdoor scratching places will enable the resident cat to maintain its territory more effectively. These are simply made from softwood posts, which have been rubbed against existing scratching places to pick up claw marking smells. The surface is scratched with a wire brush to simulate scratch marks, as this often attracts further scratching. They should be positioned around the edges of the garden.

:'''Hiding places and vantage points''': Cats need some easily-defended vantage points in the garden from which they can rest and watch the activities of other cats. For example fixing shelves to fences and outside walls, wooden platforms into trees and empty shelves and windowsills in garden sheds so that the cat can sit on them. The vantage points need to face away from the house, otherwise invading cats may use them to stake out the resident cat's home. The line of sight back to the house needs to be blocked using the natural arrangement of trees and plants in the garden or pot plants, fences and other obstacles.

*'''Hiding places and vantage points''': Cats need some easily-defended vantage points in the garden from which they can rest and watch the activities of other cats. For example fixing shelves to fences and outside walls, wooden platforms into trees and empty shelves and windowsills in garden sheds so that the cat can sit on them. The vantage points need to face away from the house, otherwise invading cats may use them to stake out the resident cat's home. The line of sight back to the house needs to be blocked using the natural arrangement of trees and plants in the garden or pot plants, fences and other obstacles.

Some cats are hesitant to go out and will hang around the cat flap for long periods, or they will often rush in as if they are being pursued. These cats may benefit from having a few hiding places (e.g. plant pots) close to the exit of the cat flap. This also reduces the tendency for cats to spray around the interior walls close to the cat flap. It also means that the resident cat can sneak out into the garden without being watched by other cats.

Some cats are hesitant to go out and will hang around the cat flap for long periods, or they will often rush in as if they are being pursued. These cats may benefit from having a few hiding places (e.g. plant pots) close to the exit of the cat flap. This also reduces the tendency for cats to spray around the interior walls close to the cat flap. It also means that the resident cat can sneak out into the garden without being watched by other cats.

'''Preventing access by other cats'''<br>

'''Preventing access by other cats'''<br>

In most cases, cats are not very concerned when other cats cross their [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territory]] because it is normal for this to happen. Problems arise when other cats lurk in the garden, using their own vantage points to observe and threaten the resident cat in its own home or when it tries to enter the garden. To prevent this from happening, plant shrubs or planters and other obstacles can be used to obstruct the view. Another option is to make vantage points uncomfortable for other cats to use, for example by fixing burglar deterrent prickle strips onto fences or spots intruder cats might rest in the garden.

In most cases, cats are not very concerned when other cats cross their [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territory]] because it is normal for this to happen. Problems arise when other cats lurk in the garden, using their own vantage points to observe and threaten the resident cat in its own home or when it tries to enter the garden. To prevent this from happening, plant shrubs or planters and other obstacles can be used to obstruct the view. Another option is to make vantage points uncomfortable for other cats to use, for example by fixing burglar deterrent prickle strips onto fences or spots where intruder cats might rest in the garden.

==Introducing a Cat to a New Home/Environment==

==Introducing a Cat to a New Home/Environment==

* Prepare a quiet room in the new home with food, water, a [[Cat Latrines|latrine]], and familiar items from the cat’s previous home. This will be the room into which the cat will be initially introduced, so it is best if this place has not recently been occupied by other cats.

* Prepare a quiet room in the new home with food, water, a [[Cat Latrines|latrine]], and familiar items from the cat’s previous home. This will be the room into which the cat will be initially introduced, so it is best if this place has not recently been occupied by other cats.

* Install a [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|F3 diffuser (Feliway)]] in this room 1-2 hours before the cat arrives.

* Install a [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|F3 diffuser (Feliway)]] in this room at least 1-2 hours (ideally 24 hours) before the cat arrives.

* Install additional diffusers throughout the home at a rate of 1 per 50-70m2.

* Install additional diffusers throughout the home at a rate of 1 per 50-70m2.

* Before moving the cat to its new home, some of the cat’s [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|'''flank and facial odours''']] should be harvested onto a clean cloth and placed into a sealed bag ready to use in the new home.

* Before moving the cat to its new home, some of the cat’s [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|'''flank and facial odours''']] should be harvested onto a clean cloth and placed into a sealed bag ready to use in the new home.

* Use the cloth to transfer facial and flank odours to furniture in this room of the new home.

* Use the cloth to transfer facial and flank odours to furniture in this room of the new home.

* When transferring the cat, other items that will carry some of the cat’s facial and flank odour marks (bedding, resting places) should be brought with.  

* When transferring the cat, other items that will carry some of the cat’s facial and flank odour marks (bedding, resting places) should be brought with the cat.  

* Allow the cat to explore the new room by opening the cat basket. The cat should be able to return to the basket if it desires. The cat should not be pulled out of the basket or coaxed.

* Allow the cat to explore the new room by opening the cat basket. The cat should be able to return to the basket if it desires. The cat should not be pulled out of the basket or coaxed.

* Do not allow access to the rest of the house until the cat is completely relaxed in this first room. This may take several hours or even a few days. The cat should be relaxed, playful and approachable.

* Do not allow access to the rest of the house until the cat is completely relaxed in this first room. This may take several hours or even a few days. The cat should be relaxed, playful and approachable.

====Introducing the Cats to Each Other ====

====Introducing the Cats to Each Other ====

Stage 1: '''Scent introduction''':

'''Stage 1: ''Scent introduction''''':

* Prepare several disposable cloths, each labelled with one cat’s name.

* Prepare several disposable cloths, each labelled with one cat’s name.

* Use each labelled cloth daily to collect the scent from the face and sides of the body of the cat with whose name it has been labelled. Do this each day. The cloths must not be mixed up and should be stored separately in plastic bags or wallets to prevent scent transferring between them.

* Use each labelled cloth daily to collect the scent from the face and sides of the body of the cat with whose name it has been labelled. Do this each day. The cloths must not be mixed up and should be stored separately in plastic bags or wallets to prevent scent transferring between them.

* With repeated presentation of the scent on the cloths each cat should come to ignore the smell and should start to react positively to it by rubbing against the hand wrapped in the cloth. When all cats are reacting in this way it is time to move on to stage 2.

* With repeated presentation of the scent on the cloths each cat should come to ignore the smell and should start to react positively to it by rubbing against the hand wrapped in the cloth. When all cats are reacting in this way it is time to move on to stage 2.

Stage 2: '''Scent swapping''':

'''Stage 2: ''Scent swapping''''':

* After collecting the odour from the cats in the usual way (from face and flanks), the cloths should be put together in a single bag so that scent from them mixes.

* After collecting the odour from the cats in the usual way (from face and flanks), the cloths should be put together in a single bag so that scent from them mixes.

* This combined scent is then used in the same way as in stage 1.

* This combined scent is then used in the same way as in stage 1.

* Once all cats are accepting this new odour and are actively rubbing against the cloth and the other objects that have been marked with the cloth then it is time to move on to stage 3.

* Once all cats are accepting this new odour and are actively rubbing against the cloth and the other objects that have been marked with the cloth then it is time to move on to stage 3.

Stage 3: '''Allowing the new cat to explore''':

'''Stage 3: ''Allowing the new cat to explore''''':

* The new cat should be allowed to explore the rest of the house while the resident cats are excluded or shut into a separate room. This allows the new cat to learn all of the hiding and escape places so that, as the cats start to meet in person, it does not feel vulnerable.

* The new cat should be allowed to explore the rest of the house while the resident cats are excluded or shut into a separate room. This allows the new cat to learn all of the hiding and escape places so that, as the cats start to meet in person, it does not feel vulnerable.

* Once the new cat is confidently using the feeding, resting and toilet places in the rest of the home then it is time to move on to the next stage.

* Once the new cat is confidently using the feeding, resting and toilet places in the rest of the home then it is time to move on to the next stage.

Stage 4: '''Limited face to face introduction''':

'''Stage 4: ''Limited face to face introduction''''':

* The cats need to begin to see each other in a way that minimises the risk of aggression. A glass door or mesh screen are best, but some child gates are made from mesh that provides a partial barrier. Mesh barriers are the best, because they allow the cats to smell each other. If neither is possible then a partly opened door may be used (open just enough that the cats can see each other but not get through).

* The cats need to begin to see each other in a way that minimises the risk of aggression. A glass door or mesh screen are best, but some child gates are made from mesh that provides a partial barrier. Mesh barriers are the best, because they allow the cats to smell each other. If neither is possible then a partly opened door may be used (open just enough that the cats can see each other but not get through).

* Give the cats their food on either side of the screen or doorway at their normal feeding times, or distract them with a game.

* Give the cats their food on either side of the screen or doorway at their normal feeding times, or distract them with a game.

[[Category:Feline Behaviour Management]]

[[Category:Feline Behaviour Management]]