Changes

==Aggression Between Cats in the Same Household==

==Aggression Between Cats in the Same Household==

Aggression between cats in the household is motivated by the underlying emotional responses as aggression towards people. These include fear, frustration, predatory behaviour, or play. Often aggression problems in multi-cat households will relate to a combination of these causes, so that accurate and comprehensive history taking is an essential part of reaching a diagnosis.

Aggression between cats in the household is motivated by the same underlying emotional responses as aggression towards people. These include fear, frustration, predatory behaviour, or play. Often aggression problems in multi-cat households will relate to a combination of these causes, so that accurate and comprehensive history taking is an essential part of reaching a diagnosis.

It is now widely accepted that, in situations of aggression between cats in the same household, aggression can be manifested not only in active aggressive behaviour but also in a more passive manner through strategic use of marking behaviours such as indoor urine spraying. Passive aggression is therefore a differential diagnosis in cases of indoor marking.  

It is now widely accepted that, in situations of aggression between cats in the same household, aggression can be manifested not only in active aggressive behaviour but also in a more passive manner through strategic use of marking behaviours such as indoor urine spraying. Passive aggression is therefore a differential diagnosis in cases of indoor marking.  

Feline play often involves rehearsal of predatory behaviour, which is fine when it is directed at inanimate objects. However, other cats in the household are just as likely to become mock-predatory targets as their human counterparts.  

Feline play often involves rehearsal of predatory behaviour, which is fine when it is directed at inanimate objects. However, other cats in the household are just as likely to become mock-predatory targets as their human counterparts.  

   

   

Inter-cat aggression within the household is most likely to occur at certain key times, such as when a new cat is being introduced to the household. This may be due to fear of the new cat or due to more general effects on the availability of resources such as resting places, owner attention or food. Another important high-risk event is when a cat that has been temporarily hospitalised or housed in a cattery returns home. Poor socialisation of one or more of the cats in the home and the presence of social stress within the household are also factors that need to be considered.

Inter-cat aggression within the household is most likely to occur at certain key times, such as when a new cat is being introduced to the household. This may be due to fear of the new cat or due to more general effects on the availability of resources such as resting places, owner attention or food. Another important high-risk event is when a cat that has been temporarily hospitalised or housed in a cattery returns home. Poor socialisation of one or more of the cats in the home and the presence of social stress within the household are also factors that need to be considered.

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

The ultimate aim of treatment is to produce a fully functioning cat group in which there is maximal affiliative behaviour and minimal aggression. Treatment of aggression within cat groups should only proceed where there is a genuine likelihood that the environment can be permanently modified to meet the cats’ needs. This may mean giving the cats access to more space, a larger number and diversity of resources, and possibly indoor-outdoor access if the cats are currently kept inside. Part of the solution to some inter-cat aggression problems may be to identify and re-home despotic cats, or to sensitively reduce the overall cat population in a household by re-homing certain factions en-mass. In this case the resolution is to produce several functioning cat groups that live separately. Some owners are fortunate enough to be able to provide two or more separate ‘homes’ for their cats within their property, using outbuildings. Making this kind of decision requires an in-depth analysis and understanding of the social dynamics of the group and how it accesses resources. A good solution that improves the welfare of all the cats should never be regarded as a failure, even if the cats are unable to continue living with the owner. One significant problem in cat ownership is Animal Hoarding, especially in the case of inter-cat aggression within the household. Suspected animal hoarders should carefully and sensitively counselled, and if unwilling to sensibly re-home and depopulate then they should be reported to local authorities. Animal hoarders or collectors should not be supported in their attempts to keep excessively large populations of cats.

The ultimate aim of treatment is to produce a fully functioning cat group in which there is '''maximal affiliative behaviour and minimal aggression'''. Treatment of aggression within cat groups should only proceed where there is a genuine likelihood that the environment can be permanently modified to meet the cats’ needs. This may mean giving the cats access to more space, a larger number and diversity of resources, and possibly indoor-outdoor access if the cats are currently kept inside. Part of the solution to some inter-cat aggression problems may be to identify and re-home despotic cats, or to sensitively reduce the overall cat population in a household by re-homing certain factions en-mass. In this case the resolution is to produce several functioning cat groups that live separately. Some owners are fortunate enough to be able to provide two or more separate ‘homes’ for their cats within their property, using outbuildings. Making this kind of decision requires an in-depth analysis and understanding of the social dynamics of the group and how it accesses resources. A good solution that improves the welfare of all the cats should never be regarded as a failure, even if the cats are unable to continue living with the owner. One significant problem in cat ownership is [[Animal Hoarding|Animal Hoarding]], especially in the case of inter-cat aggression within the household. Suspected animal hoarders should be carefully and sensitively counselled, and if unwilling to sensibly re-home and depopulate then they should be reported to local authorities. Animal hoarders or collectors should not be supported in their attempts to keep excessively large populations of cats.

When treating aggression between cats sharing a household, it is important to address the basic factors that encourage cats to spontaneously form groups in feral or wild situations:

When treating aggression between cats sharing a household, it is important to address the basic factors that encourage cats to spontaneously form groups in feral or wild situations:

This is in addition to any innate [genetic or acquired] tendency toward sociability in the individuals making up the group.

This is in addition to any innate [genetic or acquired] tendency toward sociability in the individuals making up the group.

In order to maximise available space for the cats it is also important to make the best use of the outdoor environment. Provision of extra resting places, perches and latrines outside will reduce competition for indoor resources. Access to outbuildings increases indoor space available to the cats, as does providing sheltered perches. Some owners are reluctant to give cats access to outdoors, and in some countries cats are not permitted to roam free. In these cases a secure outdoor run may be a viable option, to increase available space.

 

In order to '''maximise available space''' for the cats it is also important to make the best use of the outdoor environment. Provision of extra resting places, perches and latrines outside will reduce competition for indoor resources. Access to outbuildings increases indoor space available to the cats, as does providing sheltered perches. Some owners are reluctant to give cats access to outdoors, and in some countries cats are not permitted to roam free. In these cases a secure outdoor run may be a viable option, to increase available space.

Part of reducing competition is to reduce the value of the owner as a ‘virtual resource’. The cats may regard the owner as a source of food, as well as security. They may be unable to gain access to food or go in and out of the house safely when the owner is not present to protect them. This also means that cats tend to congregate around the owner, which places them in close proximity at a time when they are most desperate to get food or outdoor access. Free access to food in bowls or activity feeders that always contain some food and are merely topped up by the owner at random will enable the cats to maintain distance from one another. Likewise cat-doors (preferably more than one) are better than a ‘human operated’ back-door.

Part of reducing competition is to reduce the value of the owner as a ‘virtual resource’. The cats may regard the owner as a source of food, as well as security. They may be unable to gain access to food or go in and out of the house safely when the owner is not present to protect them. This also means that cats tend to congregate around the owner, which places them in close proximity at a time when they are most desperate to get food or outdoor access. Free access to food in bowls or activity feeders that always contain some food and are merely topped up by the owner at random will enable the cats to maintain distance from one another. Likewise cat-doors (preferably more than one) are better than a ‘human operated’ back-door.

Increasing access to space is also critical. The cat’s primary means of controlling its interaction with other cats is to maintain distance from them. In the small rooms that are typical of most homes it may be very difficult for a cat to feel safe because it is always forced into closer than desirable proximity to other cats. This tends to favour aggression, because escape and avoidance are not possible. Fortunately, cats are able to make greater use of 3-dimensional space than humans and dogs, so giving them high perches in the form of shelves or cat furniture will enable the cats to re-engage avoidance and distance-maintaining behaviours.  

'''Increasing access to space is also critical'''. The cat’s primary means of controlling its interaction with other cats is to maintain distance from them. In the small rooms that are typical of most homes it may be very difficult for a cat to feel safe because it is always forced into closer than desirable proximity to other cats. This tends to favour aggression, because escape and avoidance are not possible. Fortunately, cats are able to make greater use of 3-dimensional space than humans and dogs, so giving them high perches in the form of shelves or cat furniture will enable the cats to re-engage avoidance and distance-maintaining behaviours.  

Cardboard boxes and other low-down boltholes provide an excellent escape route for cats that are regularly chased aggressively or during play. This enables the victim to take refuge without having to run too far, and removes some of the reinforcement for chasing by the other cat. If the motivation for chasing is predatory play then the owner should provide other play opportunities as an outlet for this motivation, such as play with a fishing toy and a changing supply of small, easily moved, brightly coloured toys.

Cardboard boxes and other low-down boltholes provide an excellent escape route for cats that are regularly chased aggressively or during play. This enables the victim to take refuge without having to run too far, and removes some of the reinforcement for chasing by the other cat. If the motivation for chasing is predatory play then the owner should provide other play opportunities as an outlet for this motivation, such as play with a fishing toy and a changing supply of small, easily moved, brightly coloured toys.

The pheromone environment of functioning cat groups is quite special. Repeated face and flank marking of objects in the central section of the cats’ territory, combined with allorubbing and allogrooming [rubbing and grooming of social partners] creates a strong sense of security and identity. This can be lost when factions of cats or individuals dissociate from one another. This is commonest when people are not present to transfer odours between cats, or when a super-social individual within the group has gone. It can also occur when a house is redecorated, stripping odour marks from the environment, or when individuals are reunited after a period of separation [such as when hospitalised or having gone missing]. The use of F3 diffusers [Feliway, CEVA Animal Health] can simulate the effect of dense facial and flank marking within an environment, whilst the cats re-establish their own marks and exchange odours that identify them. The pheromone F4 [Felifriend, CEVA Animal Health] ought to be very useful for treating inter-cat aggression within the household, but unfortunately there have been problems with its practical use. F4 signals indicate familiarity, but with cats that have already had a number of aggressive encounters there may be a dissonance between the memory of the visual appearance of the aggressor cat and the chemical ‘familiarity’ signal. This has been seen to trigger apparent panic and violent outbursts. F4 is not recommended for treating inter-cat aggression within the household, but is very useful for reducing fear of unfamiliar people and other animals and for helping in the introduction of a new member of the household.

The pheromone environment of functioning cat groups is quite special. Repeated face and flank marking of objects in the central section of the cats’ territory, combined with allorubbing and allogrooming [rubbing and grooming of social partners] creates a strong sense of security and identity. This can be lost when factions of cats or individuals dissociate from one another. This is commonest when people are not present to transfer odours between cats, or when a super-social individual within the group has gone. It can also occur when a house is redecorated, stripping odour marks from the environment, or when individuals are reunited after a period of separation [such as when hospitalised or having gone missing]. The use of F3 diffusers [Feliway] can simulate the effect of dense facial and flank marking within an environment, whilst the cats re-establish their own marks and exchange odours that identify them. The pheromone F4 [Felifriend] ought to be very useful for treating inter-cat aggression within the household, but unfortunately there have been problems with its practical use. F4 signals indicate familiarity, but with cats that have already had a number of aggressive encounters there may be a dissonance between the memory of the visual appearance of the aggressor cat and the chemical ‘familiarity’ signal. This has been seen to trigger apparent panic and violent outbursts. F4 is not recommended for treating inter-cat aggression within the household, but is very useful for reducing fear of unfamiliar people and other animals and for helping in the introduction of a new member of the household.

Individual acts of aggression between cats must be minimised. Vantage points used by despotic cats to observe access points and resources, should be removed. Increasing the number of resource locations also makes despotism impossible.  

*Individual acts of aggression between cats must be minimised.  

*Vantage points used by despotic cats to observe access points and resources, should be removed.  

*Increasing the number of resource locations also makes despotism impossible.  

A conditioned punisher such as a rattle can [see handout in appendix] may be used to disrupt aggressive behaviour at its outset e.g. to terminate threatening eye contact. When such an approach is used it must not be readily connected to the owner and should not be used in such a way as to actually frighten either of the cats. The aim is merely to startle the cats in order to disrupt the behavioural sequence but when used used too late in the sequence, when the cats show great body tension and are preparing to strike, it may actually trigger an aggressive attack when. It has to be remembered that fear and anxiety are driving forces for aggressive behaviour and anything that increases tension will probably favour fighting. Use of punishment is therefore not generally recommended. A better method of distracting the cats is to try to trigger a predatory behaviour that is directed at a toy. Most toys will not provide sufficient distraction, but laser pointer may be used carefully to break the cats’ concentration and lure them away from each other into a game. The advantage of this particular toy is that several cats can be independently distracted by moving the dot to different locations.

A conditioned punisher such as a rattle may be used to disrupt aggressive behaviour at its outset e.g. to terminate threatening eye contact. When such an approach is used it must not be readily connected to the owner and should not be used in such a way as to actually frighten either of the cats. The aim is merely to startle the cats in order to disrupt the behavioural sequence but when used used too late in the sequence, when the cats show great body tension and are preparing to strike, it may actually trigger an aggressive attack. It has to be remembered that fear and anxiety are driving forces for aggressive behaviour and anything that increases tension will probably favour fighting. Use of punishment is therefore not generally recommended. A better method of distracting the cats is to try to trigger a predatory behaviour that is directed at a toy. Most toys will not provide sufficient distraction, but laser pointer may be used carefully to break the cats’ concentration and lure them away from each other into a game. The advantage of this particular toy is that several cats can be independently distracted by moving the dot to different locations.

Successful resolution of aggression is most likely if individuals recognise each other as part of the same group. This can be achieved by swapping odours between the cats and possibly by isolating factions or individuals so that a complete re-introduction is carried out, as if the cats were being brought into the house for the first time [see box for introducing new cats]. This may be the most appropriate course if the cats are likely to inflict serious injury on each other, or where it is relatively easy for the owners to keep the cats apart in this way.

Successful resolution of aggression is most likely if individuals recognise each other as part of the same group. This can be achieved by swapping odours between the cats and possibly by isolating factions or individuals so that a complete re-introduction is carried out, as if the cats were being brought into the house for the first time [see box for introducing new cats]. This may be the most appropriate course if the cats are likely to inflict serious injury on each other, or where it is relatively easy for the owners to keep the cats apart in this way.

*Consider fitting the aggressor[s] with a bell and collar so that other cats can evade them.

*Consider fitting the aggressor[s] with a bell and collar so that other cats can evade them.

*Provide each faction with its own complete set of resources, located in an area where the cats already spend most of their times.

*Provide each faction with its own complete set of resources, located in an area where the cats already spend most of their times.

*Each faction should also be provided with an F3 diffuser [Feliway, CEVA Animal Health] in the room where its resources are located.

*Each faction should also be provided with an F3 diffuser [Feliway] in the room where its resources are located.

*Provide additional hiding and resting places around the house.

*Provide additional hiding and resting places around the house.

*Increase access to 3-dimensional space, by providing shelves and high cat furniture.

*Increase access to 3-dimensional space, by providing shelves and high cat furniture.