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Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour (view source)
Revision as of 16:00, 16 June 2014
, 16:00, 16 June 2014→Introducing a Cat to a New Home/Environment
The importance of properly introducing new cats to a home where there are existing cats is well known. Before introducing a new cat, it is important to think about whether the existing cats will accept it. If they are under stress already they are not likely to accept a new cat. Their existing problems should take priority. If introduction is not managed correctly, there is a greater probability of [[Feline Fear and Stress|fear and anxiety problems]], [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Same Household|inter-cat aggression]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|inappropriate spraying]] in the future. It is also important to introduce cats correctly to households where there are no other cats, but where animals, children and the general routine in the household may be unfamiliar and stressful. The same is true when moving cats form one home to another.
The importance of properly introducing new cats to a home where there are existing cats is well known. Before introducing a new cat, it is important to think about whether the existing cats will accept it. If they are under stress already they are not likely to accept a new cat. Their existing problems should take priority. If introduction is not managed correctly, there is a greater probability of [[Feline Fear and Stress|fear and anxiety problems]], [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Same Household|inter-cat aggression]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|inappropriate spraying]] in the future. It is also important to introduce cats correctly to households where there are no other cats, but where animals, children and the general routine in the household may be unfamiliar and stressful. The same is true when moving cats form one home to another.
===No Existing Cats Present===
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* Use the cloth to transfer facial and flank odours to furniture in this room of the new home.
* Install a [[Pheromonotherap - Cat#F3|F3 diffuser (Feliway]] in this room 1-2 hours before the cat arrives.
* Install additional diffusers throughout the home at a rate of 1 per 50-70m2.
* 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.
* The cat should then be allowed free access to one or two additional rooms in the house every couple of hours until it has explored the whole house. The cat should be allowed to do this in peace, not with people rushing around or trying to distract it.
===Existing Cats Present===
===General preparations for the arrival of a new cat===
===General preparations for the arrival of a new cat===
* Start with the new cat in its own room, containing a [[cat Latrines|litter tray]], food, water and a several comfortable places to rest and hide. Installation of a [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|Feliway diffuser]] in this room makes it seem more familiar and secure for the new cat.
* Start with the new cat in its own room, containing a [[cat Latrines|litter tray]], food, water and a several comfortable places to rest and hide. Installation of a [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|Feliway diffuser]] in this room makes it seem more familiar and secure for the new cat.
* The resident cats should be provided with several extra places to get food, as well as places to drink and extra places to rest and hide. A [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|Feliway diffuser]] will increase their sense of security.
* The resident cats should be provided with several extra places to get food, as well as places to drink and extra places to rest and hide. A [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|Feliway diffuser]] will increase their sense of security.
===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.
• 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.
• Whenever a person goes to greet, feed or play with the new cat it should be briefly presented with the cloth belonging to one of the resident cats to smell and investigate. The cloth should be wrapped around the person’s hand. Initially the cat may seem unhappy [it may back away, hiss or freeze]. At this stage, it is important not to force contact as the cat may become aggressive.
• Whenever a person goes to greet, feed or play with the new cat it should be briefly presented with the cloth belonging to one of the resident cats to smell and investigate. The cloth should be wrapped around the person’s hand. Initially the cat may seem unhappy [it may back away, hiss or freeze]. At this stage, it is important not to force contact as the cat may become aggressive.
• Once the cats are showing no aggressive or fearful behaviour they can be allowed to meet face to face after an initial meeting through the door or screen.
• Once the cats are showing no aggressive or fearful behaviour they can be allowed to meet face to face after an initial meeting through the door or screen.
It is important to continue mixing odours between the cats and applying their “group scent” to yourself, other people living in the home and on common marking places in the house until the cats have begun to rub against each other or groom each other. At this point, Feliway diffusers and other environmental changes may be taken away gradually. The total time for the introduction process may vary from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, but there is no shortcut if harmony is to be achieved.
It is important to continue mixing odours between the cats and applying their “group scent” to yourself, other people living in the home and on common marking places in the house until the cats have begun to rub against each other or groom each other. At this point, Feliway diffusers and other environmental changes may be taken away gradually. The total time for the introduction process may vary from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, but there is no shortcut if harmony is to be achieved.
==Environment in Potentially Fearful Situation==
==Environment in Potentially Fearful Situation==