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Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour (view source)

Revision as of 16:18, 16 June 2014

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→‎Environment in Potentially Fearful Situation
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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.
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==Environment in Potentially Fearful Situation==
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The normal feline coping strategy in [[Feline Fear and Stress|fearful situations]] is highly dependent upon familiarity with the environment and the opportunities it provides for escape and avoidance behaviour. In this way, the cat is highly attached and dependent upon its [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territory]] for security, which also means that success in treating fear-based problems is substantially dependent upon the cat’s environment.
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The [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core zone]] of the cat’s territory is where it expects to be safest. This is where it may meet familiar conspecifics. Recognition of the core territory is partially dependent upon [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Pheromones|pheromone odour signals]]. The cat expends a lot of time and energy placing [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|face and flank marks]] within the core territory area, not only to identify elements of the environment as familiar but also to create an appeasing environment for itself. In a new home, these personalised signals will be absent and may even be replaced by the odours of other cats that were previously resident. The anxiety caused creates the conditions for establishing problem behaviour.
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It is possible, by using synthetic pheromone analogues such as [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat|F3 (Feliway)]], to recreate or enhance core territory odours. This can increase perceived safety and familiarity in an existing environment, or make a new environment appear familiar and safe.
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Normal exploration of a new environment follows a star-shaped pattern. The cat makes forays into the environment away from an initial safe place. Any fearful event will cause the cat to return briefly to its place of safety. Indeed, successfully learning about a new environment depends upon already having somewhere safe to return to. Without this the cat will experience considerable [[Feline Fear Overview|anxiety and fear]], which may create long-term aversions to the stimuli the cat encounters during the first few hours in a new location. For example, a well-socialised cat might enjoy the company of children when they are in an environment that it understands, but the same cat may react fearfully to boisterous children when in a new environment. This kind of encounter can condition fear reactions that continue to plague the cat’s relationship with the children even once it has settled into the new home.
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It is therefore essential that the cat accepts and feels safe in the new environment before encountering any potential stressors.
       
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