Changes

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==Emotional Factors==

==The relationship between resident cats==

[[File:Cat relationships example.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Example of a diagram illustrating the relationships between cats within the same household]]  

[[File:Cat relationships example.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Example of a diagram illustrating the relationships between cats within the same household]]  

In situations of both [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]] and [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|elimination]] behaviour within the home, it is important to assess the cat’s emotional status and to attempt to identify any triggers for alteration in that status. Perception of threat either from within or outside the home is commonly associated with the onset of marking behaviour but it is also important to remember that cats that are feeling threatened and insecure may be reluctant to use litter facilities that are positioned in vulnerable locations or that pose difficulties for the cat in terms of competition with other feline household members. In general, it is the '''insecure and timid feline that is more likely to present with problems of marking behaviour '''and individuals that do not cope well with change in their environment are going to be predisposed to the use of urine deposits that are designed to increase home security. In addition, cats that are living in a hostile social environment, where there is underlying tension between feline housemates, may use marking behaviour in an attempt to increase distance between them and to avoid overt physical confrontation. Therefore, an assessment of the '''compatibility between cats in the household''' is an important part of the investigation process. Likewise, the relationship between the cat and the owner should be considered and questions about the owner’s reaction to the discovery of deposits within the home should be included in the consultation. It is perfectly understandable for people to find it unacceptable that their pet is depositing urine or faeces within their home but the use of punitive techniques may be a factor in perpetuating the behaviour and confirming the cat’s perception that the house is no longer a secure [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]].

In situations of both [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]] and [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|elimination]] behaviour within multi-cat households, the relationship between resident cats is often an underlying factor in problem expression. Competition between resident cats for access to constrained resources, such as food, a litter tray or an outdoor access point, leads to stress. Cats may use urine spray and claw marking in an attempt to organise access to space; trying to maintain temporal and spatial separation from one another. This is intolerable for owners, and is ultimately dysfunctional for the cats. Hostile encounters around the litter tray or an outdoor access point my force less confident and assertive cats to find other places to eliminate within the home. </br>

 

An assessment of the '''relationship between resident cats''' is therefore an important part of the investigation process. Likewise, the relationship between the cat and the owner should be considered and questions about the owner’s reaction to the discovery of deposits within the home should be included in the consultation. It is perfectly understandable for people to find it unacceptable that their pet is depositing urine or faeces within their home but the use of punitive techniques may be a factor in perpetuating the behaviour and confirming the cat’s perception that the house is no longer a secure [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]].

Owners often misinterpret relationships between cats in multi-cat households because they are unaware of the significance of certain behaviours. For example, cats will often be described as ‘getting on well’ because they eat and rest in proximity to one another on the owner’s bed or couch. Unfortunately, this apparent tolerance may exist only because the cats are forced to be close to each other when they are feeding or resting. They have no other choice because there are no other feeding stations or equivalent resting places. The cats may be very wary and hesitant whilst feeding and the owner will report that there are frequent bouts of hissing or spitting around the food bowl. Likewise, as one cat leaves a resting place or feeding area, it may be pursued or attacked and cats may attempt long distance intimidation, such as staring eye contact, to frighten each other away from resting places or latrines. Some cats will try to pull food out of a dish with their paws so that they can take it to eat in private. The same desire for privacy will drive them to make a toilet of their own somewhere in the house.

Owners often misinterpret relationships between cats in multi-cat households because they are unaware of the significance of certain behaviours. For example, cats will often be described as ‘getting on well’ because they eat and rest in proximity to one another on the owner’s bed or couch. Unfortunately, this apparent tolerance may exist only because the cats are forced to be close to each other when they are feeding or resting. They have no other choice because there are no other feeding stations or equivalent resting places. The cats may be very wary and hesitant whilst feeding and the owner will report that there are frequent bouts of hissing or spitting around the food bowl. Likewise, as one cat leaves a resting place or feeding area, it may be pursued or attacked and cats may attempt long distance intimidation, such as staring eye contact, to frighten each other away from resting places or latrines. Some cats will try to pull food out of a dish with their paws so that they can take it to eat in private. The same desire for privacy will drive them to make a toilet of their own somewhere in the house.