Changes

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

[[Housesoiling - Cat#Medical Assessment|Underlying medical conditions should be investigated]] and treated. Regardless of the cause for the marking behaviour, it is useful to '''increase available resources''' so that cats have easy access to them and perceive their [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] to provide a surfeit of the things that they need. [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat|F3 diffusers (Feliway)]] help to create a sense of core territory and can considerably reduce tension in cat groups. [[Urine Contamination of Property|Soiled areas should be protected]] to prevent soiling from becoming ingrained and harder to remove.

[[Housesoiling - Cat#Medical Assessment|Underlying medical conditions should be investigated]] and treated. Regardless of the cause for the marking behaviour, it is useful to '''increase available resources''' so that cats have easy access to them and perceive their [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] to provide a surfeit of the things that they need. [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat|F3 diffusers (Feliway)]] help to create a sense of core territory and can considerably reduce tension in cat groups. [[Management of Items Contaminated by Urine or Faeces|Soiled areas should be protected]] to prevent soiling from becoming ingrained and harder to remove.

===Marking Caused by an External Threat===

===Marking Caused by an External Threat===

If indoor marking has been caused by conflict between cats in the home then '''comprehensive environmental enrichments''' should be provided. The aim is to provide separate [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|factions]] with their own resources so that they can effectively live separately from each other whilst sharing the same domestic space. This ability to coexist without competition actually increases the likelihood that the cats will begin to associate with each other.

If indoor marking has been caused by conflict between cats in the home then '''comprehensive environmental enrichments''' should be provided. The aim is to provide separate [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|factions]] with their own resources so that they can effectively live separately from each other whilst sharing the same domestic space. This ability to coexist without competition actually increases the likelihood that the cats will begin to associate with each other.

The mixture of [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|facial]] and [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|urine marking]] odours impairs the sense of [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] for the cats. Urine marks are also self-perpetuating because the marker feels compelled to refresh them periodically. For these reasons, it is very important to [[Urine Contamination of Property|remove urine odours]] thoroughly. Scented products and those containing ammonia should not be used to clean up spray marks because they may intensify urine odours and leave an objectionable smell that encourages over-marking. F3 diffusers may be used to intensify the core territory facial and flank odours, and these scents may be harvested from the cats and then spread around the house.

The mixture of [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|facial]] and [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|urine marking]] odours impairs the sense of [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] for the cats. Urine marks are also self-perpetuating because the marker feels compelled to refresh them periodically. For these reasons, it is very important to [[Management of Items Contaminated by Urine or Faeces|remove urine odours]] thoroughly. Scented products and those containing ammonia should not be used to clean up spray marks because they may intensify urine odours and leave an objectionable smell that encourages over-marking. F3 diffusers may be used to intensify the core territory facial and flank odours, and these scents may be harvested from the cats and then spread around the house.

Group odour is crucial to maintaining a conflict-free multicat household and it is often apparent that relationship breakdown occurs when cats are unable to maintain this for themselves. In the same way as for treatment of [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Same Household#Treatment|inter-cat aggression in the household]], it is possible to classically condition an association between the odour of a specific cat or [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|cat-faction]] and the presentation of food or play. The scent is harvested from the facial and flank regions of the individual cats (or factions) onto separate cloths. The cloth from one individual or faction is then regularly presented to one of the other cats before giving food or play, until that cat shows a positive response to that odour. That cat’s cloth is presented in the same way to the group or individual represented by the cloth. Initially the presentation of the odour may cause some alarm. However, after repeated presentation, each cat should begin to rub against the cloth when it is presented, which indicates that the odour has been fully accepted. The body odour of the factions or individuals may then be merged, by exchanging odours between them ''[see diagram below]''. In situations where there is overt aggression between cats it is best to isolate them for a period of 1 to 2 weeks and reintroduce them as if bringing in a new cat for the first time.

Group odour is crucial to maintaining a conflict-free multicat household and it is often apparent that relationship breakdown occurs when cats are unable to maintain this for themselves. In the same way as for treatment of [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Same Household#Treatment|inter-cat aggression in the household]], it is possible to classically condition an association between the odour of a specific cat or [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|cat-faction]] and the presentation of food or play. The scent is harvested from the facial and flank regions of the individual cats (or factions) onto separate cloths. The cloth from one individual or faction is then regularly presented to one of the other cats before giving food or play, until that cat shows a positive response to that odour. That cat’s cloth is presented in the same way to the group or individual represented by the cloth. Initially the presentation of the odour may cause some alarm. However, after repeated presentation, each cat should begin to rub against the cloth when it is presented, which indicates that the odour has been fully accepted. The body odour of the factions or individuals may then be merged, by exchanging odours between them ''[see diagram below]''. In situations where there is overt aggression between cats it is best to isolate them for a period of 1 to 2 weeks and reintroduce them as if bringing in a new cat for the first time.

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* Provide additional resources around the home, including extra resting, feeding, drinking and latrine sites. These should be located so that each faction or individual cat has easy access to its own set of resources close to a location where it spends time.

* Provide additional resources around the home, including extra resting, feeding, drinking and latrine sites. These should be located so that each faction or individual cat has easy access to its own set of resources close to a location where it spends time.

* [[Urine Contamination of Property|Soiled sites should be cleaned properly.]]

* [[Management of Items Contaminated by Urine or Faeces|Soiled sites should be cleaned properly.]]

* The cats should not be punished or threatened and chased when spraying, as this may increase stress or encourage the development of spraying to gain attention.

* The cats should not be punished or threatened and chased when spraying, as this may increase stress or encourage the development of spraying to gain attention.

* Strategically install F3 diffusers (Feliway)  

* Strategically install F3 diffusers (Feliway)