Changes

* Detail the cat’s behaviour before, during and after incidents.

* Detail the cat’s behaviour before, during and after incidents.

It is important to establish the motivation of the behaviour to be able to resolve the issue successfully. Scent is used to identify [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territories]] as well as individuals and [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Marking|scent marking]] forms a part of normal cat behaviour; it becomes problematic to owners when inappropriate surfaces and locations are chosen by the cat and when cats are obliged to [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Domestic Cat Territory|share territories under domestic circumstances]].  

It is important to establish the motivation of the behaviour to be able to resolve the issue successfully. Scent is used to identify [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territories]] as well as individuals and [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Marking|scent marking]] forms a part of normal cat behaviour; it becomes problematic to owners when inappropriate surfaces and locations are chosen by the cat.  

So several scenarios emerge. If the [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] is threatened by being overlooked or invaded by cats that are not part of the [[Feline Social Behaviour|group]], then the boundary of the core territory can retreat into the house and the resident cat(s) will use spray or claw marks to delineate a boundary at the edge of the core territory which happens to be within the home. These cats may end up inhabiting the upper rooms of a house as core territory and then spray marking or middening on the ground floor, but the situation often starts when urine marks appear at windows or external doors, or around the cat flap.

The two main scenarios leading to indoor marking are conflict with non-resident cats, and conflict with resident cats.

In an ideal situation, resident cats treat the boundary of the home as the boundary of their core territory. They leave facial and flank scent marks indoors, and use claw and spray marks only outdoors. If the [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] is threatened by being overlooked or invaded by cats that are not part of the [[Feline Social Behaviour|group]], then the boundary of the core territory can retreat into the house and the resident cat(s) will use spray or claw marks to delineate a boundary at the edge of a more restricted core territory which happens to be within the home. For example, cats may end up inhabiting certain rooms of a house as core territory and then use spray marking or maddening in rooms that are overlooked or entered by non-resident cats. This situation often starts with urine marks primarily being deposited around windows, external doors, or around the cat flap.

If the relationship between cats within the home is flawed, then, rather than one group, there may be two or more [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|factions]] coexisting within the home. They may have little tolerance for each other. Most domestic cat groups are of mixed gender and are not actively engaged in mutual kitten rearing, so that there is no positive reason for the cats to coexist other than their own individual social preferences and affiliations. The continued function of the group is highly dependent on whether present resources are plentiful enough to maintain the whole group without competition. Within domestic cat groups sharing a home, it is possible to identify patterns of interaction by analysing greeting, affiliative and aggressive behaviour between cats ''(see example diagram).''

If the relationship between cats within the home is dysfunctional, then there may be two or more [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|factions]] coexisting within the home, with little tolerance for each other. Most domestic cat groups are of mixed sex, breed and age, and are not actively engaged in mutual kitten rearing. There is therefore no functional basis for the cats to coexist other than their own individual social preferences and affiliations. The continued function of the group is highly dependent on whether present resources are plentiful enough to maintain the whole group without competition. Within domestic cat groups sharing a home, it is possible to identify patterns of interaction by analysing greeting, affiliative and aggressive behaviour between cats ''(see example diagram).'' This can be used to identify factions or individuals that do not form part of a cohesive social group, so that resources can be redistributed and measures taken to improve social cohesion.

Identifying the [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|social structure]] of the group may give insights into why the relationship between resident cats has broken down. For example, the loss of a social facilitator cat may cause [[Feline Aggression|aggression]] to begin between factions because no other individual is maintaining the group odour. The same situation can occur when the owner goes away on holiday or when a social facilitator becomes ill or infirm. The role of a particular individual may change according to its health status. A pair or faction may break up if one cat suffers from pain, hyperaesthesia or some other condition that changes its acceptance of grooming or affiliative behaviour. It may change to become a satellite individual. A polyphagic hyperthyroid or diabetic cat may consume more food or despotically control access to it, leaving the rest of the group resource deficient. Investigating and treating marking problems that relate to social difficulties between cats can be demanding.

Identifying the [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|social structure]] of the group may give insights into why the relationship between resident cats has broken down. For example, the loss of a social facilitator cat may cause [[Feline Aggression|aggression]] to begin between factions because no other individual is maintaining the group odour. The same situation can occur when the owner goes away on holiday or when a social facilitator becomes ill or infirm. The role of a particular individual may change according to its health status. A pair or faction may break up if one cat suffers from pain, hyperaesthesia or some other condition that changes its acceptance of grooming or affiliative behaviour. It may change to become a satellite individual, with little participation in the group. A polyphagic hyperthyroid or diabetic cat may consume more food or despotically control access to it, leaving the rest of the group resource deficient. Investigating and treating marking problems that relate to social difficulties between cats can be demanding.

==Treatment==

==Treatment==