Changes

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

Cats are highly dependent on their environment, which different to other animals. The inside of the home should be considered the [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|‘core’ of the cat’s territory]]. This is somewhere that cats expect to feel safe and where they can eat, drink and rest in privacy away from any enemies. Cats also need to be able to climb up high to vantage points where they feel safe.

Being solitary hunters, cats are highly dependent on their environment and territory. It is important to provide cats with a home that meets their needs, especially if several cats are sharing the same place. Otherwise there is risk of the cats suffering from [[Feline Fear and Stress|stress]] and [[Feline Problem Behaviour|behavioural problems]] like [[Feline Aggression|aggression]], [[Feline Housesoiling|house soiling]] or [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor urine marking]].

It is important to provide cats with a home that meets their needs, especially if several cats are sharing the same home. Otherwise there is risk of the cats suffering from [[Feline Fear and Stress|stress]] and [[Feline Problem Behaviour|behavioural problems]] like [[Feline Aggression|aggression]], [[Feline Housesoiling|house soiling]] or [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor urine marking]].

Any changes to a cat's environment may have profound effect on its well being. In particular, the home, which should be the cat's [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|‘core territory’]], is a crucial source of security for the cat. Proper introduction to a new home reduces stress and the likelihood of [[Feline Fear and Stress|fear problems]]. Facilitating adaptation to this new core territory also reduces the risk of the cat straying or trying to return to its original territory after a house move.

Any changes to their environment may have profound effect on their well being and behavioural problems may develop if this is not addressed appropriately, particularly at times of rehoming or owners moving house. Proper introduction to a new [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|‘core territory’]] reduces stress and the likelihood of [[Feline Fear and Stress|fear problems]]. Creating attachment to a new core territory also reduces the risk of the cat straying or trying to return to its original territory after a house move.

Successfully learning about a new environment depends upon already having somewhere safe to return to, because normal exploration of a new environment follows a star-shaped pattern extending out from a place where the cat feels safe. Any fearful event will cause the cat to return briefly to its place of safety. 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. Unfamiliarity with an environment can significantly alter a cat's emotional response to a situation; for example, a well-socialised cat may be confident around lively children when they are in an environment that it feels safe, but feel fearful of the same 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. It is therefore essential that the cat accepts and feels safe in the new environment before encountering any potential stressors.

 

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. It is therefore essential that the cat accepts and feels safe in the new environment before encountering any potential stressors.

==Adequate Environment for Cats==  

==Adequate Environment for Cats==