Changes

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

The ultimate aim of treatment is to produce a fully functioning cat group in which there is '''maximal affiliative behaviour and minimal aggression'''. Treatment of aggression within cat groups should only proceed where there is a genuine likelihood that the [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour|environment can be permanently modified]] to meet the cats’ needs. This may mean giving the cats access to more space, a larger number and diversity of resources, and possibly indoor-outdoor access if the cats are currently kept inside. Part of the solution to some inter-cat aggression problems may be to identify and re-home [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|despotic cats]], or to sensitively reduce the overall cat population in a household by re-homing certain factions en-mass. In this case the resolution is to produce several functioning cat groups that live separately. Some owners are fortunate enough to be able to provide two or more separate ‘homes’ for their cats within their property, using outbuildings. Making this kind of decision requires an in-depth analysis and understanding of the social dynamics of the group and how it accesses resources. A good solution that improves the welfare of all the cats should never be regarded as a failure, even if the cats are unable to continue living with the owner.  

Treatment of inter-cat aggression problems includes interventions that operate at a group level as well as an individual level.  

The cats responsible for initiating the aggression must be identified. It may be possible to fit the aggressor(s) with a bell and collar so that other cats can evade them faster.

*The relationships between the cats.

*Conflict and competition with neighbourhood cats.

*The relationship with the owner.

The first step to treating inter-cat aggression is therefore to '''reduce apparent competition'''. Providing each cat-faction within a household with its own collection of resources will immediately reduce stress. The cats no longer have to queue for access to resources in close proximity to cats from opposing factions. Reduced contact in competitive situations will allow the cats to live in greater isolation from each other, but this in fact also enables them to associate with each other without the complication of competition for food or space.  

The individual:

Not all cats place the same value on specific resources, and the environment may need to be altered to take this into account. For example, providing more feeding locations if a timid cat is finding it hard to access resources).

Households may include individuals with very different levels of sociability and boldness, and the provision of play and resources should take this into account. For example, environmental enrichment with activity feeding may be of interest to only one cat in a household, that is not the main antagonist in inter-cat aggression, but by satisfying this cat's behavioural needs the group social dynamic is improved.

In some cases individual cats show such high levels of anxiety and inhibition that they are unable to access resources or become the target for predatory play or bullying. These cats may benefit form psychoactive medication to reduce anxiety.

In other situations, an individual cat may behave despotically, controlling access to resources so that other cats are unable to use them. This can be the result of a medical condition, such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes mellitus, which increases the value of food resources. It can also be a feature of the personality of some cats. Hybrid cats may be particularly problematic in multi-cat households, as their social and territorial behaviour may not be compatible with domestic cats. In some cases, individuals may need to be rehomed in order to improve the welfare of the remaining cats.

In order to '''maximise available space''' for the cats it is also important to make the best use of the outdoor environment. Provision of extra resting places, perches and latrines outside will reduce competition for indoor resources. Access to outbuildings increases indoor space available to the cats, as does providing sheltered perches. Some owners are reluctant to give cats access to outdoors, and in some countries cats are not permitted to roam free. In these cases, a secure outdoor run may be a viable option, to increase available space.

The basis for recognition in cats is group odour. This is created and maintained by allorubbing and allogrooming, which transfers and mixes scent between members of a group. When cats leave facial and flank marks they will deposit this group odour in the environment. Once a problem has become established, there may be little or no scent transfer between individuals or factions of cats within a household, there may be no common group odour. These individuals and factions need to be given their own resources, so that there is less competition between them. In some cases group a group odour did exist, but it is lost when people are not present to transfer odours between cats, or when a super-social individual within the cat group has gone. It can also occur when cats are reunited after a period of separation (such as when hospitalised or having gone missing). The use of [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|F3 diffusers]] can simulate the effect of dense [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|facial and flank marking]] within an environment, whilst the cats re-establish their own marks and exchange odours that identify them. F3 diffusers may be removed when the cats are freely associating without aggression and showing allogrooming and allorubbing between members of factions. A group odour can be deliberately created by the owner, by collecting and transferring scent between cats, in the same way as when [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour#Introducing a Cat to a New Home/Environment|re-introduction]]

Part of reducing competition is to '''reduce the value of the owner as a ‘virtual resource’'''. The cats may regard the owner as a source of food, as well as security. They may be unable to gain access to food or go in and out of the house safely when the owner is not present to protect them. This also means that cats tend to congregate around the owner, which places them in close proximity at a time when they are most desperate to get food or outdoor access. Free access to food in bowls or activity feeders that always contain some food and are merely topped up by the owner at random will enable the cats to maintain distance from one another. Likewise cat-doors (preferably more than one) are better than a ‘human operated’ back-door.

Cats form social groups on areas where resources are in excess. These groups break up and suffer conflict when resources are insufficient. In a domestic setting cats gain such high quality shelter and food that the they will remain resident when social conflict in any other situation would have forced them to leave. In addition, in urban areas outside population density may be high, and resources so apparently scarce, that resident cats have little choice but to remain where they are. Improving access to resources is key to reducing conflict and competition. This includes giving the cats multiple feeding sites, latrines and plenty of choice or resting, climbing and hiding places. Access to outdoor space through a secure cat flap reduces pressure on space within the home, and permits cats to engage in normal hunting and territory behaviours that are highly motivated. However, in some countries cats are not permitted to roam free. In these cases, a secure outdoor run may be a viable option, to increase available space. If factions or isolated individuals have been identified within the group, these should be specifically provided with dedicated resources that are are apart from other cats. By doing this, conflict is reduced and it is more likely that the cats can be formed into a single social group.

'''Increasing access to space is also critical'''. The cat’s primary means of controlling its interaction with other cats is to maintain distance from them. In the small rooms that are typical of most homes, it may be very difficult for a cat to feel safe because it is always forced into closer than desirable proximity to other cats. This tends to favour aggression, because escape and avoidance are not possible. Fortunately, cats are able to make greater use of 3-dimensional space than humans and dogs, so giving them high perches in the form of shelves or cat furniture will enable the cats to re-engage [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Distance Increasing Behaviour|avoidance and distance-maintaining behaviours]].  

Pressure on resources within he home will be increased if resident cats do not feel secure to leave the home and utilise their territory. The outdoor environment should therefore be altered to enable resident cats to properly control the garden as territory. This includes providing places for resident cats to claw and urine mark, outdoor places for them to perch,  shelter and eliminate, and a garden that is planted to encourage wildlife and to provide cover for the resident cats to move and round. Neighbourhood cats should not be fed or encouraged to enter the garden. Intact stray cats should be trapped and neutered.  

Cardboard boxes and other low-down boltholes provide an excellent '''escape route for cats''' that are regularly chased aggressively or during play. This enables the victim to take refuge without having to run too far, and removes some of the reinforcement for chasing by the other cat. If the motivation for chasing is predatory play, then the owner should provide other play opportunities as an outlet for this motivation, such as play with a fishing toy and a changing supply of small, easily moved, brightly coloured toys.

Part of reducing competition may be to '''reduce the value of the owner as a ‘virtual resource’'''. Resident cats may regard the owner as a source of food, as well as security. They may be unable to gain access to food or go in and out of the house safely when the owner is not present to protect them. This also means that cats tend to congregate around the owner, which places them in close proximity at a time when they are most desperate to get food or outdoor access. Owners may try to establish a "pecking order" between cats, abased on the idea that some cats are dominant in the group. It is best for all resources the cats need to be freely available, and not on demand form the owner. This reduces dependence and tension between cats at feeding times and when the owner is around.

The '''pheromone environment of functioning cat groups is quite special'''. Repeated [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|face and flank marking]] of objects in the central section of the [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|cats’ territory]], combined with [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Allogrooming and allorubbing|allorubbing and allogrooming]] creates a strong sense of security and identity. This can be lost when factions of cats or individuals dissociate from one another. This is commonest when people are not present to transfer odours between cats, or when a super-social individual within the group has gone. It can also occur when a house is redecorated, stripping odour marks from the environment, or when individuals are reunited after a period of separation (such as when hospitalised or having gone missing). The use of [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|F3 diffusers]] can simulate the effect of dense [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|facial and flank marking]] within an environment, whilst the cats re-establish their own marks and exchange odours that identify them. F3 diffusers may be removed when the cats are freely associating without aggression and showing allogrooming and allorubbing between members of factions. The [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F4|pheromone F4]] is very useful for preventing fear related aggression to previously unfamiliar individuals, but unfortunately, it is not suitable for treatment of inter-cat aggression within the household. F4 signals indicate familiarity, but with cats that have already had a number of aggressive encounters there may be a dissonance between the memory of the visual appearance of the aggressor cat and the chemical ‘familiarity’ signal. This has been seen to trigger apparent [[Feline Fear Overview|panic]] and violent outbursts.

Owners should not physically intervene when cats are showing aggression; shouting, touching or trying to pick up a cat during a fight is likely to lead to redirection and serious injury to the person. If owners want to intervene to stop fights, they should use distraction rather than physical intervention or punishment. For example, using a fishing toy to distract the cats at the first sign of tension between them. This method os affective if the owner acts quickly at the start of aggression, but will not work once cats are in a stand-off.

 

A '''conditioned punisher such as a rattle may be used to disrupt aggressive behaviour at its outset''' e.g. to terminate threatening eye contact. When such an approach is used it must not be readily connected to the owner and should not be used in such a way as to actually frighten either of the cats. The aim is merely to startle the cats in order to disrupt the behavioural sequence but when used too late in the sequence, when the cats show great body tension and are preparing to strike, it may actually trigger an aggressive attack. It has to be remembered that [[Feline Fear and Stress|fear and anxiety]] are driving forces for aggressive behaviour and anything that increases tension will probably favour fighting. Use of punishment is therefore not generally recommended. A better method of distracting the cats is to try to trigger a [[Feline Predatory Behaviour|predatory behaviour]] that is directed at a toy. Most toys will not provide sufficient distraction, but laser pointer may be used carefully to break the cats’ concentration and lure them away from each other into a game. The advantage of this particular toy is that several cats can be independently distracted by moving the dot to different locations.

'''Successful resolution of aggression is most likely if individuals recognise each other as part of the same group'''. This can be achieved by swapping odours between the cats and possibly by isolating factions or individuals so that a complete [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour#Introducing a Cat to a New Home/Environment|re-introduction]] is carried out, as if the cats were being brought into the house for the first time. This may be the most appropriate course if the cats are likely to inflict serious injury on each other, or where it is relatively easy for the owners to keep the cats apart in this way.

'''Successful resolution of aggression is most likely if individuals recognise each other as part of the same group'''. This can be achieved by swapping odours between the cats and possibly by isolating factions or individuals so that a complete [[Effect of Environment on Feline Behaviour#Introducing a Cat to a New Home/Environment|re-introduction]] is carried out, as if the cats were being brought into the house for the first time. This may be the most appropriate course if the cats are likely to inflict serious injury on each other, or where it is relatively easy for the owners to keep the cats apart in this way.