Changes

Relationship between cats in the household:

Relationship between cats in the household:

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]]

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|introducing a new cat to the household]]. In fact, in some cases, it is recommended that cats be separate completely for several weeks, before being reintroduced as if bringing in a new cat.

Physical environment:

Physical environment:

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.

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.

==Prognosis==

==Prognosis==