Changes

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

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]].

As '''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]] such as [[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 a cat's environment may have a 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.

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.

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 in, 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.

==Adequate Environment for Cats==  

==Adequate Environment for Cats==  

Most cats in there UK are allowed some degree of outdoor access, but a significant minority are kept indoors. In all cases, cats need a stimulating environment to satisfy their behavioural needs avoid and unnecessary [[Feline Fear and Stress|stress]]. If a cat is not permitted to go outside, it is even more important to make sure that the indoor home environment is suitable. Resources such as litter trays, food and water bowls, sleeping places and hiding places must be provided at a level that enables all cats in the household to access them without competition with other cats. It is important to allow cats free access to all the resources without human intervention. The home should be equivalent to the cat's core territory; a place in which resident cats do not expect to encounter unfamiliar cats. Access to outdoor space should be provided using an electronic cat door that only permits resident cats to come and go.

Most cats in there UK are allowed some degree of outdoor access, but a significant minority are kept indoors. In all cases, cats need a stimulating environment to satisfy their behavioural needs and avoid unnecessary [[Feline Fear and Stress|stress]]. If a cat is not permitted to go outside, it is even more important to make sure that the indoor home environment is suitable. Resources such as litter trays, food and water bowls, sleeping places and hiding places must be provided at a level that enables all cats in the household to access them without competition with other cats. It is important to allow cats free access to all the resources without human intervention. The home should be equivalent to the cat's core territory; a place in which resident cats do not expect to encounter unfamiliar cats. Access to outdoor space should be provided using an electronic cat door that only permits resident cats to come and go.

The cat’s basic needs are for:

'''The cat’s basic needs are for:'''

#Space (including access to height)

#Space (including access to height)

#Resources (food, water, latrines, resting places)

#Resources (food, water, latrines, resting places)

#Choice (the need to have alternative places to eat, rest, play and go to the toilet)

#Choice (the need to have alternative places to eat, rest, play and go to the toilet)

==Indoor environment==

==Indoor Environment==

===Space===  

====Space====  

Cats should be provided with lots of opportunity to climb and explore. For example shelves at different heights, cat furniture and access to the tops of cupboards and wardrobes.

Cats should be provided with lots of opportunity to climb and explore. For example shelves at different heights, cat furniture and access to the tops of cupboards and wardrobes.

===Resources===

====Resources====

Cats are [[Feline Predatory Behaviour|solitary hunters]] but they are able to live in groups as long as they have access to an excess of resources, particularly food. Given free choice, cats eat at least 10 small meals each day, and they follow a daily routine of territorial patrolling, hunting, and scent marking. [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|Territorial scent marks]] are refreshed at specific sites at similar times each day, in order to reaffirm a boundary when other cats are not present.

Cats are [[Feline Predatory Behaviour|solitary hunters]] but they are able to live in groups as long as they have access to an excess of resources, particularly food. Given free choice, cats eat at least 10 small meals each day, and they follow a daily routine of territorial patrolling, hunting, and scent marking. [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|Territorial scent marks]] are refreshed at specific sites at similar times each day, in order to reaffirm a boundary when other cats are not present.

The solitary independent nature of cats makes them susceptible to stress and frustration in some commonplace situations:

'''The solitary independent nature of cats makes them susceptible to stress and frustration in some commonplace situations:'''

* Waiting for food

* Waiting for food

* Eating at set meal times

* Eating at set meal times

'''[[Cat Latrines|Latrines]]''': Typically cats should be provided with one litter tray per cat plus one extra. This is because in the wild cats do not share latrines and they prefer to have separate ones for urination and defecation. It is possible to provide outdoor toilets for cats so that fewer indoor litter trays are needed; these are sand filled holes at the perimeter of the garden in locations where the cat can have some privacy whilst eliminating.

'''[[Cat Latrines|Latrines]]''': Typically cats should be provided with one litter tray per cat plus one extra. This is because in the wild cats do not share latrines and they prefer to have separate ones for urination and defecation. It is possible to provide outdoor toilets for cats so that fewer indoor litter trays are needed; these are sand filled holes at the perimeter of the garden in locations where the cat can have some privacy whilst eliminating.

===Opportunities to Perform Normal Behaviour===

====Opportunities to Perform Normal Behaviour====

'''Clawing''' is destructive and problematic for owners. It is important to give cats opportunities to claw so that it does not become a problem in the first place. Cats claw for a number of reasons, including when they need to stretch back muscles after waking, to [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Claw Marks|mark]] boundaries of territory, sharpen claws or gain attention from their owners. Sensible places to position clawing posts are therefore close to where cats rest, near to cat doors and at the edges of the garden and in living rooms close to furniture or the television (where the cat may claw to get attention or a reaction from its owner). Cats have preferences for particular kinds of material to claw. Upholstered furniture is often used for stretching and claw sharpening because of its proximity to resting areas and the texture of the padding. Soft wood is often scratched to leave a scent mark at a boundary. Owners need to experiment with providing the right surfaces to satisfy the cat’s clawing needs and encourage clawing by taking notice and praising the cat when it claws on an appropriate object.

'''Clawing''' is destructive and problematic for owners. It is important to give cats opportunities to claw so that it does not become a problem in the first place. Cats claw for a number of reasons, including when they need to stretch back muscles after waking, to [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Claw Marks|mark]] boundaries of territory, sharpen claws or gain attention from their owners. Sensible places to position clawing posts are therefore close to where cats rest, near to cat doors and at the edges of the garden and in living rooms close to furniture or the television (where the cat may claw to get attention or a reaction from its owner). Cats have preferences for particular kinds of material to claw. Upholstered furniture is often used for stretching and claw sharpening because of its proximity to resting areas and the texture of the padding. Soft wood is often scratched to leave a scent mark at a boundary. Owners need to experiment with providing the right surfaces to satisfy the cat’s clawing needs and encourage clawing by taking notice and praising the cat when it claws on an appropriate object.

Activity feeders that do not allow the cat to see the food within them are often frustrating and hard for cats to learn how to use. Cats also vary in their level of dexterity, with some finding it more difficult to paw and manipulate toys to get food out of them. For this reason, a good activity feeding setup should enable the cat to see the food and provide a range of different ways to gain access to the food.

Activity feeders that do not allow the cat to see the food within them are often frustrating and hard for cats to learn how to use. Cats also vary in their level of dexterity, with some finding it more difficult to paw and manipulate toys to get food out of them. For this reason, a good activity feeding setup should enable the cat to see the food and provide a range of different ways to gain access to the food.

===Privacy and Choice===

====Privacy and Choice====

:Privacy is partly provided by giving cats plenty of choice. If cats can choose to feed or rest away from each other they are more likely to tolerate each other. Some cats, especially those which are timid, elderly or infirm, prefer to have ground-level hiding places where they can run in and hide. Empty cat baskets or cardboard boxes are perfectly suitable.

:Privacy is partly provided by giving cats plenty of choice. If cats can choose to feed or rest away from each other they are more likely to tolerate each other. Some cats, especially those which are timid, elderly or infirm, prefer to have ground-level hiding places where they can run in and hide. Empty cat baskets or cardboard boxes are perfectly suitable.

The importance of properly introducing new cats to a home where there are existing cats is well known. Before introducing a new cat, it is important to think about whether the existing cats will accept it. If they are under stress already they are not likely to accept a new cat. Their existing problems should take priority. If introduction is not managed correctly, there is a greater probability of [[Feline Fear and Stress|fear and anxiety problems]], [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Same Household|inter-cat aggression]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|inappropriate spraying]] in the future. It is also important to introduce cats correctly to households where there are no other cats, but where animals, children and the general routine in the household may be unfamiliar and stressful. The same is true when moving cats form one home to another.

The importance of properly introducing new cats to a home where there are existing cats is well known. Before introducing a new cat, it is important to think about whether the existing cats will accept it. If they are under stress already they are not likely to accept a new cat. Their existing problems should take priority. If introduction is not managed correctly, there is a greater probability of [[Feline Fear and Stress|fear and anxiety problems]], [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Same Household|inter-cat aggression]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|inappropriate spraying]] in the future. It is also important to introduce cats correctly to households where there are no other cats, but where animals, children and the general routine in the household may be unfamiliar and stressful. The same is true when moving cats form one home to another.

===Introduction to a new home with no cats present===

===Introduction to a New Home with No Cats Present===

* Prepare a quiet room in the new home with food, water, a [[Cat Latrines|latrine]], and familiar items from the cat’s previous home. This will be the room into which the cat will be initially introduced, so it is best if this place has not recently been occupied by other cats.

* Prepare a quiet room in the new home with food, water, a [[Cat Latrines|latrine]], and familiar items from the cat’s previous home. This will be the room into which the cat will be initially introduced, so it is best if this place has not recently been occupied by other cats.

* The cat should then be allowed free access to one or two additional rooms in the house every few hours until it has explored the whole house. The cat should be allowed to do this in peace, not with people rushing around or trying to distract it.

* The cat should then be allowed free access to one or two additional rooms in the house every few hours until it has explored the whole house. The cat should be allowed to do this in peace, not with people rushing around or trying to distract it.

===Introduction to a new home with cats already present===

===Introduction to a New Home with Cats Already Present===

====General preparations for the arrival of a new cat====

====General Preparations for the Arrival of a New Cat====

* Start with the new cat in its own room, containing a [[cat Latrines|litter tray]], food, water and a several comfortable places to rest and hide. Installation of a [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|Feliway diffuser]] in this room makes it seem more familiar and secure for the new cat.

* Start with the new cat in its own room, containing a [[cat Latrines|litter tray]], food, water and a several comfortable places to rest and hide. Installation of a [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|Feliway diffuser]] in this room makes it seem more familiar and secure for the new cat.

* The new cat should be allowed to become completely confident in this new room and with all members of the family before allowing it out of this place. This may take a week or more. The cat should be eating, resting, playing and approaching people normally and without [[Feline Fear Overview#Signs of Fear|signs of fear]].

* The new cat should be allowed to become completely confident in this new room and with all members of the family before allowing it out of this place. This may take a week or more. The cat should be eating, resting, playing and approaching people normally and without [[Feline Fear Overview#Signs of Fear|signs of fear]].

* The resident cats should be provided with several extra places to get food, as well as places to drink and extra places to rest and hide. A [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|Feliway diffuser]] will increase their sense of security.

* The resident cats should be provided with several extra places to get food, as well as places to drink and extra places to rest and hide. A [[Pheromonotherapy - Cat#F3|Feliway diffuser]] will increase their sense of security.

====Introducing the cats to each other ====

====Introducing the Cats to Each Other ====

Stage 1: '''Scent introduction''':

Stage 1: '''Scent introduction''':