Changes

==Investigation==

==Investigation==

Common underlying factors include:

'''Common underlying factors include:'''

*Illness or debilitation

*Illness or debilitation

*Social pressure due to excessive population density

*Social pressure due to excessive population density

*Predatory or play-related behaviour

*Predatory or play-related behaviour

*Redirected aggression (frustration)

*Redirected aggression (frustration)

As with [[Feline Housesoiling|house-soiling and spraying problems]], it is important to fully understand the nature of the [[Feline Social Behaviour|cat’s relationships with each other]] and the way that they make use of their territory in and around the home.

As with [[Feline Housesoiling|house-soiling and spraying problems]], it is important to fully understand the nature of the [[Feline Social Behaviour|cat’s relationships with each other]] and the way that they make use of their territory in and around the home.

Several types of information are required for an investigation:

'''Several types of information are required for an investigation:'''

*The personality, experience and health state of individual cats.

*The personality, experience and health state of individual cats.

*Interactions between cats within the household.

*Interactions between cats within the household.

*The population of cats in the neighbourhood (as a potential source of stress and conflict)

*The population of cats in the neighbourhood (as a potential source of stress and conflict)

Individual cats:

'''Individual cats:'''

*Behaviour and origin of parents, if known.

*Behaviour and origin of parents, if known.

*Rearing conditions and experience during sensitive period.

*Rearing conditions and experience during sensitive period.

*Medical history and physical examination.

*Medical history and physical examination.

Interactions between the cats in the household:

'''Interactions between the cats in the household:'''

*The relationship between the cats can be determined by looking at the pattern of [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Allogrooming and allorubbing|allorubbing, allogrooming and other affiliative behaviours]] such as tail-up greetings between individual cats.

*The relationship between the cats can be determined by looking at the pattern of [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Allogrooming and allorubbing|allorubbing, allogrooming and other affiliative behaviours]] such as tail-up greetings between individual cats.

*This can be recorded on a diagram indicating the type and direction of communication between individual cats.

*This can be recorded on a diagram indicating the type and direction of communication between individual cats.

*Observation of aggressive behaviours between the cats including chasing, resource guarding and other similar behaviours that indicate social conflict between factions or group members.

*Observation of aggressive behaviours between the cats including chasing, resource guarding and other similar behaviours that indicate social conflict between factions or group members.

Physical environment:

'''Physical environment:'''

*Assessment of the amount and distribution of resources.

*Assessment of the amount and distribution of resources.

*Availability of key resources (such as access to food).

*Availability of key resources (such as access to food).

*Opportunities to perform avoidance and escape behaviour (to maintain distance from conflicting cats)

*Opportunities to perform avoidance and escape behaviour (to maintain distance from conflicting cats)

Neighbourhood cats:

'''Neighbourhood cats:'''

*Signs that non-resident cats may have entered the home to steal food or conflict with resident cats.

*Signs that non-resident cats may have entered the home to steal food or conflict with resident cats.

*Evidence of local overpopulation, conflict with non-resident cats or the presence of intact male strays.

*Evidence of local overpopulation, conflict with non-resident cats or the presence of intact male strays.