Changes

==The Relationship Between Resident Cats==

==The Relationship Between Resident Cats==

[[File:Cat relationships example.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Example of a diagram illustrating the relationships between cats within the same household]]  

[[File:Cat relationships example.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Example of a diagram illustrating the relationships between cats within the same household]]  

In situations of both [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]] and [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|elimination]] behaviour within multi-cat households, the relationship between resident cats is often an underlying factor in problem expression. Competition between resident cats for access to constrained resources, such as food, a litter tray or an outdoor access point, leads to stress. Cats may use urine spray and claw marking in an attempt to organise access to space; trying to maintain temporal and spatial separation from one another. This is intolerable for owners, and is ultimately dysfunctional for the cats. Hostile encounters around the litter tray or an outdoor access point my force less confident and assertive cats to find other places to eliminate within the home. An assessment of the '''relationship between resident cats''' is therefore an important part of the investigation process.  

In situations of both [[Indoor Marking - Cat|marking]] and [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|elimination]] behaviour within multi-cat households, the relationship between resident cats is often an underlying factor in problem expression. Competition between resident cats for access to constrained resources, such as food, a litter tray or an outdoor access point, leads to stress. Cats may use urine spray and claw marking in an attempt to organise access to space; trying to maintain temporal and spatial separation from one another. This is intolerable for owners, and is ultimately dysfunctional for the cats. Hostile encounters around the litter tray or an outdoor access point may force less confident and assertive cats to find other places to eliminate within the home. An assessment of the '''relationship between resident cats''' is therefore an important part of the investigation process.  

Owners cannot be relied upon to assess the relationship between cats, because they frequently misinterpret feline communication and social relationships. For example, they may interpret all chasing behaviour as playful, and underestimate the significance of fights and aggressive vocalisations between cats. Most importantly, positive signs of stress and anxiety, such as the typical whining, agitation and restlessness observed in dogs, are very noticeable, but negative signs, such as the typical inhibition and reduced activity observed in cats, are often overlooked.

Owners cannot be relied upon to assess the relationship between cats, because they frequently misinterpret feline communication and social relationships. For example, they may interpret all chasing behaviour as playful, and underestimate the significance of fights and aggressive vocalisations between cats. Most importantly, positive signs of stress and anxiety, such as the typical whining, agitation and restlessness observed in dogs, are very noticeable, but negative signs, such as the typical inhibition and reduced activity observed in cats, are often overlooked.

The names of the cats are written in a circle, and information about behavioural signs of the relationship between each pair of cats is added to the diagram. Positive affiliative behaviours include allorubbing and allogrooming, tail up and trilled greeting between cats. Overtly [[Feline Aggression|aggressive behaviours]] include chasing, hissing or spitting and physical attacks, as well as more passive threats such as staring eye contact, and threatening body or facial posture. Positive and negative interactions and their direction should be noted on the diagram (see example).  

The names of the cats are written in a circle, and information about behavioural signs of the relationship between each pair of cats is added to the diagram. Positive affiliative behaviours include allorubbing and allogrooming, tail up and trilled greeting between cats. Overtly [[Feline Aggression|aggressive behaviours]] include chasing, hissing or spitting and physical attacks, as well as more passive threats such as staring eye contact, and threatening body or facial posture. Positive and negative interactions and their direction should be noted on the diagram (see example).  

The diagram should indicate the general relationship between the cats, and whether there are factions within the group. In combination with information about where in the home the cats (or factions) tend to spend time, this diagram can provide useful information about where to place resources so that they are easily accessible buy individual cats and factions. It can also provide an indication of social problems that may need to be resolved. Constructing the diagram with the owner also offers a valuable opportunity to explain feline communication and social organisation with the owner.

The diagram should indicate the general relationship between the cats, and whether there are factions within the group. In combination with information about where in the home the cats (or factions) tend to spend time, this diagram can provide useful information about where to place resources so that they are easily accessible by individual cats and factions. It can also provide an indication of social problems that may need to be resolved. Constructing the diagram with the owner also offers a valuable opportunity to explain feline communication and social organisation with the owner.

==Identifying the Culprit==

==Identifying the Culprit==