Changes

* '''Illness''': Conditions that alter the cat’s emotional state or interaction with other cats ([[Hyperthyroidism|hyperthyroidism]], senility, pain, hyperaesthesia, debilitation) or need for resources (conditions causing polydipsia or polyphagia).

* '''Illness''': Conditions that alter the cat’s emotional state or interaction with other cats ([[Hyperthyroidism|hyperthyroidism]], senility, pain, hyperaesthesia, debilitation) or need for resources (conditions causing polydipsia or polyphagia).

* '''Excessive population density outside the home''': In areas where there is already a high population density of cats this can restrict resident cat's ability to use outdoor resources, and brings non-resident cats close to the home. Resident cats will use spray marking in an attempt to maintain distance from other cats that they see around their territory.

* '''Excessive population density outside the home''': In areas where there is already a high population density of cats this can restrict resident cat's ability to use outdoor resources, and brings non-resident cats close to the home. Resident cats will use spray marking in an attempt to maintain distance from other cats that they see around their territory.

* '''Unfamiliar odours brought into the house''': non-resident cats may spray close to a front or garage door so that this odour can come into the house; owner’s shoes, clothing or bags may pick up odours from outside.

* '''Unfamiliar odours brought into the house''': Non-resident cats may spray close to a front or garage door so that this odour can come into the house; owner’s shoes, clothing or bags may pick up odours from outside.

==Investigation==

==Investigation==

It is important to establish the motivation of the behaviour to be able to resolve the issue successfully. Scent is used to identify [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territories]] as well as individuals and [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Marking|scent marking]] forms a part of normal cat behaviour; it becomes problematic to owners when inappropriate surfaces and locations are chosen by the cat.  

It is important to establish the motivation of the behaviour to be able to resolve the issue successfully. Scent is used to identify [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territories]] as well as individuals and [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Marking|scent marking]] forms a part of normal cat behaviour; it becomes problematic to owners when inappropriate surfaces and locations are chosen by the cat.  

The two main scenarios leading to indoor marking are conflict with non-resident cats, and conflict with resident cats.  

'''The two main scenarios leading to indoor marking are conflict with non-resident cats, and conflict with resident cats.'''

In an ideal situation, resident cats treat the boundary of the home as the boundary of their core territory. They leave facial and flank scent marks indoors, and use claw and spray marks only outdoors. If the [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] is threatened by being overlooked or invaded by cats that are not part of the [[Feline Social Behaviour|group]], then the boundary of the core territory can retreat into the house and the resident cat(s) will use spray or claw marks to delineate a boundary at the edge of a more restricted core territory which happens to be within the home. For example, cats may end up inhabiting certain rooms of a house as core territory and then use spray marking or maddening in rooms that are overlooked or entered by non-resident cats. This situation often starts with urine marks primarily being deposited around windows, external doors, or around the cat flap.

In an ideal situation, resident cats treat the boundary of the home as the boundary of their core territory. They leave facial and flank scent marks indoors, and use claw and spray marks only outdoors. If the [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] is threatened by being overlooked or invaded by cats that are not part of the [[Feline Social Behaviour|group]], then the boundary of the core territory can retreat into the house and the resident cat(s) will use spray or claw marks to delineate a boundary at the edge of a more restricted core territory which happens to be within the home. For example, cats may end up inhabiting certain rooms of a house as core territory and then use spray marking or maddening in rooms that are overlooked or entered by non-resident cats. This situation often starts with urine marks primarily being deposited around windows, external doors, or around the cat flap.

===Marking Caused by an External Threat===

===Marking Caused by an External Threat===

In the case of spraying caused by an external threat from cats, the '''perceived threat must be reduced''' and the boundary of the core territory strengthened. Changes might include installing an electronic coded cat flap so that outside cats cannot gain access to the home and the use of glass coating film or sprays can be used to make windows opaque enough that other cats cannot see into the home or be seen from inside. This does not affect indoor light levels and the material can be applied to a limited area of window to obscure a selected part of the view. This prevents non-resident cats from using visual threats (posture, eye contact) to intimidate resident cats in their own home. It also prevents the resident cats from using internal vantage points to watch cats outside, and encourages them to go outside instead. This includes preventing reactionary spraying on areas around the window, which are intended to be a deterrent to the outside cat. The coating may be removed after marking has stopped for a period of 8 or more weeks, sometimes in strips in order to make the transition back to normal transparency more gradual.

In the case of spraying caused by an external threat from cats, the '''perceived threat must be reduced''' and the boundary of the core territory strengthened. Changes might include installing an electronic coded cat flap so that outside cats cannot gain access to the home and the use of glass coating film or sprays can be used to make windows opaque enough that other cats cannot see into the home or be seen from inside. This does not affect indoor light levels and the material can be applied to a limited area of window to obscure a selected part of the view. This prevents non-resident cats from using visual threats (posture, eye contact) to intimidate resident cats in their own home. It also prevents the resident cats from using internal vantage points to watch cats outside, and encourages them to go outside instead. This includes preventing reactionary spraying on areas around the window, which are intended to be a deterrent to the outside cat. The coating may be removed after marking has stopped for a period of 8 or more weeks, sometimes in strips in order to make the transition back to normal transparency more gradual.

The intensity of [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]], [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|facial and flank marks]] can be enhanced using F3 diffusers (Feliway). These should be positioned in each of the rooms in which the cats spend a lot of time, and used at a rate of 1 per 50-70 m2. F3 may have no effect if used at less than this rate.

The intensity of [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] and [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|facial and flank marks]] can be enhanced using F3 diffusers (Feliway). These should be positioned in each of the rooms in which the cats spend a lot of time, and used at a rate of 1 per 50-70 m2. F3 may have no effect if used at less than this rate.

Having made the core territory safer, the aim is to enable the cats to re-establish a pattern of [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territorial defence]] outside. The cats should be given vantage points within the garden that allow them to control their territory, but which face away from the house so that non-resident cats cannot these perches to threaten the owner’s cats. Non-resident cats may have favourite places from which they use long-distance visual threats to intimidate the client’s cats. These should be removed or altered so that they are unusable. For example, placing anti-burglar "prickle strips" onto shed roofs to make them uncomfortable to sit on.

Having made the core territory safer, the aim is to enable the cats to re-establish a pattern of [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territorial defence]] outside. The cats should be given vantage points within the garden that allow them to control their territory, but which face away from the house so that non-resident cats cannot use these perches to threaten the owner’s cats. Non-resident cats may have favourite places from which they use long-distance visual threats to intimidate the client’s cats. These should be removed or altered so that they are unusable. For example, placing anti-burglar "prickle strips" onto shed roofs to make them uncomfortable to sit on.

The cat also needs to have an opportunity to leave proper scent marks to maintain a territorial boundary. In some gardens there are no suitable objects to claw or spray mark. Softwood posts make good [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Claw Marks|clawing]] places and they should be installed at the edge of the territory so that the resident cats are able to leave appropriate territorial scent marks. They can be made more attractive by raking them with a wire brush or rubbing them against an existing claw marked object to pick up a scent. Claw posts or pads near to the cat door inside the home enable the cat can leave a territorial scent mark without spraying. Resident cats should be provided with outdoor [[Cat Latrines|latrines]] around the edge of the garden, as these also help to strengthen territorial boundary and reduce the need for resident cats to cross other territories to find a latrine.

The cat also needs to have an opportunity to leave proper scent marks to maintain a territorial boundary. In some gardens there are no suitable objects to claw or spray mark. Softwood posts make good [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Claw Marks|clawing]] places and they should be installed at the edge of the territory so that the resident cats are able to leave appropriate territorial scent marks. They can be made more attractive by raking them with a wire brush or rubbing them against an existing claw marked object to pick up a scent. Claw posts or pads near to the cat door inside the home enable the cat can leave a territorial scent mark without spraying. Resident cats should be provided with outdoor [[Cat Latrines|latrines]] around the edge of the garden, as these also help to strengthen territorial boundary and reduce the need for resident cats to cross other territories to find a latrine.

===Marking Caused by an Internal Threat===

===Marking Caused by an Internal Threat===

If indoor marking has been caused by conflict between cats in the home then '''comprehensive environmental enrichments''' should be provided. The aim is to provide separate [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|factions]] with their own resources so that they can effectively live independently within a shared domestic space. This ability to coexist without competition actually increases the likelihood that the cats will develop an affiliative relationship.

If indoor marking has been caused by conflict between cats in the home then '''comprehensive environmental enrichments''' should be provided. The aim is to provide separate [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|factions]] with their own resources so that they can effectively live independently within a shared domestic space. This ability to coexist without competition actually increases the likelihood that the cats will develop an affiliative relationship.

Urine marks are self-perpetuating because the marker needs to refresh them periodically to maintain their meaning. When cats spray indoors, this creates an environment that contains a mixture of  [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|facial]] and [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|urine marking]] odours that disrupts the continuity of the [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]]. For these reasons, it is very important to thoroughly [[Management of Items Contaminated by Urine or Faeces|remove urine odours]]. Scented products and those containing ammonia should not be used to clean up spray marks because they may intensify urine odours and leave an objectionable smell that encourages over-marking. Feliway diffusers, which contain a synthetic analogue of the F3 fraction of feline facial marks. Feliway diffusers may be used to supplement facial and flank odours. These scents may also be harvested from the cats and then spread around the house.

Urine marks are self-perpetuating because the marker needs to refresh them periodically to maintain their meaning. When cats spray indoors, this creates an environment that contains a mixture of  [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|facial]] and [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|urine marking]] odours that disrupts the continuity of the [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]]. For these reasons, it is very important to thoroughly [[Management of Items Contaminated by Urine or Faeces|remove urine odours]]. Scented products and those containing ammonia should not be used to clean up spray marks because they may intensify urine odours and leave an objectionable smell that encourages over-marking. Feliway diffusers, which contain a synthetic analogue of the F3 fraction of feline facial marks may be used to supplement facial and flank odours. These scents may also be harvested from the cats and then spread around the house.

Group odour is crucial to maintaining a conflict-free multicat household, but once relationship breakdown occurs the cats are unable to maintain or re-establish this for themselves. In the same way as for treatment of [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Same Household#Treatment|inter-cat aggression in the household]], it is possible to classically condition an association between the odour of a specific cat or [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|cat-faction]] and the presentation of food or play. The scent is harvested from the facial and flank regions of the individual cats (or factions) onto separate cloths. The cloth from one individual or faction is then regularly presented to one of the other cats before giving food or play, until that cat shows a positive response to the odour. That cat’s cloth is presented in the same way to the group or individual represented by the cloth. Initially the presentation of the odour may cause some alarm. However, after repeated presentation, each cat should begin to rub against the cloth when it is presented, which indicates that the odour has been fully accepted. The body odour of the factions or individuals may then be merged, by exchanging odours between them ''[see diagram below]''. In situations where there is overt aggression between cats it is best to isolate them for a period of 1 to 2 weeks and reintroduce them as if bringing in a new cat for the first time.

Group odour is crucial to maintaining a conflict-free multicat household, but once relationship breakdown occurs the cats are unable to maintain or re-establish this for themselves. In the same way as for treatment of [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Same Household#Treatment|inter-cat aggression in the household]], it is possible to classically condition an association between the odour of a specific cat or [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|cat-faction]] and the presentation of food or play. The scent is harvested from the facial and flank regions of the individual cats (or factions) onto separate cloths. The cloth from one individual or faction is then regularly presented to one of the other cats before giving food or play, until that cat shows a positive response to the odour. That cat’s cloth is presented in the same way to the group or individual represented by the cloth. Initially the presentation of the odour may cause some alarm. However, after repeated presentation, each cat should begin to rub against the cloth when it is presented, which indicates that the odour has been fully accepted. The body odour of the factions or individuals may then be merged, by exchanging odours between them ''[see diagram below]''. In situations where there is overt aggression between cats it is best to isolate them for a period of 1 to 2 weeks and reintroduce them as if bringing in a new cat for the first time.

'''Sites that have been spray marked can be made less attractive''' for cats in a number of ways, but it has to be remembered that if the motivation to mark is strong, this will merely displace the activity elsewhere. Deterrent methods must only be used in combination with other environmental modifications that reduce the motivation to scent mark. Cats are generally reluctant to spray or midden close to feeding sites, so small bowls may be put close to spraying locations. This also increases the number of feeding places. Odour deterrents should be avoided, because these may actually draw attention to spray sites or produce odours that the cat will attempt to overmark. Sheets of aluminium foil or plastic can protect the floor around a spray site, whilst also deterring cats from going there. These methods are best used for isolated locations where it is imperative that the cat does not spray, such as around electrical equipment.

'''Sites that have been spray marked can be made less attractive''' for cats in a number of ways, but it has to be remembered that if the motivation to mark is strong, this will merely displace the activity elsewhere. Deterrent methods must only be used in combination with other environmental modifications that reduce the motivation to scent mark. Cats are generally reluctant to spray or midden close to feeding sites, so small bowls may be put close to spraying locations. This also increases the number of feeding places. Odour deterrents should be avoided, because these may actually draw attention to spray sites or produce odours that the cat will attempt to overmark. Sheets of aluminium foil or plastic can protect the floor around a spray site, whilst also deterring cats from going there. These methods are best used for isolated locations where it is imperative that the cat does not spray, such as around electrical equipment.

'''[[Feline Communication Behaviour#Claw Marks|Claw marking]]''' often exists as a sub-problem in indoor spray marking cats. Claw marks have a similar territorial function to [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|urine spraying]] and the rate of claw marking may increase along with indoor spray marking. Providing cats with good claw marking sites that fit with their need to defend territory can be an effective way to shift the pattern of marking from spraying to clawing. Claw marking posts or pads may be positioned close to windows, doorways and cat doors. They can be made more attractive by rubbing them against existing clawing sites and then raking them with a wire brush to simulate real claw marks. Undesirable claw marking can be deterred by daily application of F3 spray, combined with the provision of a nearby alternative scratching place.

'''[[Feline Communication Behaviour#Claw Marks|Claw marking]]''' often exists as a sub-problem in indoor spray marking cats. Claw marks have a similar territorial function to [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|urine spraying]] and the rate of claw marking may increase along with indoor spray marking. Providing cats with good claw marking sites that fit with their need to defend territory can be an effective way to shift the pattern of marking from spraying to clawing. Claw marking posts or pads may be positioned close to windows, doorways and cat doors. They can be made more attractive by rubbing them against existing clawing sites and then raking them with a wire brush to simulate real claw marks. Undesirable claw marking can be deterred by daily application of F3 spray, combined with the provision of a nearby alternative scratching place.

===Psychoactive Drug Therapy===

===Psychoactive Drug Therapy===

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[[Category:Feline Housesoiling]]

[[Category:Feline Housesoiling]]