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==Feeding and Elimination==

==Feeding and Elimination==

Feral and wild cats use latrine sites that are located in their home range, but not their core territory. Latrine locations are chosen on the basis of location and substrate preference, both of which are learned during development. The natural preference is for a location that is private, where the cat will not be disturbed whilst eliminating and a substrate that is easy to dig, as cats tend to bury urine and faeces unless they are using marking. Cats will tend to choose separate locations to eliminate urine and faeces.  

Feral and wild cats use '''latrine sites that are located in their [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Home Range|home range]]''', but not their [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]]. Latrine locations are chosen on the basis of location and substrate preference, both of which are learned during development. The natural preference is for a location that is private, where the cat will not be disturbed whilst eliminating and a substrate that is easy to dig, as cats tend to bury urine and faeces unless they are using marking. Cats will tend to choose '''separate locations to eliminate urine and faeces'''.  

Latrine locations are away from hunting and resting areas, but close enough to those places for the cat to be able to use them without a significant interruption of their other hunting and territory marking routines.  

Latrine locations are '''away from hunting and resting areas''', but close enough to those places for the cat to be able to use them without a significant interruption of their other hunting and [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Territory Defense|territory marking]] routines.  

Cats are obligate carnivores, and exhibit a preference for prey that is different from what they have eaten in the past. This is termed a “monotony effect” and is argued to be a way of ensuring and balanced diet <ref name="Bradshaw">Bradshaw, J.W.S (1992) The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat. CABI, Oxford, UK.</ref>. Since cats cat hunt independently and catch only small prey that provide a single meal for an individual, they do not share food. Feeding is a solitary activity that carries no social meaning. Cats eat 10-20 small meals each day, according to the availability of prey.

Cats are obligate carnivores, and exhibit a '''preference for prey that is different from what they have eaten in the past'''. This is termed a “monotony effect” and is argued to be a way of ensuring and balanced diet <ref name="Bradshaw">Bradshaw, J.W.S (1992) The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat. CABI, Oxford, UK.</ref>. Since cats cat hunt independently and catch only small prey that provide a single meal for an individual, they '''do not share food'''. Feeding is a solitary activity that carries '''no social meaning'''. Cats eat 10-20 small meals each day, according to the availability of prey.

The core territory of domestic cats contains an incompatible arrangement of resources that would not be present in a wild situation. For example, in a study by the author, in 31% of households provided a food bowl near to the litter tray, and the same percentage located a water bowl near the litter tray. From the cat’s perspective, having a latrine location inside the core territory is undesirable. Twenty-seven percent of households placed the litter tray next to the cat door, which might seem an ethologically appropriate choice given that this is the closest possible indoor location to the garden. However, it also means that in multi-cat households, of homes with a plain cat door, the latrine lacks privacy.

The [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] of domestic cats contains an incompatible arrangement of resources that would not be present in a wild situation. For example, in a study by <font color = "red">Bowen (xxxx)</font color>, in 31% of households provided a food bowl near to the litter tray, and the same percentage located a water bowl near the litter tray. From the cat’s perspective, having a latrine location inside the core territory is undesirable. Twenty-seven percent of households placed the litter tray next to the cat door, which might seem an ethologically appropriate choice given that this is the closest possible indoor location to the garden. However, it also means that in multi-cat households, of homes with a plain cat door, the latrine lacks privacy.

In the same study, one third of cat owners fed their cats at specific mealtimes, and 65% indicated that food was not available for the cat all day. This forces cats into close proximity with each other for an activity that is usually solitary. The cat is forced to consume as much food as it can during the periods of food availability.

In the same study, one third of cat owners fed their cats at specific mealtimes, and 65% indicated that food was not available for the cat all day. This forces cats into close proximity with each other for an activity that is usually solitary. The cat is forced to consume as much food as it can during the periods of food availability.