Changes

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

''Indoor marking and [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|housesoiling/inappropriate elimination]] often occur together in the same household, and in a multi-cat household several cats may be involved. The common factors are discussed on the [[Housesoiling - Cat|housesoiling page]]. An important part of reaching a behavioural diagnosis must be to [[Housesoiling - Cat#Identifying the Culprit|identify the culprits]].  

Indoor marking and [[Inappropriate Elimination - Cat|housesoiling/inappropriate elimination]] often occur together in the same household, and in a multi-cat household several cats may be involved. The common factors are discussed on the [[Housesoiling - Cat|housesoiling page]]. An important part of reaching a behavioural diagnosis must be to [[Housesoiling - Cat#Identifying the Culprit|identify the culprits]].  

More than one cat may be involved, and it should be remembered that, in some cases, the culprit for indoor marking may not be a resident cat at all. Intact male cats and despots may enter the homes of other cats to take food, and then leave urine marks within the home. In these cases, treating the resident cats will have no effect on the marking behaviour and, in fact, increasing the level of resources available within the home may raise its value and therefore encourage the despot to try to take it over. In such circumstances, an electronic coded cat-door would need to be fitted.

More than one cat may be involved, and it should be remembered that, in some cases, the culprit for indoor marking may not be a resident cat at all. Intact male cats and despots may enter the homes of other cats to take food, and then leave urine marks within the home. In these cases, treating the resident cats will have no effect on the marking behaviour and, in fact, increasing the level of resources available within the home may raise its value and therefore encourage the despot to try to take it over. In such circumstances, an electronic coded cat-door would need to be fitted.

==Prevention==

==Typical Causes==

* New cats should be introduced carefully and with an accompanying increase in resources for the group.

* '''Loss of core territory facial or flank marks''': Usually due to redecoration or change of house.

* When redecorating, building or making changes to house layout, install an F3 diffuser [Feliway] to maintain core territory odour signals. Allow paint to dry and the room to air thoroughly before allowing the cat[s] back into it. Harvest facial and flank odours from the cat[s] and apply these to doorways, and furnishings in the newly decorated area. If the cat is particularly sensitive to change it may be better to arrange a cattery stay during major projects of redecoration or renovation, especially if they involve core territory areas for the particular cat.

* '''Loss of maintenance of group odour''': Temporary or permanent loss of a social facilitator cat, absence of the owner, or housing of group members apart [at a cattery] so that odour is not mixed between individuals and factions.

* Provide adequate resources for the group.

* '''Failure of odour recognition of a specific individual''': Individual odour may be altered or lost if a cat is taken away for grooming or veterinary treatment such as dental work. The cat may also return home with the odour of an unfamiliar cat on it. The returning cat may be regarded as an intruder. This causes aggression or the cat may never regain its previous role in the social group.

* When cats are temporarily removed from the group [such as when going to the vet clinic] they should be reintroduced carefully after trying to re-label them with the group odour.

* '''Introduction of a new cat''': This may exceed the population that can be supported by existing resources, or the new cat may upset existing social relationships [through despotism, competition or by increasing stress in the group]. The same effect is apparent when a recently introduced kitten reaches maturity.

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

* '''Excessive population density outside the home''': existing overpopulation, new cats introduced to an area, or when a cat owner moves a group of cats into a new home in an area where many cats already live.

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

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

If the relationship between cats within the home is flawed, then, rather than one group, there may be two or more [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|factions]] coexisting within the home. They may have little tolerance for each other. Most domestic cat groups are of mixed gender and are not actively engaged in mutual kitten rearing, so that there is no positive reason for the cats to coexist other than their own individual social preferences and affiliations. The continued function of the group is highly dependent on whether present resources are plentiful enough to maintain the whole group without competition. Within domestic cat groups sharing a home, it is possible to identify patterns of interaction by analysing greeting, affiliative and aggressive behaviour between cats ''(see example diagram).''

If the relationship between cats within the home is flawed, then, rather than one group, there may be two or more [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|factions]] coexisting within the home. They may have little tolerance for each other. Most domestic cat groups are of mixed gender and are not actively engaged in mutual kitten rearing, so that there is no positive reason for the cats to coexist other than their own individual social preferences and affiliations. The continued function of the group is highly dependent on whether present resources are plentiful enough to maintain the whole group without competition. Within domestic cat groups sharing a home, it is possible to identify patterns of interaction by analysing greeting, affiliative and aggressive behaviour between cats ''(see example diagram).''

 

Identifying the [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|social structure]] of the group may give insights into why the relationship between resident cats has broken down. For example, the loss of a social facilitator cat may cause [[Feline Aggression|aggression]] to begin between factions because no other individual is maintaining the group odour. The same situation can occur when the owner goes away on holiday or when a social facilitator becomes ill or infirm. The role of a particular individual may change according to its health status. A pair or faction may break up if one cat suffers from pain, hyperaesthesia or some other condition that changes its acceptance of grooming or affiliative behaviour. It may change to become a satellite individual. A polyphagic hyperthyroid or diabetic cat may consume more food or despotically control access to it, leaving the rest of the group resource deficient. Investigating and treating marking problems that relate to social difficulties between cats can be demanding.

Identifying the social structure of the group may give insights into why the relationship between resident cats has broken down. For example, the loss of a social facilitator cat may cause aggression to begin between factions because no other individual is maintaining the group odour. The same situation can occur when the owner goes away on holiday or when a social facilitator becomes ill or infirm. The role of a particular individual may change according to its health status. A pair or faction may break up if one cat suffers from pain, hyperaesthesia or some other condition that changes its acceptance of grooming or affiliative behaviour. It may change to become a satellite individual. A polyphagic hyperthyroid or diabetic cat may consume more food or despotically control access to it, leaving the rest of the group resource

deficient. Investigating and treating marking problems that relate to social difficulties between cats can be demanding.

 

 

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

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

It is possible to minimise the risk of recidivism by continuing to offer an excess of resources and maintaining a suitable core and garden territory for the cats. If a new bout of marking is anticipated, then the environmental changes and F3 diffusers may be temporarily reinstated.

It is possible to minimise the risk of recidivism by continuing to offer an excess of resources and maintaining a suitable core and garden territory for the cats. If a new bout of marking is anticipated, then the environmental changes and F3 diffusers may be temporarily reinstated.