Changes

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

Underlying medical conditions should be investigated and treated. Regardless of the cause for the marking behaviour, it is useful to increase available resources so that cats have easy access to them and perceive their core territory to provide a surfeit of the things that they need. F3 diffusers [Feliway] help to create a sense of core territory and can considerably reduce tension in cat groups. ''Soiled areas should be protected according to the guidelines in the box entitled ‘protecting property from urine damage] and on the handout in the appendix.'' This prevents soiling from becoming ingrained and harder to remove.

[[Housesoiling - Cat#Medical Assessment|Underlying medical conditions should be investigated]] and treated. Regardless of the cause for the marking behaviour, it is useful to '''increase available resources''' so that cats have easy access to them and perceive their [[Feline Territorial Behaviou#Core Territory|core territory]] to provide a surfeit of the things that they need. F3 diffusers (Feliway) help to create a sense of core territory and can considerably reduce tension in cat groups. [[Urine Contamination of Property|Soiled areas should be protected]] to prevent soiling from becoming ingrained and harder to remove.

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. Basic changes might include installing an electronic coded cat flap so that outside cats cannot gain access to the home and the use of glass etch spray on windows. Glass etch spray is applied in several coats until the window is effectively opaque. Light will still enter, but it will be diffuse. This has several functions. It removes the opportunity for non-resident cats to use 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 threaten cats outside, and encourages them to go outside instead. This helps to prevent reactionary spraying on areas around the window, which are intended to be a deterrent to the outside cat. Glass etch is not needed on all windows; only those which are known to be used as vantage points by indoor cats or are associated with areas of spraying or provide outdoor cats with a view indoors. It may be removed after marking has stopped for a period of 8 or more weeks, and can be shaved off the window in strips using a razor blade or scraper. This makes the change 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. Basic changes might include installing an electronic coded cat flap so that outside cats cannot gain access to the home and the use of glass etch spray on windows. Glass etch spray is applied in several coats until the window is effectively opaque. Light will still enter, but it will be diffuse. This has several functions. It removes the opportunity for non-resident cats to use 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 threaten cats outside, and encourages them to go outside instead. This helps to prevent reactionary spraying on areas around the window, which are intended to be a deterrent to the outside cat. Glass etch is not needed on all windows; only those which are known to be used as vantage points by indoor cats or are associated with areas of spraying or provide outdoor cats with a view indoors. It may be removed after marking has stopped for a period of 8 or more weeks, and can be shaved off the window in strips using a razor blade or scraper. This makes the change back to normal transparency more gradual.

The intensity of core territory 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 Behaviou#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.

Having made the core territory safer, the aim is to enable the cats to reestablish a pattern of territorial defence outside. The cats should be given several vantage points that face into the garden but have no view back to the house. This prevents non-resident cats from using 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

Having made the core territory safer, the aim is to enable the cats to reestablish a pattern of [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territorial defence]] outside. The cats should be given several vantage points that face into the garden but have no view back to the house. This prevents non-resident cats from using 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. Flat headed nails,8-10 cm long, knocked into the top of a fence about 6-8 cm apart will allow cats to walk along the fence but will prevent them from sitting comfortably on it. Pieces of sharp plastic doormat or plastic anti-burglar strip can be put onto the top of concrete posts or roofs so that perching is uncomfortable. If a particular perch cannot be made unusable, then the view from it can be blocked using fencing or plants. Glass and other hazardous deterrents should not be used because these may cause injury to the cats.

removed or altered so that they are unusable. Flat headed nails,8-10 cm long, knocked into the top of a fence about 6-8 cm apart will allow cats to walk along the fence but will prevent them from sitting comfortably on it. Pieces of sharp plastic doormat or plastic anti-burglar strip can be put onto the top of concrete posts or roofs so that perching is uncomfortable. If a particular perch cannot be made unusable, then the view from it can be blocked using fencing

or plants. Glass and other hazardous deterrents should not be used because these may cause injury to the cats.

Softwood posts make good 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. Rub them against existing scratch places and then break up the surface with a wire brush to make them appear attractive to claw. It is also sensible to place claw posts or pads near to the cat door inside the home so that the cat can leave a territorial scent mark without spraying.

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. Rub them against existing scratch places and then break up the surface with a wire brush to make them appear attractive to claw. It is also sensible to place claw posts or pads near to the cat door inside the home so that the cat can leave a territorial scent mark without spraying. The 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 cats should be provided with outdoor 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. ''Information about these ideas is included in a handout in the appendix.''

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 factions with their own resources so that they can effectively live separately from each other whilst sharing the same domestic space. This ability to coexist without competition actually increases the likelihood that the cats will begin to associate with each other.

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 separately from each other whilst sharing the same domestic space. This ability to coexist without competition actually increases the likelihood that the cats will begin to associate with each other.

The mixture of facial and urine marking odours impairs the sense of core territory for the cats. Urine marks are also self-perpetuating because the marker feels compelled to refresh them periodically. ''For these reasons, it is very important to remove urine odours thoroughly using the cleaning methods detailed in the box entitled ‘removing urine odours’ and on the handout in the appendix. ''Scented products and those containing ammonia should not be used

The mixture of facial and urine marking odours impairs the sense of core territory for the cats. Urine marks are also self-perpetuating because the marker feels compelled to refresh them periodically. ''For these reasons, it is very important to remove urine odours thoroughly using the cleaning methods detailed in the box entitled ‘removing urine odours’ and on the handout in the appendix. ''Scented products and those containing ammonia should not be used