Changes

In order to '''maximise available space''' for the cats it is also important to make the best use of the outdoor environment. Provision of extra resting places, perches and latrines outside will reduce competition for indoor resources. Access to outbuildings increases indoor space available to the cats, as does providing sheltered perches. Some owners are reluctant to give cats access to outdoors, and in some countries cats are not permitted to roam free. In these cases a secure outdoor run may be a viable option, to increase available space.

In order to '''maximise available space''' for the cats it is also important to make the best use of the outdoor environment. Provision of extra resting places, perches and latrines outside will reduce competition for indoor resources. Access to outbuildings increases indoor space available to the cats, as does providing sheltered perches. Some owners are reluctant to give cats access to outdoors, and in some countries cats are not permitted to roam free. In these cases a secure outdoor run may be a viable option, to increase available space.

Part of reducing competition is to reduce the value of the owner as a ‘virtual resource’. The cats may regard the owner as a source of food, as well as security. They may be unable to gain access to food or go in and out of the house safely when the owner is not present to protect them. This also means that cats tend to congregate around the owner, which places them in close proximity at a time when they are most desperate to get food or outdoor access. Free access to food in bowls or activity feeders that always contain some food and are merely topped up by the owner at random will enable the cats to maintain distance from one another. Likewise cat-doors (preferably more than one) are better than a ‘human operated’ back-door.

Part of reducing competition is to '''reduce the value of the owner as a ‘virtual resource’'''. The cats may regard the owner as a source of food, as well as security. They may be unable to gain access to food or go in and out of the house safely when the owner is not present to protect them. This also means that cats tend to congregate around the owner, which places them in close proximity at a time when they are most desperate to get food or outdoor access. Free access to food in bowls or activity feeders that always contain some food and are merely topped up by the owner at random will enable the cats to maintain distance from one another. Likewise cat-doors (preferably more than one) are better than a ‘human operated’ back-door.

'''Increasing access to space is also critical'''. The cat’s primary means of controlling its interaction with other cats is to maintain distance from them. In the small rooms that are typical of most homes it may be very difficult for a cat to feel safe because it is always forced into closer than desirable proximity to other cats. This tends to favour aggression, because escape and avoidance are not possible. Fortunately, cats are able to make greater use of 3-dimensional space than humans and dogs, so giving them high perches in the form of shelves or cat furniture will enable the cats to re-engage avoidance and distance-maintaining behaviours.  

'''Increasing access to space is also critical'''. The cat’s primary means of controlling its interaction with other cats is to maintain distance from them. In the small rooms that are typical of most homes it may be very difficult for a cat to feel safe because it is always forced into closer than desirable proximity to other cats. This tends to favour aggression, because escape and avoidance are not possible. Fortunately, cats are able to make greater use of 3-dimensional space than humans and dogs, so giving them high perches in the form of shelves or cat furniture will enable the cats to re-engage avoidance and distance-maintaining behaviours.  

Cardboard boxes and other low-down boltholes provide an excellent escape route for cats that are regularly chased aggressively or during play. This enables the victim to take refuge without having to run too far, and removes some of the reinforcement for chasing by the other cat. If the motivation for chasing is predatory play then the owner should provide other play opportunities as an outlet for this motivation, such as play with a fishing toy and a changing supply of small, easily moved, brightly coloured toys.

Cardboard boxes and other low-down boltholes provide an excellent escape route for cats that are regularly chased aggressively or during play. This enables the victim to take refuge without having to run too far, and removes some of the reinforcement for chasing by the other cat. If the motivation for chasing is predatory play then the owner should provide other play opportunities as an outlet for this motivation, such as play with a fishing toy and a changing supply of small, easily moved, brightly coloured toys.

The pheromone environment of functioning cat groups is quite special. Repeated face and flank marking of objects in the central section of the cats’ territory, combined with allorubbing and allogrooming [rubbing and grooming of social partners] creates a strong sense of security and identity. This can be lost when factions of cats or individuals dissociate from one another. This is commonest when people are not present to transfer odours between cats, or when a super-social individual within the group has gone. It can also occur when a house is redecorated, stripping odour marks from the environment, or when individuals are reunited after a period of separation [such as when hospitalised or having gone missing]. The use of F3 diffusers [Feliway] can simulate the effect of dense facial and flank marking within an environment, whilst the cats re-establish their own marks and exchange odours that identify them. The pheromone F4 [Felifriend] ought to be very useful for treating inter-cat aggression within the household, but unfortunately there have been problems with its practical use. F4 signals indicate familiarity, but with cats that have already had a number of aggressive encounters there may be a dissonance between the memory of the visual appearance of the aggressor cat and the chemical ‘familiarity’ signal. This has been seen to trigger apparent panic and violent outbursts. F4 is not recommended for treating inter-cat aggression within the household, but is very useful for reducing fear of unfamiliar people and other animals and for helping in the introduction of a new member of the household.

The '''pheromone environment of functioning cat groups is quite special'''. Repeated face and flank marking of objects in the central section of the cats’ territory, combined with allorubbing and allogrooming [rubbing and grooming of social partners] creates a strong sense of security and identity. This can be lost when factions of cats or individuals dissociate from one another. This is commonest when people are not present to transfer odours between cats, or when a super-social individual within the group has gone. It can also occur when a house is redecorated, stripping odour marks from the environment, or when individuals are reunited after a period of separation [such as when hospitalised or having gone missing]. The use of F3 diffusers [Feliway] can simulate the effect of dense facial and flank marking within an environment, whilst the cats re-establish their own marks and exchange odours that identify them. The pheromone F4 [Felifriend] ought to be very useful for treating inter-cat aggression within the household, but unfortunately there have been problems with its practical use. F4 signals indicate familiarity, but with cats that have already had a number of aggressive encounters there may be a dissonance between the memory of the visual appearance of the aggressor cat and the chemical ‘familiarity’ signal. This has been seen to trigger apparent panic and violent outbursts. F4 is not recommended for treating inter-cat aggression within the household, but is very useful for reducing fear of unfamiliar people and other animals and for helping in the introduction of a new member of the household.

*Individual acts of aggression between cats must be minimised.  

*Individual acts of aggression between cats must be minimised.  

*Increasing the number of resource locations also makes despotism impossible.  

*Increasing the number of resource locations also makes despotism impossible.  

A conditioned punisher such as a rattle may be used to disrupt aggressive behaviour at its outset e.g. to terminate threatening eye contact. When such an approach is used it must not be readily connected to the owner and should not be used in such a way as to actually frighten either of the cats. The aim is merely to startle the cats in order to disrupt the behavioural sequence but when used used too late in the sequence, when the cats show great body tension and are preparing to strike, it may actually trigger an aggressive attack. It has to be remembered that fear and anxiety are driving forces for aggressive behaviour and anything that increases tension will probably favour fighting. Use of punishment is therefore not generally recommended. A better method of distracting the cats is to try to trigger a predatory behaviour that is directed at a toy. Most toys will not provide sufficient distraction, but laser pointer may be used carefully to break the cats’ concentration and lure them away from each other into a game. The advantage of this particular toy is that several cats can be independently distracted by moving the dot to different locations.

A '''conditioned punisher such as a rattle may be used to disrupt aggressive behaviour at its outset''' e.g. to terminate threatening eye contact. When such an approach is used it must not be readily connected to the owner and should not be used in such a way as to actually frighten either of the cats. The aim is merely to startle the cats in order to disrupt the behavioural sequence but when used too late in the sequence, when the cats show great body tension and are preparing to strike, it may actually trigger an aggressive attack. It has to be remembered that fear and anxiety are driving forces for aggressive behaviour and anything that increases tension will probably favour fighting. Use of punishment is therefore not generally recommended. A better method of distracting the cats is to try to trigger a predatory behaviour that is directed at a toy. Most toys will not provide sufficient distraction, but laser pointer may be used carefully to break the cats’ concentration and lure them away from each other into a game. The advantage of this particular toy is that several cats can be independently distracted by moving the dot to different locations.

Successful resolution of aggression is most likely if individuals recognise each other as part of the same group. This can be achieved by swapping odours between the cats and possibly by isolating factions or individuals so that a complete re-introduction is carried out, as if the cats were being brought into the house for the first time [see box for introducing new cats]. This may be the most appropriate course if the cats are likely to inflict serious injury on each other, or where it is relatively easy for the owners to keep the cats apart in this way.

'''Successful resolution of aggression is most likely if individuals recognise each other as part of the same group'''. This can be achieved by swapping odours between the cats and possibly by isolating factions or individuals so that a complete re-introduction is carried out, as if the cats were being brought into the house for the first time [see box for introducing new cats]. This may be the most appropriate course if the cats are likely to inflict serious injury on each other, or where it is relatively easy for the owners to keep the cats apart in this way.

*Consider rehoming if a feline despot is unwilling to share space and resources, or if the welfare of the group is impaired, or if social behaviour between the cats cannot be maintained. Do not introduce additional cats.

*Consider rehoming if a feline despot is unwilling to share space and resources, or if the welfare of the group is impaired, or if social behaviour between the cats cannot be maintained. Do not introduce additional cats.

*Monitor frequency and intensity of aggressive behaviour.

*Monitor frequency and intensity of aggressive behaviour.

==Prognosis==

==Prognosis==