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Feline Territorial Behaviour (view source)
Revision as of 19:51, 27 August 2014
, 19:51, 27 August 2014→Domestic Cat Territory
The natural organisation of territory in cats poses some problems for domestic pet cats. In a domestic setting, the difference in area between the home range and core territory may be minimal, and for indoor-only cats that have a view of a garden, the boundaries of the indoor space are the absolute limits of territory, leaving no opportunity for conventional territorial organisation or distance maintenance from neighbourhood cats that are easily visible from indoors.
The natural organisation of territory in cats poses some problems for domestic pet cats. In a domestic setting, the difference in area between the home range and core territory may be minimal, and for indoor-only cats that have a view of a garden, the boundaries of the indoor space are the absolute limits of territory, leaving no opportunity for conventional territorial organisation or distance maintenance from neighbourhood cats that are easily visible from indoors.
Pet cat groups are made up of unrelated and neutered males and females with widely differing rearing backgrounds. Some may come from a genetic and rearing background that does not favour [[Feline Social Behaviour|sociable living in a group]]. From the owner’s perspective, the expectation is that the cat’s core territory will match the internal living space of the home, so that facial and flank marking are seen indoors and spraying or claw marking is only performed outdoors. However, instead of being one large contiguous area, each domestic cat’s territory may consist of several small patches that are distant from each other. Each cat is forced to travel across several other cat’s territories in order to get to a latrine or hunting site. This increases the amount of feline traffic through gardens and increases the likelihood that each cat’s core territory will be overlooked by cats outside. If underfed, despotic or intact male cats enter the homes of resident cats then this further undermines the perception of the owner’s home as ‘core’ territory. These issues may lead to [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor marking]] behaviour that becomes problematic for the owners.
Pet cat groups are made up of unrelated and neutered males and females with widely differing rearing backgrounds. Some may come from a genetic and rearing background that does not favour [[Feline Social Behaviour|sociable living in a group]]. Owners expect that the cat’s core territory will match the internal living space of the home, so that facial and flank marking are seen indoors and spraying or claw marking is only performed outdoors. However, instead of being one large contiguous area, each domestic cat’s territory may consist of several small patches that are distant from each other. Each cat is forced to travel across several other cat’s territories in order to get to a latrine or hunting site. This increases the amount of feline traffic through gardens and increases the likelihood that each cat’s core territory will be overlooked by cats outside. Underfed, despotic or intact male cats may enter the homes of resident cats, which further undermines the perception of the home as ‘core’ territory. These issues may lead to [[Indoor Marking - Cat|indoor marking]] behaviour that becomes problematic for the owners.
In urban areas the density of cat populations may be high, exceeding 50 cats per square kilometre. <font color="red">In a study by Bowen (xxxx)</font color>, 81% of 734 UK cat owners whose cats were allowed outdoor access indicated that their neighbours also had at least one cat that was allowed outside, and 66% reported seeing a neighbour’s cat in their garden at least once a week. Owner reports of the number of different cats regularly seen in the garden and the frequency of cats visiting the garden were both correlated significantly with the frequency of injuries due to conflict with non-resident cats.
In urban areas the density of cat populations may be high, exceeding 50 cats per square kilometre. <font color="red">In a survey conducted by Bowen (2013)</font color>, 81% of 734 UK cat owners whose cats were allowed outdoor access indicated that their neighbours also had at least one cat that was allowed outside, and 66% reported seeing a neighbour’s cat in their garden at least once a week. Owner reports of the number of different cats regularly seen in the garden and the frequency of cats visiting the garden were both correlated significantly with the frequency of injuries due to conflict with non-resident cats.
Forty-one percent of those households reported some level of home entry by neighbourhood cats, with 18.7% reporting that cats came in to fight with their cat and 25.6% reporting that cats came in to steal food. For households that had a plain cat door without security features (as opposed to a selective entry cat door that only allows resident cats in and out) the figures were significantly higher; 24.8% of cat owning households reported that neighbourhood cats came into their home to fight with their cats, and 39.4% reported that cats came in to steal food.
Forty-one percent of those households reported some level of home entry by neighbourhood cats, with 18.7% reporting that cats came in to fight with their cat and 25.6% reporting that cats came in to steal food. For households that had a plain cat door without security features (as opposed to a selective entry cat door that only allows resident cats in and out) the figures were significantly higher; 24.8% of cat owning households reported that neighbourhood cats came into their home to fight with their cats, and 39.4% reported that cats came in to steal food.
Regular experience of this kind of home invasion, and subsequent injuries from fights with non-resident cats, are a '''significant source of stress for domestic pet cats'''. The fact that cats commonly take the risk of entering each other’s core territory in order to get access to food indicates that there are serious problems with the way that pet cats are being fed.
Cats that had '''experienced injuries''' due to conflict with other cats showed 3.9 times that rate of indoor [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|spray marking]] compared with cats that had not experienced injuries. They also waited by the cat door before going out, and became agitated and afraid when they saw another cat in the garden.
Cats that had '''experienced injuries''' due to conflict with other cats showed 3.9 times that rate of indoor [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Spray Marking|spray marking]] compared with cats that had not experienced injuries. They also waited by the cat door before going out, and became agitated and afraid when they saw another cat in the garden.
Only 45% of owners in the survey fed their cats ''ad libitum'', indicating that a lack of availability of food may be a strong motivation for many cats to enter homes seeking sources of food, and thereby ending up in conflict with residents. In support of this, there was a strong, and significant, correlation between cats entering the home for food, and fighting with resident cats in the home.
Cats who had '''experienced home invasion''' of any kind showed 24% higher levels of [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Claw Marks|scratching behaviour]] compared with cats that had not experienced home invasion. They also waited by the cat door before going out, became agitated and fearful when they saw other cats in the garden, and showed significantly higher rates of [[Alopecia and Hypotrichosis|hair loss]] and [[:Category:Dermatological Diseases - Cat|skin disease]].
Cats who had '''experienced home invasion''' of any kind showed 24% higher levels of [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Claw Marks|claw marking behaviour]] in the home compared with cats that had not experienced home invasion. They also waited by the cat door before going out, became agitated and fearful when they saw other cats in the garden, and showed significantly higher rates of [[Alopecia and Hypotrichosis|hair loss]] and [[:Category:Dermatological Diseases - Cat|skin disease]].
Domestic gardens also often lack suitable landmarks for [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Olfactory communication|scent marking]], such as posts for scratching. As a result, the boundaries between the necessarily small territories of domestic cats become blurred. There are few clear indicators of territory ownership to deter a cat from approaching another cat’s home.
Domestic gardens also often lack suitable landmarks for [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Olfactory communication|scent marking]], such as posts for scratching. As a result, the boundaries between the necessarily small territories of domestic cats become blurred. There are few clear indicators of territory ownership to deter a cat from approaching another cat’s home.
Forty-one percent of cat owners that gave their cats outdoor access did not provide a cat door. So, these cats are reliant on a person to let them in and out of the house. Cats follow a strict timetable of movement around their territories so that they can avoid contact with other. By being tied to the owner’s routine, the cat is unable to follow this kind of pattern.
Forty-one percent of cat owners that gave their cats outdoor access did not provide a cat door, making these cats are reliant on a person to let them in and out of the house. Cats follow a strict timetable of movement around their territories so that they can avoid contact with other cats, and deposit scent marks at the right times and intervals. By being tied to the owner’s routine, a cat that does not have free outdoor access cat is unable to follow this kind of pattern. This increases the risk of conflict and stress.
However, even though outdoor access is fraught with problems due to a lack of owner understanding of the actual needs of cats, there is evidence that a lack of outdoor access contributes to problem behaviour. Heidenberger (1997)<ref>Heidenberger, E. (1997) Housing conditions and behavioural problems of indoor cats as assessed by their owners. ''Applied Animal Behaviour Science''. 52, 345-364.</ref> found that cats that were allowed to go outside when they wanted, or at least 2-3 times weekly, were less problematical to their owners.
However, even though outdoor access is fraught with problems due to a lack of owner understanding of the actual needs of cats, there is evidence that a lack of outdoor access contributes to problem behaviour. Heidenberger (1997)<ref>Heidenberger, E. (1997) Housing conditions and behavioural problems of indoor cats as assessed by their owners. ''Applied Animal Behaviour Science''. 52, 345-364.</ref> found that cats that were allowed to go outside when they wanted, or at least 2-3 times weekly, were less problematical to their owners.