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Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Neighbourhood (view source)
Revision as of 14:49, 8 September 2014
, 14:49, 8 September 2014→Prevalence and Risk factors
==Prevalence and Risk factors==
==Prevalence and Risk factors==
There is no peer-reviewed published data on the prevalence of inter-cat conflict in neighbourhoods, but the treatment of cat-inflicted bite and scratch injuries are a mainstay of general practice. In one unpublished study, the prevalence of owner-reported cat-infliucted injuries that did not require treatment was 1.09 per cat per year for males, and 0.36 per cat per year for females. The rate of injuries that required veterinary treatment was approximately half this rate for each sex group. The same study found that 16.8% of cats experienced severe problems of being frightened or attacked by neighbourhood cats in the garden, to the extent that it was difficult for them to go outside. Cats were more likely to be severely affected if their owners observed large numbers of cats frequently visiting the garden, indicating that the problem related to local overpopulation and competition for resources. 52% of cat owners in this study indicated that neighbourhood cats had entered their home to steal food and fight with their cats. This indicates that the problem of inter-cat aggression are potentially more severe than reported.
There is no peer-reviewed published data on the prevalence of inter-cat conflict in neighbourhoods, but the treatment of cat-inflicted bite and scratch injuries are a mainstay of general practice. In one unpublished study, the prevalence of owner-reported cat-infliucted injuries that did not require treatment was 1.09 per cat per year for males, and 0.36 per cat per year for females. The rate of injuries that required veterinary treatment was approximately half this rate for each sex group. The same study found that 16.8% of cats experienced severe problems of being frightened or attacked by neighbourhood cats in the garden, to the extent that it was difficult for them to go outside. Cats were more likely to be severely affected if their owners observed large numbers of cats frequently visiting the garden, indicating that the problem related to local overpopulation and competition for resources. 52% of cat owners in this study indicated that neighbourhood cats had entered their home to steal food and fight with their cats. This indicates that the problem of inter-cat aggression are potentially more severe than reported.
Whilst cat population density is factor in inter-cat aggression in a neighbourhood, studies have shown that cats are able to cope with very high population density if the resources they need are in similarly high density<ref>Bradshaw, J.W.S (1992) The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat. CABI, Oxford, UK.</ref>. Competition for resources is a better predictor of conflict, and is something that can be tackled by owners.
Only about 45% of UK cats are meal fed, with the remainder being meal fed or fed on demand. Wild and feral cats eat between 10 and 20 small meals each day, which is far more frequent than any owner would normally offer food. Any form of feeding other than ad-lib can therefore cause cats to experience extended periods of hunger that may force them to increase their foraging activity, and can lead to cats invading the homes of other cats to steal food. This is just one potential underlying motivation for cats to enter territory, and homes, and thereby end up in physical conflict with other cats. The same situation can occur when cats seek shelter, latrine sites, and places to hunt. Owners need to find ways to provide for their own cats' needs, so that they are not forced to seek resources elsewhere.
==Investigation==
==Investigation==