Changes

==Investigation==

==Investigation==

Aggression within a local cat population may be obvious to those who own cats that are the repeated victims of cat bite injuries. Sometimes injuries are mistakenly attributed to foxes or other wildlife, but this is much less common. Inter-cat aggression in the neighbourhood is also an important underlying factor in [[Housesoiling - Cat|house-soiling]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|spraying problems]], as well as [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Same Household|inter-cat aggression within the household]]. This is because the activities of local despots, or a very high feline population density may cause cats to stay indoors, where they then conflict with each other.  

Aggression within a local cat population may be obvious to those whose cats are the victims of repeated cat bite injuries. Sometimes injuries are mistakenly attributed to foxes or other wildlife, as cat owners may be unaware, or unwilling to believe, that cats frequently injure each other. Inter-cat aggression in the neighbourhood is also an important underlying factor in [[Housesoiling - Cat|house-soiling]] and [[Indoor Marking - Cat|spraying problems]], as well as [[Feline Aggression Towards Other Cats in the Same Household|inter-cat aggression within the household]]. This is because the activities of despotic cats, or a very high feline population density, may cause cats to stay indoors, where they then conflict with each other.  

Aggression to other cats in the neighbourhood is more likely when the local population is destabilised by introduction of a newcomer, when there is one or more entire tomcat in the local population or when a feline despot is resident in the neighbourhood. Despotism is seen when a cat is actively displacing others from their territory or monopolising resources. Conflict is also at a peak when queens are beginning to call and territorial areas are disputed.

Treatment of neighbourhood cat problems may require the cooperation of several owners in order to improve the local environment for all cats, and thereby reduce conflict.

 

Apart from individual information about the origin, health, and physical and social environment of each cat, it is important look at the physical environment of cats in a neighbourhood to see whether there are specific reasons for certain cats to travel away from their territory and become a nuisance to others.

Territorial area closely corresponds to the survival resources it provides. The defence of territory is therefore linked to the defence of resources so that there is a reduction in territorial behaviour and aggression when there is a surfeit of resources within the neighbourhood.

==Treatment==

==Treatment==