Changes

* Accepting the owner’s control over their activities

* Accepting the owner’s control over their activities

To reduce stress for cats we need to make sure that they have access to what they need without conflict either with us or the other cats in the household.

To reduce stress for cats it is essential to make sure that they have access to what they need without conflict either with people or the other cats in the household.

In a multi-cat household, each cat needs a choice of several places to eat, drink and rest, so that cats do not have to compete for the same toilet or food bowl. Enabling the cats to live independent lives actually increases the chances that they will live happily with each other. Within a house there may be one or more [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|“factions” of cats]]. Cats within these factions may tolerate shared access to certain resources and locations. They may be quite confrontational with cats that are not part of their faction, and will find sharing resources with those cats much more stressful. This is normal behaviour for cats but it becomes a problem when two competing factions share a home. If these groups share a single feeding place in the kitchen then one group may monopolise the food or all the cats may be hesitant about gaining access to it.

In a multi-cat household, each cat needs a choice of several places to eat, drink and rest, so that cats do not have to compete for the same toilet or food bowl. Enabling the cats to live independent lives actually increases the chances that they will live happily with each other. Within a house there may be one or more [[Feline Social Behaviour#Social Structure|“factions” of cats]]. Cats within these factions may tolerate shared access to certain resources and locations. They may be quite confrontational with cats that are not part of their faction, and will find sharing resources with those cats much more stressful. This is normal behaviour for cats but it becomes a problem when two competing factions share a home. If these groups share a single feeding place in the kitchen then one group may monopolise the food or all the cats may be hesitant about gaining access to it.

The answer is to give the separate factions, or individuals, their own places to feed, rest, drink and go to the toilet. In this way they can lead separate lives in the same home without conflict. This also means giving the cats back control over when they eat and gain access to certain parts of their territory.  

The answer is to give the separate factions, or individuals, their own places to feed, rest, drink and go to the toilet. In this way they can lead separate lives in the same home without conflict. This also means giving the cats back control over when they eat and gain access to certain parts of their territory.  

General guidelines are:

'''General guidelines are:'''

* Provide access to food at all times (dried food preferably).  

* Provide access to food at all times (dried food preferably).  

* Increase the number of feeding and drinking places, situating them in areas of the home where the cats tend to spend most of their time.

* Increase the number of feeding and drinking places, situating them in areas of the home where the cats tend to spend most of their time.

* Increase the number of resting areas available to the cats as well as their access to three-dimensional space within each room [places to climb and hide].

* Increase the number of resting areas available to the cats as well as their access to three-dimensional space within each room (places to climb and hide).

* Give cats access to outdoor space without restriction (if it is safe to do so).

* Give cats access to outdoor space without restriction (if it is safe to do so).

'''Food''' provision: Feral and wild cats spend 8-10 hours each day [[Feline Predatory Behaviour|foraging and hunting]]. To satisfy this behavioural need and use up this part of the cat's time and energy budget, it is best to provide food using simulated foraging (activity feeders).  

'''Food''' provision: Feral and wild cats spend 8-10 hours each day [[Feline Predatory Behaviour|foraging and hunting]]. To satisfy this behavioural need and use up this part of the cat's time and energy budget, it is best to provide food using simulated foraging (activity feeders).  

'''Water''' provision: Cats do not regulate their water balance efficiently, as in a wild or feral state their diet has a naturally high water content. Increased water throughput is beneficial to sustain normal renal and urinary tract function. Can can be encouraged to drink a larger fluid volume by providing a recirculating-type water fountain. The water movement and water slope make it much easier for the cat to drink, and can significantly increase water consumption.

'''Water''' provision: Cats do not regulate their water balance efficiently, as in a wild or feral state their diet has a naturally high water content. Increased water throughput is beneficial to sustain normal renal and urinary tract function. Cats can be encouraged to drink a larger fluid volume by providing a recirculating-type water fountain. The water movement and water slope make it much easier for the cat to drink, and can significantly increase water consumption.

'''Resting places''': Choice over resting places is particularly important because cats move from one place to another every few days so that they can avoid parasites like fleas.

'''Resting places''': Choice over resting places is particularly important because cats move from one place to another every few days so that they can avoid parasites like fleas.

'''Hunting and play''' are important for cats, especially in the early [[Timing of Feline Activity|morning and evening]]. These are times when it is important to encourage interactive games using fishing toys, laser pointers and lightweight toys that can be rolled on the floor. Cats should never be encouraged to play with people’s feet or hands because this can create problems of [[Misdirected Feline Predatory Behaviour Towards People|aggression]] especially for cats that are kept indoors. At other times, the cat should be provided with a continually-changing selection of small lightweight toys to play with. It is useful to keep a selection of feathers, decorated ping pong balls, furry mouse toys and similar small items in a box and scatter a selection of these toys around the house daily. Real fur toys are particularly good because they act as a focus for [[Feline Predatory Behaviour|cat’s predatory behaviour]].  

'''Hunting and play''' are important for cats, especially in the early [[Timing of Feline Activity|morning and evening]]. These are times when it is important to encourage interactive games using fishing toys, laser pointers and lightweight toys that can be rolled on the floor. Cats should never be encouraged to play with people’s feet or hands because this can create problems of [[Misdirected Feline Predatory Behaviour Towards People|aggression]] especially for cats that are kept indoors. At other times, the cat should be provided with a continually-changing selection of small lightweight toys to play with. It is useful to keep a selection of feathers, decorated ping pong balls, furry mouse toys and similar small items in a box and scatter a selection of these toys around the house daily. Real fur toys are particularly good because they act as a focus for [[Feline Predatory Behaviour|cat’s predatory behaviour]].  

Certain features of toys are very important:

'''Certain features of toys are very important:'''

* Lightweight: Cats prefer toys that move easily when touched

* Lightweight: Cats prefer toys that move easily when touched

* Noise: toys that twitter or squeak when touched  

* Noise: toys that twitter or squeak when touched  

====Privacy and Choice====

====Privacy and Choice====

:Privacy is partly provided by giving cats plenty of choice. If cats can choose to feed or rest away from each other they are more likely to tolerate each other. Some cats, especially those which are timid, elderly or infirm, prefer to have ground-level hiding places where they can run in and hide. Empty cat baskets or cardboard boxes are perfectly suitable.

'''Privacy''' is partly provided by giving cats plenty of choice. If cats can choose to feed or rest away from each other they are more likely to tolerate each other. Some cats, especially those which are timid, elderly or infirm, prefer to have ground-level hiding places where they can run in and hide. Empty cat baskets or cardboard boxes are perfectly suitable.

==Outdoor Environment==

==Outdoor Environment==