Changes

In the case of spraying caused by an external threat from cats, the '''perceived threat must be reduced''' and the boundary of the core territory strengthened. Changes might include installing an electronic coded cat flap so that outside cats cannot gain access to the home and the use of glass coating film or sprays can be used to make windows opaque enough that other cats cannot see into the home or be seen from inside. This does not affect indoor light levels and the material can be applied to a limited area of window to obscure a selected part of the view. This prevents non-resident cats from using visual threats (posture, eye contact) to intimidate resident cats in their own home. It also prevents the resident cats from using internal vantage points to watch cats outside, and encourages them to go outside instead. This includes preventing reactionary spraying on areas around the window, which are intended to be a deterrent to the outside cat. The coating may be removed after marking has stopped for a period of 8 or more weeks, sometimes in strips in order to make the transition back to normal transparency more gradual.

In the case of spraying caused by an external threat from cats, the '''perceived threat must be reduced''' and the boundary of the core territory strengthened. Changes might include installing an electronic coded cat flap so that outside cats cannot gain access to the home and the use of glass coating film or sprays can be used to make windows opaque enough that other cats cannot see into the home or be seen from inside. This does not affect indoor light levels and the material can be applied to a limited area of window to obscure a selected part of the view. This prevents non-resident cats from using visual threats (posture, eye contact) to intimidate resident cats in their own home. It also prevents the resident cats from using internal vantage points to watch cats outside, and encourages them to go outside instead. This includes preventing reactionary spraying on areas around the window, which are intended to be a deterrent to the outside cat. The coating may be removed after marking has stopped for a period of 8 or more weeks, sometimes in strips in order to make the transition back to normal transparency more gradual.

The intensity of [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] and [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|facial and flank marks]] can be enhanced using F3 diffusers (Feliway). These should be positioned in each of the rooms in which the cats spend a lot of time, and used at a rate of 1 per 50-70 m2. F3 may have no effect if used at less than this rate.

The intensity of [[Feline Territorial Behaviour#Core Territory|core territory]] and [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Facial and Flank Marks|facial marks]] can be enhanced using F3 diffusers and spray (Feliway). These should be positioned in each of the rooms in which the cats spend a lot of time, and used at a rate of 1 per 50-70 m2. F3 may have no effect if used at less than this rate.

Having made the core territory safer, the aim is to enable the cats to re-establish a pattern of [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territorial defence]] outside. The cats should be given vantage points within the garden that allow them to control their territory, but which face away from the house so that non-resident cats cannot use these perches to threaten the owner’s cats. Non-resident cats may have favourite places from which they use long-distance visual threats to intimidate the client’s cats. These should be removed or altered so that they are unusable. For example, placing anti-burglar "prickle strips" onto shed roofs to make them uncomfortable to sit on.

Having made the core territory safer, the aim is to enable the cats to re-establish a pattern of [[Feline Territorial Behaviour|territorial defence]] outside. The cats should be given vantage points within the garden that allow them to control their territory, but which face away from the house so that non-resident cats cannot use these perches to threaten the owner’s cats. Non-resident cats may have favourite places from which they use long-distance visual threats to intimidate the client’s cats. These should be removed or altered so that they are unusable. For example, placing anti-burglar "prickle strips" onto shed roofs to make them uncomfortable to sit on.