Practical feline behaviour: understanding cat behaviour and improving welfare

294 Pages·2018·5.96 MB·English

Practical Feline Behaviour
Understanding Cat Behaviour and Improving Welfare
The appendices for this book are available at
https://www.cabi.org/openresources/47838
Practical Feline Behaviour
Understanding Cat Behaviour
and Improving Welfare
Trudi Atkinson
Clinical Animal Behaviourist, UK
CABI is a trading name of CAB International
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© T. Atkinson, 2018. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any
form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, by photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior permission of the copyright owners.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library, London, UK.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Atkinson, Trudi, author. | C.A.B. International, issuing body.
Title: Practical feline behaviour : understanding cat behaviour and improving
welfare / Trudi Atkinson.
Description: Oxfordshire, UK ; Boston, MA : CABI, [2018] | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017060813 (print) | LCCN 2017061262 (ebook) | ISBN
9781780647821 (pdf) | ISBN 9781780647814 (ePub) | ISBN 9781780647838 (pbk.
: alk. paper)
Subjects: | MESH: Cats | Behavior, Animal | Animal Welfare
Classification: LCC SF446.5 (ebook) | LCC SF446.5 (print) | NLM SF 446.5 |
DDC 636.8--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017060813
ISBN-13: 9781780647838 (pbk)
9781780647821 (PDF)
9781780647814 (ePub)
Commissioning editor: Caroline Makepeace
Editorial assistant: Alexandra Lainsbury
Production editor: Tim Kapp
Typeset by SPi, Pondicherry, India
Printed and bound in Great Britain by Severn, Gloucester.
Contents
About the Author xi
Foreword xiii
Preface xv
Acknowledgements xvii
PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING FELINE BEHAVIOUR
1. The Origin and Evolution of the Domestic Cat 3
The African Wildcat 3
Domestication 5
Historical Attitudes Towards Cats 7
The Modern-day Pet Cat 8
Current Attitudes Towards Cats and Keeping Cats as Pets 10
Feline Behaviour 11
2. The Senses 14
Sight 14
Hearing 16
Olfaction (Sense of Smell) 17
Touch 18
Balance 19
3. Feline Communication 22
Vocalizations 22
Visual Signalling 26
Tactile Communication 33
Olfactory Communication 35
4. Social, Feeding and Predatory Behaviour 42
Social Behaviour 42
Feeding Behaviour 51
Predatory Behaviour 52
5. Kitten to Cat – Reproduction and the Behavioural
Development of Kittens 58
Reproductive Behaviour of Tomcats 58
Reproductive Behaviour of the Queen 60
Physical and Behavioural Development of Kittens 66
6. Health and Behaviour 79
Pain 79
Disease 81
v
Old Age 81
Stress 82
The Impact of Stress on Physical Health 84
The Impact of Stress on Mental and Emotional Health 90
Acute Stress – the Influence on Physiological Parameters 92
Assessing Stress 92
Observable Signs of Stress in Cats 93
7. Learning, Training and Behaviour 98
Why Train Cats? 98
Learning Theory 98
Habituation 98
Sensitization 99
Associative Learning 100
Factors Influencing Learning 112
PART TWO: PRACTICAL FELINE BEHAVIOUR
8. Advice for Breeders 119
The Responsibility of the Breeder in the Prevention of Behaviour Problems 119
Selection of Queen and Stud 119
Pregnancy 120
Parturition 123
Pre-weaning Period 123
Weaning 124
Early Experience 126
Maternal Aggression 129
Education of New Owners 129
9. Advice for Prospective Cat Owners 131
Is a Cat the Best Pet for You? 131
Making the Right Choice 133
The Importance of Early-life Influences 136
What to Look For and What to Avoid 136
Bringing your New Cat or Kitten Home 138
10. Advice for Cat Owners 141
Managing Feline Stress 141
Indoor Cat or Outdoor Access? 141
A Fenced-off Area 142
Cat Flaps 145
Neutering 145
Other Cats 146
Cats, Babies and Children 149
Cats and Dogs 149
Avoiding House-training Issues 149
Preventing Human-directed Aggression 150
Keeping Your Cat Healthy 151
vi Contents
11. Advice for Veterinary Professionals 152
a. Part 1 – The Cat in the Veterinary Clinic 152
The Journey to the Practice 153
The Waiting Room 153
Appointments 154
Greeting and Speaking to Clients 154
The Consultation Room 155
Handling and Examining 155
Hospitalization 158
b. Part 2 – Advising Clients: Prevention and Treatment of Feline
Behaviour Problems 164
Talks 164
Nurse/Technician Behavioural Clinics 164
Handouts 165
Behavioural First Aid 165
Referral or Treat ‘In-house’ 167
Who to Refer to? 168
Behavioural Pharmacology 169
Pheromonatherapy 170
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) 174
The Placebo Effect 178
12. Advice for Other Cat Carers 180
General Advice for All 180
Advice for Shelters and Catteries 180
Foster Care 187
Adoption 188
Cat Sitters (Advice for Sitters and Owners) 189
Cat Cafés 190
An Alternative Idea 194
Appendices
1. Environmental Enrichment 195
Space 195
Hiding Areas 195
Food Foraging and Food Puzzles 195
2. Play 200
Social Play 200
Object Play 201
How to Tell if the Cat is Interested in Play 202
Ending the Game 204
Catnip 204
3. Reducing Resource Competition in a Multi-cat Household 205
Food 205
Water 206
Resting Places 206
Litter Trays 206
Contents vii
4. Neutering 207
Spay 207
Castration 207
Why Neuter? 207
When to Neuter 208
5. Introducing an Additional Cat to your Household 210
Points to Consider Before Getting Another Cat 210
Correct Introductions: Increasing the Chances that a New Cat and
Resident Cat(s) will Accept Each Other 211
Keeping the Peace 214
6. Helping a Grieving Cat 215
Do Cats Grieve? 215
How Can We Help? 215
7. Introducing Cats and Dogs 217
If You Have a Dog and are Considering Getting a Cat 217
If You Have a Cat and are Considering Getting a Dog 217
Introducing a New Cat or Kitten into a Home with a Resident Dog 218
Introducing a Dog or Puppy into a Home with a Resident Cat 221
Using a Crate 222
8. Cat Flaps 223
Where to Fit a Cat Flap 223
Types of Cat Flap 224
Training Your Cat to Use a Cat Flap 225
9. Teaching Your Cat to Come to You When You Call 226
10. Cats, Babies and Children 227
A New Baby 227
Cats and Children 228
11. House-training Your Cat or Kitten 230
Insufficient Number of Litter Trays 230
The Location of the Litter Trays 230
The Size and Shape of the Litter Tray 231
Covered vs Uncovered Litter Tray? 231
The ‘Wrong’ Type of Litter Substrate 231
Using an ‘Outdoor’ Toilet 232
House-training ‘Accidents’ 233
If the Problem Persists 233
House-Training Problem or Scent-Marking? 233
12. Training Your Cat to Like the Cat Carrier 235
13. Medicating Your Cat 240
Mixing in Food 240
Physically Medicating the Cat 241
Applying a Spot-on Treatment 242
viii Contents
14. Teaching your Cat or Kitten to Accept Veterinary Examination 243
Examining the Mouth 243
Examining the Ears 244
Examining the Feet and Clipping the Nails 244
15. First Aid Advice for Common Feline Behaviour Problems 245
General Advice for all Problems 245
House Soiling 245
Aggression to People 247
Fighting in a Multi-cat Household 249
Furniture Scratching 250
16. Friend or Foe 251
Signs of a Friendly Relationship 251
Signs of a Bad Relationship 251
Signs of a ‘Tolerant’ Relationship 252
17. Approaching, Stroking and Picking Up 253
The Approach 253
Picking the Cat Up 254
18. Recognizing Stress 256
Physiological Signs of Stress 256
Behavioural Signs of Stress 256
Glossary 259
List of Useful Websites 261
Recommended Reading List 263
Index 265
Contents ix