MERCK VET MANUAL - BEHAVIOR OF CATS

Social Behavior & Behavioral Problems

Flehmen Response

in which they lift the head, slightly open the mouth, push the tongue to the front of the palate, and retract the upper lip to waft interesting smells into their vomeronasal organ.

Feral Cat Group Composition

mostly queens & litters, w/ a few toms

Main Factor for Cat Group Density

Availability & distribution of food sources

Physical Social Behavior

rubbing, grooming, nose touching

Antagonistic Behaviors

1. hissing

2. swatting

3. scratching

4. biting

Crepuscular

where an animal is more active during dawn & dusk

Cat Sleeping %

40%

Cat Grooming %

15

Avg # of meals cats prefer daily

13

Feline Hearing Range Capacity

can hear sounds into the ultrasonic range

What are the reasons that cats dig during elimination?

visual mark or to bury urine & feces

Scent Deposition Methods

rubbing, scratching, & spraying

Induced Ovulators

Queens cycle every 3 weeks seasonally (from winter to summer)

Feline Gestation

63-66 days

What does neutering in toms eliminate?

1. sexual behavior

2. decreases spraying

3. same sex fighting

4. roaming behavior

Feline Prenatal Period

until queened

Feline Neonatal Period

0-10 days old

Feline Transition Period

10-15 days old

Feline Socialization Period

2-7 weeks old

Juvenile Period

7 wks-7 mos

Social Maturity

7-12 mos

Weaning

occurs at 5-8 wks

5 pillars of a healthy cat environment

1. have a safe place

2. have multiple resources available (food, water, litter boxes, scratching & play areas, a bed to sleep on

3. have opportunity for play & predatory behavior

4. Provide positive, consistent, and predictable human-cat social interactions.

5. Provide positive, consistent, and predictable human-cat social interactions.

What 2 factors are cat play motivated by?

Initial interest & rapid habituation

How to modify a cat’s behavior

1. clicker training

2. counterconditioning

3. response substitution

4. medications

What history is important for house soiling?

1. whether it was urine or feces (nature of it)

2. urine deposits nature

3. duration/frequency of problem

4. signalment/temperament

5. timing of & location

6. litter box details

7. daily routine

8. home environment

What are the causes of spraying?

1. new cat intro

2. schedule change

3. environment change

4. family dynamics change

5. unfamiliar visual, auditory, or olfactory stimuli

Urine Marking Treatment

1. provide more litter boxes, use positive reinforcement, & can also use meds

Undesirable Toileting

is soiling on horizontal surfaces with urine, feces, or both

Causes of Undesirable Toileting

• location

• litter box (eg, size, shape, hood, litter liner presence)

• substrate (eg, texture, depth, scent, cleanliness)

• medical problems that might cause painful elimination, increased frequency, or lack of control

• unpleasant experiences at or near the box (eg, noises, fear of being cornered in the box, association with medication administration)

• difficulty gaining access to the box (eg, barriers, medical problems contributing to pain or decreased mobility)

Undesirable Toileting Treatment

more litter boxes or bigger sizes,