7. Fel Behav Flashcards
What is associated with the domestication of cats?
Farming + Storage of foods, attracted by rodents
How did cats coevolve with us?
Useful for rodent control
small so no threat to people
self sufficient
do not work with or for us
Describe cat colonies and how they work
A group of related breeding queens and their offspring
May include one or more males
Toms may live individually w/ large ranges that can overlap several colonies
Queens + toms may collaborate in raising kittens
Even in a colony they have their own space
solitary hunters, ambush hunters
Describe the neonatal period.
Born blind + deaf, eyes open 2-16 days, hearing by 4 wks of age
has minimal social interaction
requires stim from queen to pee/poo
cannot regulate body temp/self groom
Sense of smell well developed - curl upper lip
Acute sense of touch, front paws sensitive to vibrations
vibrassae on body very sensitive (mystacial, superciliar, genal tufts, mandibular, carpal)
How long is the neonatal phase?
birth-2 weeks
When is early socialization period in cats?
3-8 wks
Describe early socialization in cats
crucial for human-cat relationship
vision fully developed
eat solid foods and stop suckling
begins to walk
Develops bladder control and can use litter box
will play,g room, eyecolor changes + teeth erupt
What to do and dont during the early socialization period?
DO: Handle gently and play with multiple people
expose to variety of people + pets
have litter boxes (low side, scoop 2xd, unscented)
Kitten used to carrier
give toys, kittenproof, customer to being examined
8 wks good to wean + rehome
DONT - Play rough, hide + seek with u being sought out, no isolate, also a fear period
How can you prepare a home for a kitten?
Block small holes to escape
more strings/cords out of reach
make base camp - off limits to other pets, children w/ supervision, comfortable bet, litter box, toys, cardboard box, scratching post
When is the late socialization period?
9-16 wks
Describe the late socialization period
Eats solid food, social play peaks, vigorous exploration + climbing
Cats not socializd to people <12 wks may be feral
larger litterbox 1.5x cat’s length
vx
When is the adolescnece period?
17wks-1 yr
Describe the adolescence period
Sexual matured, no neuter = spray/mark in house, fight, roam
Owner continue to play/reward positive reinforcement and enviro enrichment
microchip
reeval litter box size
mental stim your cat-train
When is the adult period?
2-3 yrs
Describe the adult period
social play decreased
owner to reeval litter box
reward good behaviour + play
rotate toys + enviro enrich
Explain normal grooming behaviour and the four main functions it helps with
- Maintain healthy skin and coat
- Reduce heat (evaporation)
- Affiliative behaviour between cats
- Calming or communicative
kittens groom @ 2wks age, half of awake hours grooming, grooming learned from queen/littermates, first change when ill
What is normal territorial behaviour?
Will defend territory and mark it - pheromone glands in cheek, tail and paws can scratch mark surfaces
defecate and leave uncovered in obvious places to mark
describe normal urine marking and what’s its purpose
Most common in intact males, also in females
spraying - tail raised, on front feet, smaller volume, vertical surfaces
At risk areas, entrance ways, windows, heavy traffic areas
mark to signal ownership + advertise sexual status
marked when threatened or stressed
Describe urine marking in the home
more cats = more spraying
spraying inc from 25% in single cat household to 100% in 10-cat household
Intact males/females in heat spray more
How do you treat urine marking?
neuter b4 sexual maturity, spraying is learned so older the cat the less likely to spray
decrease motiv for spraying - no cats on property, no seein other cats, separate cats not getting along (including literbox/sleeping)
make place unwelcome by placing litterbox/food there, clean with enzymatic cleaners to elim odors, drug therapy may work
What is non marking urination?
Squat urination 2x per day
in liter box, dig to make a pit for more than 4 sec, may cover w/ substrate
What do cats prefer for litterboxes?
Clean litterbox 2xper day, atleast 1.5x cats length, can be narrow (10+) cm, sweater or small dog box, fine substrate in quite place, +1 to # of cats
single day urinations are abnormal = Urinary tract disease
Why do cats abandon the litterbox?
Surface preference, loc preference (not under stairs, need escape route), 3m away from food, litter box aversion, stress, smell
enough litterboxes? not beside each other
with or without lid?
height of edges, does it have a door?
What is normal defecation behaviour?
1-3 poops per day
in pit in litter
used to mark territory
What is the difference between urine marking + inappropriate elimination?
Urine mark on vert surfaces
inapp elim on horiz surfaces
What are some other bathroom habits by cats?
not induced by odor of other cats like dogs
wont go to the same place twice
want a clean digging spot
avoids urine/feces
wants tot know stuff around them to run away
Name some solitary toys cats can play with
Bottle with holes for kibble
kongs mice
box with holes and food inside, hide in
videos/window
round plastic shower curtain rings
plastic rolling balls
paper bags, cardboard boxes
cardboard rolls
soft stuffed toys
catnip/honeysuckle
lats 5-10 min, not again for at least an hour
kittens <3 wks no effect
valerian root, silver vine, tartarian honeysuckle sim effects
What is catnip and how does it affect cats?
Herb from mint family. active ingredient is nepetalactone
works via olfactory stim
cats exhibit excitation, sedation, no reaction (in 30%) bc reaction is genetically linked
What is the active ingredient in catnip
Nepetalactone
Explain destruct scratching behaviour and why it happens? How do you treat it?
Common behaviour
scratching furniture/carpets
done for territorial marking, maintaining claws + stretching, working off energy
treat with 1. appropriate scratching surface, 2 teach how to use new post, 3 discourage use of bad surface/post
Explain treating destructive scratching behav
1 - redirect on suitable surface - vert or horiz on cats preference, must be as long/tall as cat fully stretched. Sisal or rug material, LOCATIOn
2 - teach cat how to use, please in front of inapp place, show cat with hands, play with cat around it,
3 - discourage use of bad post w/ double sidesided sticky tape, tinfoil, sandpaper, upside down plastic rug runners, aversive odour w/ cotton balls, shake tin full of change when scratching bad
What is offensive/defensive aggression?
fight/fight response
offense - aggressive cat will make look bigger/intimidating
Defensive - aggressive cat adopts a selfprotecting posture to look smler
Rule of thumb - don’t touch, attempt to treasure or punish cats showing these postures
Explain the differences btw offensive/defensive aggression
Offensive - stiff stance, tail lowered to straight to ground, direct stare, upright ears backs slightly forward, piloerection + fur on tail, constricted pupils, facing opponent, growling/howling/yowling
Defensive - crouched, head tucked in, tail around body tucked in, eyes wide pupil partially or fully dilated, ears flat sideways or backward, piloerection, anxious cats whiskers retracted, fearful whiskers pan out + forward to assess danger, turned sideways to opponent, open mouth hissing/spitting, quite strikes of front paws claws out
Describe territorial aggression
Cats avoid rather than confront
distance signaling used - scent markings, rubbing, scratching, defecation, time budgeting
Describe predatory aggression
Cats hunt frogs, small mamals, birds, stalk quietly, sprint towards prey, kill with cervical bite
How to prevent predatory aggression?
have a tinned, meat diet, cat bibs/bells, no let outside, redirect with toy/laser pointer
What is redirected aggressive
common result in severe bites
cat aroused by visiting cat/prey in yard - cannot do anything because of windowpane
owner approaches and gets bit - may not be inhibited, may be considerable time lag between arousal and bite
cat appears aroused, distract w/ toy
Describe play aggression
Common
hone hunting thru play
2 types
Solitary - directed towards objects like toys, skeins of yarn, paper bags, boxes and rolled up paper
social - towards people or pets
no rage, vocalization or emotion - cats have limited ability to express emotion
Describe predatory play aggression
stalking, chasing, pouncing, ambushing, grasping and biting - attack in form of ambush, quick, stealth
normally 1 bite and shake
bit inhibituaion learned thru kittens
no rough play with kitten or learns to rough play back
redirect play to toy or give other enrichmentd
describe petting aggression
Some cattos no like pet for long
warning signs = head towards hand quick, tail twitch, flat ears rotate back, restlessness
typically inhibited bite + runs away
mahy return rapidly as friendly cat - no want pet, play using toy or let sit next to you
what is pain aggression?
angry cus pain
