The confined catThe confined catKeeping safe and sane!

Claire Bessant, Feline Advisory Bureau

Confined catsConfined cats

• Boarding catteryBoarding cattery• Veterinary surgeryVeterinary surgery• Rescue establishmentRescue establishment• BreedingBreeding• QuarantineQuarantine• In our homes?In our homes?

You may love them . . . You may love them . . . but to deal with them properly but to deal with them properly

you need to understand them . . you need to understand them . .

The enigma of the catThe enigma of the cat

• Solitary or sociableSolitary or sociable• Predator or preyPredator or prey• Wild or tameWild or tame• Difficult to ageDifficult to age• Difficult to catchDifficult to catch• Difficult to handleDifficult to handle• Difficult to diagnoseDifficult to diagnose• Difficult to treatDifficult to treat• Difficult to assess pain or stressDifficult to assess pain or stress• Behaviour often different in different Behaviour often different in different

environments.environments.

Feline Advisory Bureau Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB)(FAB)

• VetsVets• BehaviouristsBehaviourists• RescueRescue• OwnersOwners• CatteriesCatteries• BreedersBreeders• Cat GroupCat Group

All with a slightly different point of view and feel All with a slightly different point of view and feel for the cat, but all trying to understand it in for the cat, but all trying to understand it in

order order to treat it better.to treat it better.

Combining informationCombining information

• Essential cattitudeEssential cattitude• Cat friendly practiceCat friendly practice• Cattery standards.Cattery standards.

1 Understand cats 2 Understand how human activity(rescue, veterinary, boarding)

will affect the cat3 Understand how disease can be

controlled where cats are housed

Esssential cattitudeEsssential cattitude

• What is a cat?What is a cat?• What does this mean for What does this mean for

owners?owners?• How does innate behaviour How does innate behaviour

affect how cats react to the affect how cats react to the situations we put them into?situations we put them into?

• How far can we push the How far can we push the adaptability of the cat?adaptability of the cat?

www.fabcats.org/publicationswww.fabcats.org/publications

11 HunterHunter

What does this mean for owners?Physically active

Attracted to movement

Active at dawn and dusk

Claws which need sharpening

Catch prey + bring in

Need space and opportunity for this strongly motivated activity

May wander when hunting is good

2 Obligate carnivore2 Obligate carnivore

What does this mean forowners?

Cats cannot be vegetariansCats cannot be vegetarians

3 Territorial3 Territorial

What does this mean for owners?Territory extremely importantMore attached to territory than ownerDon’t expect neighbouring cats to get on

May hide, fight or feel threatenedIf limited, provide stimulationDon’t enjoy being off territoryTerritory marking is natural

4 Athletic and agile4 Athletic and agile

What does this mean for owners?

Cats use all dimensions

Nowhere is safe!

Provide opportunities for exercise

Mad half hour!

5 It’s all about smell5 It’s all about smell

What does this mean for owners?

Sensitive to smells we are unaware of

Implications for household activities – sensitive cats

Communication owners miss

Defining territory – may use urine spray if stressed

6 Self-reliant6 Self-reliant

What does this mean for owners?

Happy on their own – sharing may be stressful

No pack, no dominance hierarchy, no protection

May be very independent/hunt/territorial

Run away/hide from danger

Driven to keep coat immaculate - poisoning

Hide signs of weakness/pain

Control is the key

7 Highly aware7 Highly awareWhat does this mean for owners?

Can be stressed by new sights, sounds and smells

May react quickly if disturbed or frightened

May ’shut down’ if cannot cope with situation

Cats are generally more sensitive to unfamiliar

people and situations than dogs and, because of

the subtlety of their communication systems,

more readily misunderstood

88 EmotionalEmotional

What does this mean for owners?

Cats are hard to read – fear/pleasure/frustrationCats are fast learnersRoutine/predictability reduce stressChanges in behaviour may signal emotional change or health problems

9 9 Adaptable . . . Adaptable . . .

What does this mean for owners?Cats can live with us in all types of situationMisunderstanding of feral catsCan give cats credit for talents they don’t haveTake adaptability for granted – push too far?

And not to forget - 10 Fertile!And not to forget - 10 Fertile!

What does it make us think about for What does it make us think about for the confined cat?the confined cat?

• Presence of other cats usually disturbingPresence of other cats usually disturbing

• The importance of somewhere to hideThe importance of somewhere to hide

• The difference between feral and pet catsThe difference between feral and pet cats

• The importance of resources and positionThe importance of resources and position

• The need for control and predictabilityThe need for control and predictability

• The need for outlet of natural behavioursThe need for outlet of natural behaviours

• Aggression often fear orientatedAggression often fear orientated

• Behaviour in the cage may not reflectBehaviour in the cage may not reflect

in the home.in the home.

Confined catsConfined cats• Health issuesHealth issues

Disease control and preventionDisease control and preventionRecoveryRecoveryEnvironment conducive to eatingEnvironment conducive to eatingHandling for examination Handling for examination

and treatmentand treatment

• Behaviour issuesBehaviour issuesOther catsOther catsLittle control over environmentLittle control over environment

Ongoing stressful factorsOngoing stressful factorsConfinement boredomConfinement boredomAssessing behaviourAssessing behaviour