Cats are territorial in nature and will typically define their own territory size due to age, individual personality, the availability of shelter and food as well as sexual status . A entire male is far more likely to roam a larger area than a female due to the desire to meet with and reproduce with available female cats. As soon as a cat is restricted to indoors and / or has a limited territory area outdoors it is more likely that external circumstances, instead of the individual concerned, are determining territory size. This situation of restricted territory size can become problematic for a cat who due to personality, age, availability of shelter and food and sexual status may require a larger territory than the owner’s homestead or outdoor environment will allow. This problem further increases when there is competition over territory in the form of multiple cat households or other cats living close by. At this point, a cat, that can neither define its own free-roaming territory or finds conspecifics invading his or her predefined territory, can suffer from territorial stress. Effects of stress can cause the individual to be aggressive, exhibit inappropriate scent marking and house soiling behaviours, withdraw from social contact, excessively groom, over or under eat as well as suppression of the immune system causing illnesses such as Lower Urinary Tract Disorder.

Cats define their territory by the use of chemical communication (scent) which is distributed from scent-marking glands in the face, chin, feet and tail. As some meetings with other cats leads to fierce fighting, which can affect the success of survival as an injured cat will struggle to hunt, cats work hard to avoid interaction with other cats. Cat communication has been developed so territories can be defined without the need to physically defend it from other cats. This is why a cat uses highly developed scent marking behaviours and why visual and vocal communication in cats is less so developed. This is also why some animals, which are forced to have smaller territory due a limitation in area or resources, or are required to share territory with other animals (example in multi-cat households) often leave to find territories with less competition or suffer from stress if they are prevented from doing so.

Not only is the home territory area regularly scent marked by the resident cat but as it is common for cats to have adjoining shared pathways with other cats, these areas are regularly patrolled in order to leave the cats scent The intention for this is to again avoid close meets with other cats, typically a cat will have its own individual route or operate a “time-share” system in which the same pathway is shared but at different times.

A cat will typically look for the best territory but will also readily accept a second best territory if the prime territory has too much competition. Even though a cat’s relationship with their owner could be well established innate territorial behaviours will over ride any loyalty to the owner if the cat’s territory becomes too competitive or resources contained within it too scarce. With all this in mind in order to minimise stress it is essential that a cat’s territory becomes well defined and contains all required resources. Further to this there should be a restriction on competitors to this territory which is always why it is necessary to provide much more space, food, litter trays and shelter than is possibly required if you have more than one resident cat.

It is not always territory that causes feuding to occur between two resident cats, aggression can be the result of other undefined triggers or circumstances. Toleration to multi cat households can be a subsequence of early learning. Social aggression is likely to develop once the aggressor or victim reaches social maturity and any further triggers behind the need for the aggression are often difficult to find.

The occurrence of redirected aggression is often more common in cats than it is in dogs. Its roots stem from frustration, fear or excitement over something the cat cannot access. Due to the physiological response felt the cat may redirect its aggression on a nearby cat, that wasn’t the cause of the aggression. The victim is therefore unprepared for the attack and therefore left traumatized with the possibility of an instant and permanent fear of the aggressor.  Even though this type of aggression between the two cats might never reoccur the intensity and un-predictiveness of the attack can leave the victim eternally fearful of the aggressor and the aggressor to make an association between the victim and behaviour experience.

Conditions such as arthritis, hyperthyroidism, diseases of the Central Nervous System and certain prescribed drugs (especially steroids as they raise the level of cortisol in the body) can all affect a cat in such a way as to cause aggression. Therefore a thorough veterinary examination must take place prior to any behaviour consideration being made. Hyperthyroidism is commonly found in older cats. If a cat has reduced flight capability due to arthritis, confrontation behaviours, namely aggression may be increased.

Socialisation is extremely important in order for kittens to become cats that are accepting and comfortable in the company of humans. Cats are pets (definition of pets “is a companion animal that is kept for companionship and enjoyment by people”) and therefore there is expectation that a relationship will be formed between the kitten or cat and their human family. In order for this relationship or bond to be created the kitten or cat needs to have already been exposed to all aspects of human variation to include living and handling whilst still with the breeder. The reason correct socialisation is the responsibility of the breeder is that the socialisation period for cats begins at two weeks and ceases at around seven weeks. During this time exposure to novel environments and sympathetic handling of the kittens by a wide range of humans is essential to ensure the kitten matures to become a cat that is well socialised and is able to develop a good attachment, relationship, to its new owner/s and does not become unduly anxious in its surrounds due to a lack of appropriate socialisation.

If anything is affecting your enjoyment of your cat, or your cat's enjoyment of life don't put up with it - contact Pets In Practise.