Feline Aggression to Other Cats
Feline Aggression To Other Cats July 2008 Tele-Webcast Suzanne Hetts, Ph.D. Daniel Q. Estep, Ph.D. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists www.AnimalBehaviorAssociates.com Littleton, CO Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Goals Help
cats in both home and confined settings get along Reduce stress Promote friendly relationships
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Behavior in Cats From
African wild cat
– Solitary and nocturnal – Not well studied What
is solitary?
– Capable of raising young without depending on a group
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Behavior in Cats
What is solitary?
Secure food individually, without group cooperation
Why choose solitary?
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Why Choose Solitary? No selection pressures for cooperation No male involvement in raising young Prey smaller than yourself
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Why Choose Solitary? Solitary v. group depends on food Clumped v. Dispersed Domestication provided clumped If want to exploit, have to tolerate others Efficiency in ridding of pests favorsCopyright >1 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc.
All rights reserved
Understand The Nature of Cats
Cats more flexible in their social structures Groups of cats may not be a cohesive whole, as a pack is, but more of an aggregate of individual animals Cooperative behavior is seen Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living Allocate
resources
– Social hierarchies – “resource allocation system”
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
Groups of cats often don’t have a clear structure Linear dominance hierarchies uncommon
Cats often “time share” rather than competing directly
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
Avoid and settle conflicts – Appeasement – Submission
Cats don’t have submissive postures Rolling?
– Immature males to males – Increases tolerance of presence Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
What do cats do? – Leave, avoid
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
Affiliative
behaviors
Subtle Being
close Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
Allogrooming
1/3 of time followed by aggression
Allorubbing
Kittens - all but adult males Juveniles – adult females Females – each other and males Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
3.5 3 2.5 N = 13
2
N=5
N=5
1.5 1
Allorub Allogrm Approach Sniff cat Aggression Watch cat
Events/hr
0.5 0 > 1 year
1-12 mon
< 1 month
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Bradshaw, 1992
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living Social play behaviors Play is predatory & agonistic behaviors Cats don’t have clear play-solicitation behaviors Play-fights more often become serious
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Understand the Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living • Reconciliation behaviors • appeasement • affiliative
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Understand the Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
Once conflicts arise, more difficult for cats to repair social relationships Why avoiding conflicts is so important
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Olfactory Communication Odors help cats avoid one another Scent marking
– Urine marking – Scratching
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Sources of Conflict
very sensitive to inter-personal distance
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Sources of Conflict
Very territorial – Personal space vs. territory
Keep away from self – Avoid, no pursuit
Keep out of territory – Stalking, pursuing
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Sources of Conflict Cats typically require more social space than dogs Number of behavior problems increases in direct proportion to number of cats
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Sources of Conflict Conflicts between cats most likely to be about personal space or territory Not about “dominance” or social status
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
What Makes Conflicts Likely? Improper
introductions Too many cats Environment doesn’t support “Unsociable” temperament “Mis-match” – Sociable vs. not – Young, playful vs. older, sedentary Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Understand The Nature of Cats Lots of individual variation Can’t predict very accurately which cats are going to do well with each other, and which are not
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Sources of Individual Variation
Genetics – Individual personality type
Socialization history / early experience – Sensitive period – 2-7 weeks for socialization to people – Not studied in relation to intraspecific relationships
Later experiences/ learning Gender
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
The Nature of Cats
may stay aroused for long durations
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Cats’ Subtle Signals of Arousal Twitching, swishing tail Head turns; intention movements Rapid change of ear carriage Freezing Tense body Paws, tail tucked in Hiding Dilated eyes Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Reasons for Conflicts Between Cats Already
talked about personal space
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Fear/Defensive – defensive postures – wants to keep other cat at a distance /out of personal space – doesn’t want interaction – Gradual introductions can help prevent
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Understand The Nature of Cats
Common cause of conflict - redirected aggression
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Redirected – Trigger different than target – offensive or defensive – response may be delayed Cats have history of getting along Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Play – common between young new cat and older resident cat – often misinterpreted – predatory sequences – varied postures
One cat wants to play, other cat defensive May be lack of socialization, personality and age differences Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Territorial Stalking Chasing Ambushing May
be the most difficult to resolve
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Is Adding Another Cat A Good Idea? Have realistic expectations
“Good buddies” isn’t always the outcome
May take up to a year for friendly relationship to develop “Tolerance” after several weeks or months (not days!)
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Choosing Another Cat
No fool-proof method Consider same factors – – –
Past history General sociability Age
Gender – Spay/neuter – In wild, groups of females – Males disperse
Individual characteristics more important Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Encouraging Proaction Marketing
Message – Ask us before bringing your next cat home Stickers on receipt Message on report cards Bulletin boards Make part of wellness exams Information on your website Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Providing for Multiple Cats Opportunities for both social interactions and play And for social distance No cat should be constantly harassed Avoid fights How best to do?
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Minimize Potential Sources of Conflict Between Cats Design
environment so that necessities are in multiple locations More than one
feeding location Avoid personal space issues Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Provide multiple scratching objects in multiple locations See – Helping Kitty Be Good – DVD Each cat will have different preferences
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Provide multiple resting sites, observation locations
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Cats need hiding places; safe places to increase social distance
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Some perches should be high – used as escape, avoidance sites
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
√
√
Each cat may need individual social or play time with owner “Jolly” each cat when the other approaches
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Provide multiple litterboxes, in multiple locations
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
√
Keep resident cat’s routine the same as much as possible
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Not all cats can learn to live with each other Haphazard introductions less likely to be successful Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Behavioral Signs of Stress, Decreased Quality of Life
Repetitive behaviors (stereotypies) – pacing, circling, tail chasing
Self-mutilation – hair-pulling, licking, tail chewing
Fear – – – –
hiding inactivity sleeping Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. loss of hair coat All rights reserved
Behavioral Signs of Stress, Decreased Quality of Life Compulsive
eating/drinking, or failure to eat/drink Increased aggressiveness – can be fear motivated Decreased
or hyper responsiveness
to stimuli Stress related illnesses – immune system – GI problems
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
If Problems Arise Separate cats Implement reintroduction procedures Restructure environment Consult veterinarian and animal behaviorist
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
THE END
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Goals Help
cats in both home and confined settings get along Reduce stress Promote friendly relationships
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Behavior in Cats From
African wild cat
– Solitary and nocturnal – Not well studied What
is solitary?
– Capable of raising young without depending on a group
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Behavior in Cats
What is solitary?
Secure food individually, without group cooperation
Why choose solitary?
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Why Choose Solitary? No selection pressures for cooperation No male involvement in raising young Prey smaller than yourself
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Why Choose Solitary? Solitary v. group depends on food Clumped v. Dispersed Domestication provided clumped If want to exploit, have to tolerate others Efficiency in ridding of pests favorsCopyright >1 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc.
All rights reserved
Understand The Nature of Cats
Cats more flexible in their social structures Groups of cats may not be a cohesive whole, as a pack is, but more of an aggregate of individual animals Cooperative behavior is seen Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living Allocate
resources
– Social hierarchies – “resource allocation system”
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
Groups of cats often don’t have a clear structure Linear dominance hierarchies uncommon
Cats often “time share” rather than competing directly
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
Avoid and settle conflicts – Appeasement – Submission
Cats don’t have submissive postures Rolling?
– Immature males to males – Increases tolerance of presence Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
What do cats do? – Leave, avoid
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
Affiliative
behaviors
Subtle Being
close Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
Allogrooming
1/3 of time followed by aggression
Allorubbing
Kittens - all but adult males Juveniles – adult females Females – each other and males Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
3.5 3 2.5 N = 13
2
N=5
N=5
1.5 1
Allorub Allogrm Approach Sniff cat Aggression Watch cat
Events/hr
0.5 0 > 1 year
1-12 mon
< 1 month
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Bradshaw, 1992
Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living Social play behaviors Play is predatory & agonistic behaviors Cats don’t have clear play-solicitation behaviors Play-fights more often become serious
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Understand the Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living • Reconciliation behaviors • appeasement • affiliative
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Understand the Social Mechanisms Needed for Group Living
Once conflicts arise, more difficult for cats to repair social relationships Why avoiding conflicts is so important
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Olfactory Communication Odors help cats avoid one another Scent marking
– Urine marking – Scratching
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Sources of Conflict
very sensitive to inter-personal distance
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Sources of Conflict
Very territorial – Personal space vs. territory
Keep away from self – Avoid, no pursuit
Keep out of territory – Stalking, pursuing
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Sources of Conflict Cats typically require more social space than dogs Number of behavior problems increases in direct proportion to number of cats
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Sources of Conflict Conflicts between cats most likely to be about personal space or territory Not about “dominance” or social status
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
What Makes Conflicts Likely? Improper
introductions Too many cats Environment doesn’t support “Unsociable” temperament “Mis-match” – Sociable vs. not – Young, playful vs. older, sedentary Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Understand The Nature of Cats Lots of individual variation Can’t predict very accurately which cats are going to do well with each other, and which are not
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Sources of Individual Variation
Genetics – Individual personality type
Socialization history / early experience – Sensitive period – 2-7 weeks for socialization to people – Not studied in relation to intraspecific relationships
Later experiences/ learning Gender
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
The Nature of Cats
may stay aroused for long durations
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Cats’ Subtle Signals of Arousal Twitching, swishing tail Head turns; intention movements Rapid change of ear carriage Freezing Tense body Paws, tail tucked in Hiding Dilated eyes Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Reasons for Conflicts Between Cats Already
talked about personal space
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Fear/Defensive – defensive postures – wants to keep other cat at a distance /out of personal space – doesn’t want interaction – Gradual introductions can help prevent
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Understand The Nature of Cats
Common cause of conflict - redirected aggression
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Redirected – Trigger different than target – offensive or defensive – response may be delayed Cats have history of getting along Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Play – common between young new cat and older resident cat – often misinterpreted – predatory sequences – varied postures
One cat wants to play, other cat defensive May be lack of socialization, personality and age differences Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Territorial Stalking Chasing Ambushing May
be the most difficult to resolve
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Is Adding Another Cat A Good Idea? Have realistic expectations
“Good buddies” isn’t always the outcome
May take up to a year for friendly relationship to develop “Tolerance” after several weeks or months (not days!)
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Choosing Another Cat
No fool-proof method Consider same factors – – –
Past history General sociability Age
Gender – Spay/neuter – In wild, groups of females – Males disperse
Individual characteristics more important Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Encouraging Proaction Marketing
Message – Ask us before bringing your next cat home Stickers on receipt Message on report cards Bulletin boards Make part of wellness exams Information on your website Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Providing for Multiple Cats Opportunities for both social interactions and play And for social distance No cat should be constantly harassed Avoid fights How best to do?
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Minimize Potential Sources of Conflict Between Cats Design
environment so that necessities are in multiple locations More than one
feeding location Avoid personal space issues Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Provide multiple scratching objects in multiple locations See – Helping Kitty Be Good – DVD Each cat will have different preferences
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Provide multiple resting sites, observation locations
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Cats need hiding places; safe places to increase social distance
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Some perches should be high – used as escape, avoidance sites
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
√
√
Each cat may need individual social or play time with owner “Jolly” each cat when the other approaches
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Provide multiple litterboxes, in multiple locations
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
√
Keep resident cat’s routine the same as much as possible
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Not all cats can learn to live with each other Haphazard introductions less likely to be successful Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
Behavioral Signs of Stress, Decreased Quality of Life
Repetitive behaviors (stereotypies) – pacing, circling, tail chasing
Self-mutilation – hair-pulling, licking, tail chewing
Fear – – – –
hiding inactivity sleeping Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. loss of hair coat All rights reserved
Behavioral Signs of Stress, Decreased Quality of Life Compulsive
eating/drinking, or failure to eat/drink Increased aggressiveness – can be fear motivated Decreased
or hyper responsiveness
to stimuli Stress related illnesses – immune system – GI problems
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
If Problems Arise Separate cats Implement reintroduction procedures Restructure environment Consult veterinarian and animal behaviorist
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
THE END
Copyright 2004, 2008 ABA, Inc. All rights reserved
