Flashcards
Cat behaviour
Cards in this deck (43)
- 1Ancestor of domestic catFelis silvestris lybica
Responsive to handling - 2Time budgetPredatory, grooming, hunting, sleeping (16 hours)
- 3S. Lybicus vs domestic cat characteristicsS. Lybicus: Larger, long legs, sex variation in size, good night vision, tabby, aggressive and asocial
Domestic: Sexes same size with some breed variation, smaller brain, variable coats, docile and matrilineal social struc. - 4Social organisation of catsMatrilineal structure, no ritualised submission, shuffling possible
Have affiliative behaviours for bonding such as allogrooming and resting together - 5Territory structureCore territory: where they eat and sleep
Home range: Toilet sites and observation areas, shared with neighbourhood cats
Hunting range: Shared with large # cats - 6CommunicationVisual
Vocal: sexual, agonistic, maternal
Olfactory: spraying, scratching
Tactile: Allogrooming, rubbing - 7Body language (3)Face and ears
Tail
Body position - 8Threat responsesRunning and hiding
Fighting - 9Dietary requirementsObligate carnivores and predators, eat several times a day
- 10Gestation and reproductionPuberty ~10 months
Seasonally polyoestrus without copulation
Copulation induces ovulation
Gestation ~63 days - 11Kitten development periods1-4 weeks queen influence essential for rearing
3-12 weeks: socialisation period and play behaviours
8 weeks: capable of independence
6 months + :sexual maturity - 12Types of playObject, locomotor, social
- 13Common behaviour problemsAggression
Inappropriate toileting
Destroying furniture
aggression to other pets
Overgrooming - 14What is behaviour influenced by? (3)Genetics, experience, environment
- 15Ideal time to rehome a kitten7-9 weeks
- 16Environment influence on behaviourExpose kittens to novel objects
Play
Non threatening interactions - 17Experience influence on behaviourSocialisation in close proximity to own and other species
- 18Socialisation period in kittens3-7 weeks
minimum 20 minutes handling per day starting from 4 weeks - 19Benefits of early socialisation of kittensImproves relationship with other animals and people leading to longer retention of animal
Improves care and bonding
Reduces chance of developing behavioural problems - 20Common kitten behaviour problemsExuberant play
scratching
Aggression
litterbox issues - 21Types of play aggression (3)Social play
Predator play
Social fighting - 22Treating play aggressionStartle behaviour and treat alternative behaviour
Redirect aggression to toys - 23Treating fear aggressionIdentify stimulus, CC and SD
Don't reinforce timid behaviour
Reinforce friendly behaviour with treats and kindness over time - 24Signs of aggressionFlat ears
Tail twitching
Hissing/spitting - 25Sequence of aggressionEscape
Freeze
Threat behaviour
attack - 26Types of aggressionTowards people: fear, frustration, redirected, play/predatory
Inter-cat
Pain
Maternal - 27Immediate actions to aggressive catsDon't handle
Don't punish
Provide hiding place or escape route - 28Modifying fear aggressive behaviourDon't exceed tolerated contact time
reward good behaviours
Avoid restraining and holding cat
CC and SD unwanted behaviour
Increase enrichment
Consider pheromones and medication
No punishment - 29Causes of aggressionGenetics
Cognitive dysfunction
Poor socialisation
Bad experience - 30CC and SD to dogsPresent dog odour on cloth
Let them smell each other through door
Cat can investigate while dog in crate
Supervised introduction, provide cat with an excape - 31Modification of frustration aggressionRoutine and consistency
adequate resources
End play with reward
increase enrichment - 32Play aggressionStrong innate motivation, triggered by rapid movements and loud noises
- 33Modification of play aggressionBlock hiding spaces
Provide toys and enrichment
Reinforced pants
Avoid frustration
Routine play sessions and rewarding desired behaviour
Interrupt attacks with water or noise - 34Actions for inter-cat aggressionSeparate cats
provide complete set of resources for each cat
Provide hiding places and block vantage points of bully cat
Consider pheromones, medication or rehoming - 35Spraying vs urinatingSpraying: tail upright, small volume, standing
Urinating: Squatting, large volume - 36Why does spraying occur indoorsTerritorial response to feeling threatened
caused by unfamiliar cats in the area, changes to routines or conflict in multi-animal households - 37Prevention of sprayingDesexing
Introduce new things slowly
Consistent routines - 38Reasons for sprayingTerritory threat
Change in routine
advertising for a mate - 39Spraying due to neighbourhood catRestrict view of outdoors
Increase enrichment as distraction - 40Spraying due to conflict within houseOwn set of resources per cat in different locations
- 41What product repels spraying?Feliway
- 42Reasons for cat scratchingDesheath claws
Exercise forelimb muscles
Boredom due to restricted outdoor access
Comfort
Anxiety
Precursor to play - attention seeking - 43TreatmentFeliway to reduce anxiety
Declawing - permanent indoor cats only
Scratching posts
Deterrents to scratching spots such as perspex, foil, feliscratch
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- Behaviour and Welfare Flashcards on Cat behaviour, created by Kelly Scott on 29/10/2019.
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- Kelly Scott
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