{"id":1300,"date":"2013-05-01T16:11:21","date_gmt":"2013-05-01T16:11:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phosdev.com\/todaysveterinarypractice\/?p=1300"},"modified":"2022-02-17T19:12:07","modified_gmt":"2022-02-17T19:12:07","slug":"on-your-best-behavior-the-10-commandments-of-cat-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/behavior\/on-your-best-behavior-the-10-commandments-of-cat-management\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Commandments of Cat Management"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The management of multi-cat households requires attention to the art of feline care. The considerations are organized into 10 Commandments that cover space layout, intra-cat behavioral considerations, food distribution, water sources, play opportunities, litter boxes, resting places, scratching opportunities, urine marking, and outside areas. When managing multicat households, I like to organize the art of feline care into what I call the 10 Commandments of Cat Management. Therefore&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Thou Shalt&#8230;<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"p3\"><b>1. Provide Plenty of Space\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">Cats are very much like people: Some cats become stressed when they are in close proximity to each other, while others like to be close to their preferred associates.<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>1<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Whether a client lives in a large house or a studio apartment, there are several ways to provide more room for cats living together in a household.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">For example, once horizontal space (square footage) has been maximized (<b>Figure 1<\/b>), vertical space can be added by installing perches and placing cat \u201ccondos\u201d or \u201ctrees\u201d in the home (<b>Figure 2<\/b>).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">An online search on the term <i>cat furniture<\/i> provides information and photos that give owners ideas on how to make their households more cat friendly. Consider incorporating some of these ideas into your practice as examples.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Expansion to the outdoors\u2014using special cat fencing or enclosures\u2014can be an option as well (see <b>10. Consider Outside Spaces<\/b>).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_3214\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3214\" class=\"wp-image-3214 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-11-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Figure 1\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-11-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-11.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3214\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 1. A feline friendly environment; note the rug and post available for scratching (A), tall receptacle for water (B), toys (C), and cat &#8220;house&#8221; (D)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_3215\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-22.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3215\" class=\"wp-image-3215 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-22-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Figure 2\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3215\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 2. Cats enjoying the vertical space created by a cat condo<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"s1\">2.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\"><b>Not Expect Cats to Get Along<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">Cats are social, but their societies are insular. If a cat is raised individually and then brought into a group of cats, management of social interaction is more difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Typically, introductions go more smoothly if cats are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Brought into groups as juveniles<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Introduced in pairs (similar ages; preferably related or already familiar with each other), which allows the pair to interact together, reducing the chance the newcomers will aggravate the other cats.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The occasional hiss, growl, and tussle\u2014which are common behaviors and part of the normal feline social repertoire\u2014are expected and normal. However, if one cat begins stalking another or a cat starts hiding and is reluctant to emerge for food, attention, or litter box use, behavior problems may ensue.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"orange-box\">\n<h3 align=\"LEFT\">Cats Going Green<\/h3>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Cat grass and catnip provide natural options for feline treats and entertainment.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Encourage owners to keep fresh cat grass (typically a mix of oat, wheat, and rye) in large, sturdy pots around the house (<strong>Figure 3<\/strong>). it takes about a week for grass to germinate and it is edible for 2 to 3 weeks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/050613-oybb-fig-3.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9273\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/050613-oybb-fig-3.png\" alt=\"050613 oybb fig 3\" width=\"200\" height=\"269\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fresh catnip is usually available at nurseries; dried catnip can be found in toys or loose. it can be sprinkled onto throw rugs for cats to roll in.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2><b>3. Provide Food<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Free-roaming cats reportedly eat up to 13 small meals a day,<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>2<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> most of which involve hunting. It makes sense, therefore, to incorporate this natural behavior into the lives of household cats, which can be done by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Having the owner distribute food bowls throughout the house\u2014at various levels that make the cat jump or climb to reach them<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Providing a variety of food puzzle toys that challenge the cat both mentally and physically to extract the kibble.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">While \u201cfree feeding\u201d can be a concern in overweight or obese cats, research has shown that meal-fed cats tend to be more aggressive and less cooperative than those fed free choice.<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>2<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> As always, the goal is to strike a balance, such as free feeding smaller amounts of food and using automatic feeders that provide food throughout the day. The latter keeps the cat \u201cgrazing\u201d versus consuming all available food at once.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>4. Provide Water<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">By adulthood, the average cat requires approximately 200 mL of water per day, which is usually acquired from 3 sources: drinking water, water in food, and water from nutrient metabolism of fat and energy.<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>2<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In some cases, cats:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Tend to drink more if the water dish is separated from the food source<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Particularly prefer water from a tall receptacle, such as a sturdy flower vase.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Research has shown that cats:<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Prefer a flowing water source to one that is still; therefore, providing a fountain\u2014whether designed for cats or humans\u2014in the home is recommended (<b>Figure 4<\/b>).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Like to use faucets to access flowing water as well.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_3216\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-41.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3216\" class=\"wp-image-3216 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-41-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Figure 4\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-41-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-41.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3216\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 4. Cat drinking from a small fountain<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"orange-box\">\n<h3 align=\"LEFT\">Provide Multiple Resource Locations<\/h3>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">In multicat households, it is not uncommon for 1 or more cats to prevent access to important resources, such as food, water, and litter boxes.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Make sure owners provide several locations for these resources in order to prevent feline confrontation and stress.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"s1\"><b>5. Provide Opportunities for Play<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Everyone agrees that kittens play\u2014often very roughly, and play is also an important part of the daily lives of adult cats. This play includes interacting with each other and\/or \u201ctheir\u201d humans. The opportunities cats had as kittens to engage in \u201cappropriate\u201d play may determine how they behave as adults.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A study demonstrated that hand-reared kittens were no more likely than queen-raised kittens to develop behavior problems or display human- and conspecific-directed aggression and fear.<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>4<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> However, the hand-reared kittens did have another cat in the household and at least 1 wand-type toy for interactive play. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In a multicat household, the owner needs to provide a number and variety of interactive cat toys (<b>Figure 5<\/b>) that the:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Owner can use to play with the cats<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Cats can use to play with each other<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Cats can use to play on their own.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_3217\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-51.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3217\" class=\"wp-image-3217 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-51-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Figure 5\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-51-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-51.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3217\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 5. A &#8220;toy box&#8221; filled with a variety of cat toys<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"orange-box\">\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><em>Appropriate play <\/em>refers to providing interactive (and safe) cat toys that kittens and adults can play with on their own, with each other, and with their owners. Without appropriate toys, kittens redirect their play toward other cats and\/or owners\u2019 hands\/feet\u2014behaviors that should be avoided before they become learned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"s1\"><b>6. Provide Clean Litter Boxes<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In an outdoor environment, cats have plenty of room to eliminate, often digging down a good distance to do so. These considerations should be taken into account when teaching owners about ideal litter box setup.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Size<\/b>: Boxes should be large\u2014ideally the size of plastic boxes used for under-the-bed storage\u2014and placed in areas that are easily accessible (<b>Figure 6<\/b>).<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>Number<\/b>: The typical rule is 1 box per cat plus 1 additional box. However, owners can consider using fewer boxes if large boxes are chosen and their cats coexist peacefully.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>Litter<\/b>: Boxes should be filled several inches deep with litter. Research shows that cats prefer fine particulate litter material\u2014the standard scoopable variety\u2014but each cat may have its own preference.<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>5<\/sup><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>Cleaning<\/b>: Boxes should be scooped out at least once a day and completely emptied and cleaned with mild soap and water every month<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_3218\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-6_adjusted.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3218\" class=\"wp-image-3218 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-6_adjusted-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Figure 6_adjusted\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-6_adjusted-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-6_adjusted.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3218\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 6. Litter boxes created from large, under-the-bed storage boxes<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"s1\"><b>7. Provide Areas for Rest<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">In an older study by Panaman,<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>6<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> cats rested 22% (5.3 hours) of the day and slept 40% (9.6 hours), which conservatively translates to almost 15 hours of rest\/sleep per day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Therefore, cats need places in the house where they can \u201crest in peace,\u201d especially if there are cats of different ages in the environment (<b>Figure 7<\/b>). <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">The goal is to provide as many resting places as possible in various parts of the home.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Resting places include perches, individual beds, and designated furniture. Again, owners can search online for ideas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_3220\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-7.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3220\" class=\"wp-image-3220 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-7-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Figure 7\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-7-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-7.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3220\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 7. A quiet, secluded resting place<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"s1\"><b>8. Provide Scratching Opportunities<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">Cats scratch to communicate with other cats\u2014if a tree or dirt isn\u2019t available, then a chair or rug will do. Indoor cats need a variety of scratching options\u2014both vertical and horizontal (<b>Figure 8<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Share the following guidelines with your cat owners:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Scratching surfaces should be located in central, visible areas of the house because they serve as a form of feline communication.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">If possible, include a surface that a cat would be naturally attracted to outdoors (ie, a log).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Increase the appeal of scratching surfaces by sprinkling or spraying them with catnip or Feliway (<a href=\"\/\/\/Users\/frankelmediagroup\/Downloads\/TVP1305\/ceva.com\"><span class=\"s3\">ceva.com<\/span><\/a>), respectively.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">To prevent cats from scratching furniture, double-sided tape, such as Sticky Paws (<a href=\"\/\/\/Users\/frankelmediagroup\/Downloads\/TVP1305\/pioneerpet.com\"><span class=\"s3\">pioneerpet.com<\/span><\/a>) can be used as a deterrent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">If furniture scratching cannot be tolerated, nail covers, such as Soft Paws (<a href=\"\/\/\/Users\/frankelmediagroup\/Downloads\/TVP1305\/softpaws.com\"><span class=\"s3\">softpaws.com<\/span><\/a>), can be applied to the cat\u2019s nails. <\/span><span class=\"s1\">To help set everyone up for success, make sure your patients\u2019 nails are trimmed regularly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_3221\" style=\"width: 217px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-8.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3221\" class=\"wp-image-3221 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2013\/05\/Figure-8-207x300.jpg\" alt=\"Cute Cat with Closed Eyes Scratching a Scratching Post\" width=\"207\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3221\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 8. A well-used scratching post<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>9. Realize That Some Cats Urine Mark<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">While urine marking is a normal (though undesirable) communication behavior for some cats, no one is exactly sure why cats communicate through this medium. A study in feral cats found that urine marking was more likely to occur on well-traveled pathways rather than territorial perimeters, which suggests that marking provides individual and temporal information versus serving as a deterrent to intruders.<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>7<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Spaying and neutering decreases the incidence of marking by 89%<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>8<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"s1\">; however, spraying is likely to increase in direct proportion to the number of cats living in the house. One study found that spraying increased from 25% in single-cat households to 100% in households with more than 10 cats.<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>9<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Prevention<\/strong>: Owners can help prevent urine marking by remembering Commandment 1: the home environment needs to provide plenty of space for all cats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Management<\/strong>: If a cat begins to mark, there are a number of therapeutic options available, including anti-anxiety medications (eg, fluoxetine, clomipramine, buspirone), pheromones (Feliway) and, as a last resort, progestins.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">For more detailed information on urine marking, read Dr. Ilana Reisner\u2019s article, <a href=\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/on-your-best-behavior-diagnosis-management-of-feline-urine-marking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Diagnosis and Management of Feline Urine Marking<\/strong> <\/a>(March\/April 2012 issue of <em>Today\u2019s Veterinary Practice<\/em>), available at todaysveterinarypractice.com.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>10. Consider Outside Spaces<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">Because space is essential in a multicat household, it can be expanded to a safe area outside. A safe area is one that is fenced specially for cats, keeping them within the enclosure and other animals or threats out.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Fencing options include Purr\u2026fect Fence (purrfectfence.com) and Cat Fence-In (catfencein.com).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">These fencing systems are relatively easy to assemble, and can be conformed to existing fencing or built around an area of the owner\u2019s choosing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Outdoor fencing is an especially good option if you are merging groups of cats, providing plenty of space for all cats.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>KEYS TO SUCCESS<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Client Education<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Make sure to effectively communicate these commandments to owners with multiple cats as well as ensure they are implemented consistently in the households. Communication and follow-up are critical keys to success.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Veterinary Intervention <\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">However, even when owners implement the recommendations discussed in this article, there will be situations when intercat discord develops or continues. Intervention by a behavior specialist (visit <a href=\"\/\/\/Users\/frankelmediagroup\/Downloads\/TVP1305\/dacvb.org\"><span class=\"s3\">dacvb.org<\/span><\/a> for a list of boarded veterinary behaviorists) should be pursued if:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">There is significant injury to 1 or more cats in the household<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">One or more cats is hiding for long periods of time and reluctant to emerge for food, attention, or litter box use<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">One or more cats is particularly focused on another cat or cats (ie, bullying behavior)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">If a behavior issue continues to manifest despite the owner implementing the solutions provided by his or her veterinary team<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">Any combination of the above.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"orange-box\">\n<h3 align=\"LEFT\">Evaluate Entries\/Exits to Rooms<\/h3>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Have owners evaluate their homes\u2019 layouts if they have more than 1 cat. if possible, there should be more than 1 entry\/exit point to each area of the house in order to prevent a cat from trapping\/cornering another cat or preventing access to resources.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The management of multi-cat households requires attention to the art of feline care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"iawp_total_views":420,"footnotes":""},"categories":[374],"tags":[13],"class_list":["post-1300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-may-june-2013","tag-peer-reviewed","clinical_topics-behavior"],"acf":{"hide_sidebar":false,"hide_sidebar_ad":false,"hide_all_ads":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- 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