7. Fel Behav Flashcards
(42 cards)
What is associated with the domestication of cats?
Farming + Storage of foods, attracted by rodents
How did cats coevolve with us?
Useful for rodent control
small so no threat to people
self sufficient
do not work with or for us
Describe cat colonies and how they work
A group of related breeding queens and their offspring
May include one or more males
Toms may live individually w/ large ranges that can overlap several colonies
Queens + toms may collaborate in raising kittens
Even in a colony they have their own space
solitary hunters, ambush hunters
Describe the neonatal period.
Born blind + deaf, eyes open 2-16 days, hearing by 4 wks of age
has minimal social interaction
requires stim from queen to pee/poo
cannot regulate body temp/self groom
Sense of smell well developed - curl upper lip
Acute sense of touch, front paws sensitive to vibrations
vibrassae on body very sensitive (mystacial, superciliar, genal tufts, mandibular, carpal)
How long is the neonatal phase?
birth-2 weeks
When is early socialization period in cats?
3-8 wks
Describe early socialization in cats
crucial for human-cat relationship
vision fully developed
eat solid foods and stop suckling
begins to walk
Develops bladder control and can use litter box
will play,g room, eyecolor changes + teeth erupt
What to do and dont during the early socialization period?
DO: Handle gently and play with multiple people
expose to variety of people + pets
have litter boxes (low side, scoop 2xd, unscented)
Kitten used to carrier
give toys, kittenproof, customer to being examined
8 wks good to wean + rehome
DONT - Play rough, hide + seek with u being sought out, no isolate, also a fear period
How can you prepare a home for a kitten?
Block small holes to escape
more strings/cords out of reach
make base camp - off limits to other pets, children w/ supervision, comfortable bet, litter box, toys, cardboard box, scratching post
When is the late socialization period?
9-16 wks
Describe the late socialization period
Eats solid food, social play peaks, vigorous exploration + climbing
Cats not socializd to people <12 wks may be feral
larger litterbox 1.5x cat’s length
vx
When is the adolescnece period?
17wks-1 yr
Describe the adolescence period
Sexual matured, no neuter = spray/mark in house, fight, roam
Owner continue to play/reward positive reinforcement and enviro enrichment
microchip
reeval litter box size
mental stim your cat-train
When is the adult period?
2-3 yrs
Describe the adult period
social play decreased
owner to reeval litter box
reward good behaviour + play
rotate toys + enviro enrich
Explain normal grooming behaviour and the four main functions it helps with
- Maintain healthy skin and coat
- Reduce heat (evaporation)
- Affiliative behaviour between cats
- Calming or communicative
kittens groom @ 2wks age, half of awake hours grooming, grooming learned from queen/littermates, first change when ill
What is normal territorial behaviour?
Will defend territory and mark it - pheromone glands in cheek, tail and paws can scratch mark surfaces
defecate and leave uncovered in obvious places to mark
describe normal urine marking and what’s its purpose
Most common in intact males, also in females
spraying - tail raised, on front feet, smaller volume, vertical surfaces
At risk areas, entrance ways, windows, heavy traffic areas
mark to signal ownership + advertise sexual status
marked when threatened or stressed
Describe urine marking in the home
more cats = more spraying
spraying inc from 25% in single cat household to 100% in 10-cat household
Intact males/females in heat spray more
How do you treat urine marking?
neuter b4 sexual maturity, spraying is learned so older the cat the less likely to spray
decrease motiv for spraying - no cats on property, no seein other cats, separate cats not getting along (including literbox/sleeping)
make place unwelcome by placing litterbox/food there, clean with enzymatic cleaners to elim odors, drug therapy may work
What is non marking urination?
Squat urination 2x per day
in liter box, dig to make a pit for more than 4 sec, may cover w/ substrate
What do cats prefer for litterboxes?
Clean litterbox 2xper day, atleast 1.5x cats length, can be narrow (10+) cm, sweater or small dog box, fine substrate in quite place, +1 to # of cats
single day urinations are abnormal = Urinary tract disease
Why do cats abandon the litterbox?
Surface preference, loc preference (not under stairs, need escape route), 3m away from food, litter box aversion, stress, smell
enough litterboxes? not beside each other
with or without lid?
height of edges, does it have a door?
