Page 27 - FWG September Issue 2024

Animals Matter

MARKING

BEHAVIOURS

IN CATS

A s much as we love our feline “read” the environment and, in turn, when the home will be nervous, anxious or aggravated.

transient cat sprays over this mark, will convey
companions, they can certainly
A socialised cat may begin to spray his bed
if he finds the novelty too distressing. By
information about the intruder cat back to the
our
inter-species
challenge
relationship. Cats have particular
ways of communicating with other cats resident cat. This olfactory and visual marker spraying on windows, curtains, laundry
is aimed at conflict avoidance by claiming or
baskets, electric sockets, entry/exit points
which we don’t necessarily understand (or allocating time to share the area. and furnishings, he is marking his territory
like), but it is important to understand what and showing his angst.
they are trying to say in context. In scientific terms, two amino acids (felinine
and isovathen) make the urine pungent Should the threat not abate, the stress will
They don’t mean to offend us, but cats “talk” and unique. So, even though an intruder increase, and additional places like passages,
in certain ways when they want to get their intact male will be able to “read” a female in room entrances and the tops of staircases
message across. This is called marking. These oestrus, she will not be approachable until will be marked. Spraying communicates
four main types of marking can drive us nuts his scent is accepted. boundaries and assists with stress, and may
and have indeed ruined a few relationships, be habit forming. Excessive grooming may
but they are completely normal to a cat. Males spray traversing their hunting also induce stress and lead to spraying. As
Sometimes we rehome a cat for these boundaries; females only spray entering many of us know, the smell can make our
behaviours. Let’s see what the behaviours boundaries and sporadically while eyes water and is not the easiest to get rid of.
are and the motivation for performing them: scavenging. Outdoor cats spray on Unfortunately, it is one of the leading causes
streetlamps, property boundaries, trees, of the rehoming of a cat.
URINE SPRAYING bushes, walls, external doors and fences to
In communal areas, spraying conveys advise neighbourhood cats how often and BUNTING
information to other cats about an individual when they were last there. Confident cats This tactile and olfactory marking strategy
cat’s age, gender, sexual availability and will spray in front of each other. starts with the cat grooming himself. His
maturity, degree of stress, medical condition outer ears discharge a wax-like substance
and even what the cat has recently eaten. An indoor cat that feels threatened by and along with his facial and caudal glands,
The resident cat’s spray helps an intruder cat perceived threats or upset by changes at secrete an oily substance which goes onto

Fourways Gardens • 25 • September 2024