Enrichment of the environment for internal cats

Author: Assistant Săcărin Stefan

With the abomestication of the cats, they were brought to different environments compared to their natural habitat. Nowadays, a large number of cats is rigorously internal, without having contacts with the external environment can never for life. On the one hand, this limits contact with other cats and the acquisition of infectious diseases that could be transmitted by contact with the external environment or with other cats and minimizes the risk of trauma and unpleasant accidents. On the other hand, however, the number of behavioral problems has increased, being directly proportional to the cat’s ability to adapt to this new environment.

Among the behavioral problems of the cats that we mention: urination and bankruptcy outside the litter, anxiety, eating disorders, attention deficit, aggression, car -error and compulsive disorders, such as excessive care and the scratch of the house.

Offering a rich environment can increase the activity, reduce mental stagnation and prevent many of these problems. All cats need mental stimulation, but this is particularly important for internal cats. A rich environment will offer cats the opportunity to create their own positive experiences in a closed space. The aim is to create an «interactive environment» for your cat. This means a lot of space, waste, food, water and activities to do.

Interactive

Although standard diets can adequately satisfy the nutritional needs of domestic cats, their normal presentation may not promote the expression of normal hunting behaviors (exploratory).

Since cats have evolved as low prey hunters, those cultivated in houses with multiple cats are much more comfortable if fed in separate bowls set at a distance from each other. Food bowls must be positioned in withdrawn spaces, being protected from interruption by other animals or appliances (washing machines, refrigerators, dryers). Cats with free access to food usually prefer to eat smaller meals a day, unlike one or two large meals. However, free access to food eliminates any opportunity for cats to express their instincts of natural predators and most cats will hunt prey when they have the opportunity. The inability to provide opportunities for the behavior of predators can deprive cats of mental and physical activity, which can contribute to the development of obesity and other health problems.

To make the power supply more interesting, you can use enigmas with food or interactive toys (fig. 1) You can buy these items from the pet shops, from the internet or you can do them at home. To create puzzles, you can in a cardboard box or in a plastic bottle, simply cut small holes in the object and fill them with your cat’s favorite food or the favorite prizes.

If possible, divide meals into three or four portions and alternative positioning in a new area every day. Start by hiding the reward in the same place every day. After a few days, try to hide the reward near the initial position, but not exactly in the same place. Once the cat has become accustomed to the «hunting» for the bonuses, you can move to more distant areas. This should be done daily so that your cat gets used to the search and reward routine. If the days spend without reward, your cat will stop looking. The boxes, bags and vectors that are left out offer beautiful hiding places for cats.

Place of the needs of cats (liter)

The appropriate litter options are another important aspect of the environment in which a cat lives. The normal act of cats to make their needs involves a succession of phases such as: dig in the place where they will make their needs, the position taken for defecation/ urination and faecal coverage.

Litro Opero and Open is an excellent option because they offer appropriate spaces for these actions. The liters with automatic cleaning offer better conservation of the clean place, but the cats that consider their opposing sounds and movements will avoid them. As with food containers, the liter must be in a safe place and without too many noises or electronics that could start at any time.

Many cats prefer smells and thin particles.

The liters must be cleaned daily and the weekly litter.

Social contact

When it comes to our home cat, we must not forget that this is a lonely species (except the lions) who prefers sister to hunt and has a well -developed territorial sense. However, one of the qualities of cats easily adapts to different challenges in the environment. They can come to live in groups in a homeless house, if their primary needs are insured and the environment is large enough to cover these needs for each cat separately.

First, the castration/sterilization of cats in the same house is very important to prevent unwanted products, but also conflicts based on hormonal changes.

Therefore, regardless of the size of the house, it is very important to have individual places where cats can feel safe and retire if they feel the need.

As for resources (waste, food, water, etc.) it is important for them to guarantee the needs of all the cats of the site. There are cases in which this can divide these assets without problems, but there are also situations in which it is necessary for each cat to guarantee these resources individually. This can be identified by monitoring cats in the environment and observing the interactions between them and with the above resources.

The signs of conflict between cats can be open or silent. The signs of an open conflict are easy to recognize; Cats can be followed with each other, whisper and can return to the side with straight legs and hair that fly (pile) to make it bigger. If no cat is returned, displays can grow to blow, fight and bite. The silent conflict can be present when the threatened cat spends an increase of time away from the family, is found in the areas of the house that others do not use or try to interact with family members only when the assertive cat is elsewhere. Cats become mature social and begin to take on a certain control over social groups and their activities between 2 and 5 years. This can lead to an open conflict between males, females or males and females. The cats involved in the conflict may never be «best friends», but usually they can live together without giving signs of conflict or conflict. In serious cases, a behaviorist can be consulted for assistance in the desensitization and anti -eral sense of cats in conflict, so that they can divide the same more comfortable spaces.

The behavioral system

An enriched internal environment allows cats to express their natural behaviors, including scratches, chewing and play. Many of these behaviors, although normal, can be considered unwanted by cat owners if displayed on appreciated domestic objects, such as plants, furniture and decorations. The frustration of the owner can be avoided by providing attractive and adequate articles as an exit for these behaviors. Graffio’s behavior maintains the health of the claws and is a form of visual and ramoniale marking. The favorite substrates for the skyscraper vary. The substrates, such as the pillars covered with Sisal or covered cortex, can attract some cats, because they allow cats to capture their claws.

Cats tend to scratch on important vertical objects in the areas where they spend most of their time. It scratches even more often when they stretch after periods of rest or sleep. Therefore, scratch pillars should be placed in the areas frequently visited the house and close to favorite rest places.

Unwanted chewing can be avoided by providing a variety of safety systems and herbs. VII planted and fresh vegetables are two interesting options. The owners can rub the «cat plants» designated with tuna juice or wet food for cats to encourage investigations and chewing. Other plants should be clearly separated from the areas where the cat spend most of its social spray, rest and/or marked with bitter taste to make them less attractive. Toxic plants must be removed from the family or kept in a safe room to which the cat has no access. Other chewing options include chewing objects in wet leather, dry fish and beef or poultry.

Game behavior in cats are closely linked to the natural sequence of predators, monitoring, invasion and bite. Cats also like to play with objects that can collect, throw in the air and those who are launched. A safe way to complete the need to play is to use toys that keep the distance between the cat and the body of the owner. Encourage game behavior and bite with hands and feet can learn the cat that is full of satisfaction pursuing, crushing and biting the owner, which leads to attacks related to the game. Examples of adequate toys include a berry toys; Toys with batteries, car -propulsses, which imitate prey; balls inside a box or tub; Toys full of catmin; And games with light radius indicators.

In conclusion, cats have a variety of unique behaviors and needs; The in -depth investigation of the physical and social environment is crucial for a precise diagnosis of environmental quality and formulating an effective treatment plan to correct any behavioral problems in your cat’s life. For more information, do not hesitate to communicate with the veterinarian who can guide you and advise you correctly.