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  • Problems of aggression between cats in the same household can usually be prevented or minimised with early socialisation, patient and slow introductions of new cats and provision of adequate space and appropriate distribution of resources such as litter trays, resting places and water and food bowls.

  • For many people the thought of keeping a cat totally indoors seems to fly in the face of everything that the species stands for and certainly there is a lot to be said for cats having the freedom to roam around a wider territory and to come into contact with other cats and with natural prey.

  • Most male animals that are kept for companionship, work, or food production (horses, dogs, cats, bulls, boars) are neutered unless they are intended to be used as breeding stock.

  • Some cats seem to take house moves in their stride, but for others the loss of their familiar territory can be very traumatic and settling in can pose problems for owners and cats alike.

  • Play is an important component of kitten development, and proper play and exercise should be encouraged.

  • Play is a very important part of the feline world and kittens need the opportunity to play in order to learn vital adult skills both in communication and in hunting.

  • Redirected or misdirected aggression is simply a term used to describe the situation where aggression of whatever motivation is directed toward a victim who is not the initial provoking stimulus. It can also be referred to as frustration motivated aggression.

  • With a good understanding of cat behaviour and a little bit of effort, it should be possible to prevent or avoid most scratching problems, even for those cats that live exclusively indoors.

  • Cats are highly attached to territory, and movement away from that secure base is not something that is undertaken lightly! Travelling in cars, planes and other forms of human transport can be a very stressful experience for all concerned, not least because the cat is no longer in control of its own experience.

  • Most owner complaints about feline vocalisation are either to do with the intensity and persistence of the vocalisation, or the fact that it occurs at night, when family members or neighbours are trying to sleep.