Behaviour and training | PETS
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is that indoor-only cats cannot be stolen or
fed by someone else. Research suggests that
people feeding cats that don’t belong to them
is quite a common occurrence. This can lead to
the cat moving in with their new-found friend,
leaving their owners heartbroken.
While keeping cats indoors has obvious
benefits, it can pose several challenges for
some cat owners, especially those who have
more than one cat. Cats are highly territorial
by nature and sometimes behaviour problems
can arise, with numerous cats sharing a limited
amount of space. Inter-cat aggression, stress/
anxiety and territorial problems can result in
inappropriate toileting and spraying in the
home. Ensuring you reduce competition for
space and other high-value resources, such
as litter trays, cat towers, scratch posts, food
and water bowls, and favourite resting places
can help reduce such problems. Increasing
the available space by utilising vertical space
indoors can also make a big difference.Enrichment opportunities
Cat hammocks, shelving and window beds
are great additions and enjoyed by most cats,
keeping them mentally stimulated if they
need to remain indoors all day.
Another option is to add some safe
outdoor space for cats to explore, which is
highly enriching. There are endless options
for outdoor cat enclosures, runs, parks and
tunnels, which can help keep indoor cats
happy. These can be furnished with trees,
scratch posts, shelving, toys and litter trays
to provide cats with additional opportunities
to explore.
Toys and play are also very important
for indoor cats. Even though pet cats are
domesticated and provided with everything
they need, they still retain their instincts to
perform natural feline behaviours. These
include hunting, stalking, scent marking and
patrolling their territory. Providing your indoor
cat with outlets for these natural behaviours
and instincts is key to a happy cat and optimal
welfare. Toys that mimic prey promote
hunting, stalking and chasing and provide anappropriate outlet for these behaviours. This
helps reduce the likelihood of cats hunting
and stalking their owner or another cat in
the home. Feeding enrichment, in the form
of food-dispensing toys, is another great way
to provide mental stimulation and physical
exercise for indoor-only cats.Walk time
If an outdoor enclosure isn’t feasible for your
indoor cat, there is another option to allow
them time outside: walking them on a harness
and lead. Training a cat to enjoy going for
a walk on a lead can take a little time, and
it’s not something all cats enjoy. However,
if you have an easy-going cat that loves
being outside, it’s certainly an option worth
considering. Just be sure you use a good-
quality and correctly fitted harness and lead
and take the time to allow your cat to get used
to wearing it before venturing outside.
Positive reinforcement training can really
help your cat associate the harness with
positive experiences rather than fearing
it. Feed your cat its favourite treats while
gradually getting it used to the harness. To
begin with, lay the harness on the floor and
place treats near and on it. Repeat this over
several training sessions until your cat shows
no hesitation in approaching the harness.
Next, hold the harness in one hand and use
a treat to encourage your cat to put its head
through the harness. Again, repeat this step
several times. Gradually continue the process
over several days or weeks until you can fasten
the harness while your cat remains calm and
relaxed. There are some excellent videos on
YouTube if you want to know more about how
to train your cat to walk in a harness.Indoors and loving it
Keeping your cat indoors has many benefits,
however it’s very important to provide plenty
of opportunity for mental and physical
exercise and for the expression of normal
feline behaviours. This will help to ensure
your cat stays fit, happy and healthy and
will avoid behaviour problems.PLF071_pg066-067_Keep Your Cat Indoors.indd 67PLF071_pg066-067_Keep Your Cat Indoors.indd 67 8/22/2017 10:28:59 AM8/22/2017 10:28:59 AM