Practical feline behaviour understanding cat behaviour and improving welfare

122 Chapter 8 ● Avoid major environmental changes such as: ● Re-decorating. ● Building work. ● Moving to a new house. ● Time spe ...

Advice for Breeders 123 ● The nest site should contain clean, soft comfortable bedding that is also safe for the kittens. ● Avoi ...

124 Chapter 8 ● During the first week or so after birth, ensure that mother and kittens are disturbed as little as possible. Sev ...

Advice for Breeders 125 Natural weaning vs weaning following hand-rearing Weaning by the mother cat is a process that naturally ...

126 Chapter 8 Early Experience Because the feline sensitive period for learning is between approximately 2 and 7 weeks of age (K ...

Advice for Breeders 127 Socialization with other animals Regular positive encounters with other species that the kittens may lat ...

128 Chapter 8 From 6 weeks: ● As at 5 weeks, but whilst being handled, each kitten is occasionally carried a short distance away ...

Advice for Breeders 129 Maternal Aggression Occasionally a queen may become uncharacteristically aggressive towards people and/o ...

130 Chapter 8 In these cases, the harmful effects of pregnancy and lactation on the mother’s health, and on her kittens’ behavio ...

© T. Atkinson, 2018. Practical Feline Behaviour (T. Atkinson) 131 9. Advice for Prospective Cat Owners Pet ownership can be bene ...

132 Chapter 9 creatures who need sufficient space to run and climb. They also require areas to rest and places to hide if feelin ...

Advice for Prospective Cat Owners 133 As company for an existing cat Despite being descended from an animal that lives a predomi ...

134 Chapter 9 A major drawback of adopting an adult cat is that it may not be so easy to find out information regarding its prev ...

Advice for Prospective Cat Owners 135 Pedigree or non-pedigree? If deciding on a pedigree cat or kitten, it is advisable to read ...

136 Chapter 9 The Importance of Early-life Influences The reader is referred to Chapters 5 and 8 for more detailed information. ...

Advice for Prospective Cat Owners 137 ● You should be allowed to interact and handle the kittens. The breeder or carer may ask y ...

138 Chapter 9 At what age should a kitten leave its mother to go to its new home? The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) ...

Advice for Prospective Cat Owners 139 This room should contain all that the cat or kitten needs: ● Food. ● Water – placed away f ...

140 Chapter 9 Friedmann, E. and Thomas, S.A. (1995) Pet ownership, social support and one year survival after acute myocardial i ...

© T. Atkinson, 2018. Practical Feline Behaviour (T. Atkinson) 141 10. Advice for Cat Owners Early influences on development such ...