issuhub.com

Practical feline behaviour understanding cat behaviour and improving welfare

(Axel Boer) #1



    1. The Origin and Evolution of the Domestic Cat PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING FELINE BEHAVIOUR



    • The African Wildcat

    • Domestication

    • Historical Attitudes Towards Cats

    • The Modern-day Pet Cat

    • Current Attitudes Towards Cats and Keeping Cats as Pets

    • Feline Behaviour





    1. The Senses



    • Sight

    • Hearing

    • Olfaction (Sense of Smell)

    • Touch

    • Balance





    1. Feline Communication



    • Vocalizations

    • Visual Signalling

    • Tactile Communication

    • Olfactory Communication





    1. Social, Feeding and Predatory Behaviour



    • Social Behaviour

    • Feeding Behaviour

    • Predatory Behaviour

      • Development of Kittens 5. Kitten to Cat – Reproduction and the Behavioural



    • Reproductive Behaviour of Tomcats

    • Reproductive Behaviour of the Queen

    • Physical and Behavioural Development of Kittens





    1. Health and Behaviour



    • Pain

    • Disease

    • Old Age vi Contents

    • Stress

    • The Impact of Stress on Physical Health

    • The Impact of Stress on Mental and Emotional Health

    • Acute Stress – the Influence on Physiological Parameters

    • Assessing Stress

    • Observable Signs of Stress in Cats





    1. Learning, Training and Behaviour



    • Why Train Cats?

    • Learning Theory

    • Habituation

    • Sensitization

    • Associative Learning

    • Factors Influencing Learning





    1. Advice for Breeders PART TWO: PRACTICAL FELINE BEHAVIOUR



    • The Responsibility of the Breeder in the Prevention of Behaviour Problems

    • Selection of Queen and Stud

    • Pregnancy

    • Parturition

    • Pre-weaning Period

    • Weaning

    • Early Experience

    • Maternal Aggression

    • Education of New Owners





    1. Advice for Prospective Cat Owners



    • Is a Cat the Best Pet for You?

    • Making the Right Choice

    • The Importance of Early-life Influences

    • What to Look For and What to Avoid

    • Bringing your New Cat or Kitten Home





    1. Advice for Cat Owners



    • Managing Feline Stress

    • Indoor Cat or Outdoor Access?

    • A Fenced-off Area

    • Cat Flaps

    • Neutering

    • Other Cats

    • Cats, Babies and Children

    • Cats and Dogs

    • Avoiding House-training Issues

    • Preventing Human-directed Aggression

    • Keeping Your Cat Healthy





    1. Advice for Veterinary Professionals Contents vii



    • a. Part 1 – The Cat in the Veterinary Clinic

      • The Journey to the Practice

      • The Waiting Room

      • Appointments

      • Greeting and Speaking to Clients

      • The Consultation Room

      • Handling and Examining

      • Hospitalization

      • Behaviour Problems b. Part 2 – Advising Clients: Prevention and Treatment of Feline

      • Talks

      • Nurse/Technician Behavioural Clinics

      • Handouts

      • Behavioural First Aid

      • Referral or Treat ‘In-house’

      • Who to Refer to?

      • Behavioural Pharmacology

      • Pheromonatherapy

      • Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

      • The Placebo Effect







    1. Advice for Other Cat Carers



    • General Advice for All

    • Advice for Shelters and Catteries

    • Foster Care

    • Adoption

    • Cat Sitters (Advice for Sitters and Owners)

    • Cat Cafés

    • An Alternative Idea





    1. Environmental Enrichment Appendices



    • Space

    • Hiding Areas

    • Food Foraging and Food Puzzles





    1. Play



    • Social Play

    • Object Play

    • How to Tell if the Cat is Interested in Play

    • Ending the Game

    • Catnip





    1. Reducing Resource Competition in a Multi-cat Household



    • Food

    • Water

    • Resting Places

    • Litter Trays





    1. Neutering viii Contents



    • Spay

    • Castration

    • Why Neuter?

    • When to Neuter





    1. Introducing an Additional Cat to your Household



    • Points to Consider Before Getting Another Cat

    • Resident Cat(s) will Accept Each Other Correct Introductions: Increasing the Chances that a New Cat and

    • Keeping the Peace





    1. Helping a Grieving Cat



    • Do Cats Grieve?

    • How Can We Help?





    1. Introducing Cats and Dogs



    • If You Have a Dog and are Considering Getting a Cat

    • If You Have a Cat and are Considering Getting a Dog

    • Introducing a New Cat or Kitten into a Home with a Resident Dog

    • Introducing a Dog or Puppy into a Home with a Resident Cat

    • Using a Crate





    1. Cat Flaps



    • Where to Fit a Cat Flap

    • Types of Cat Flap

    • Training Your Cat to Use a Cat Flap





    1. Teaching Your Cat to Come to You When You Call





    1. Cats, Babies and Children



    • A New Baby

    • Cats and Children





    1. House-training Your Cat or Kitten



    • Insufficient Number of Litter Trays

    • The Location of the Litter Trays

    • The Size and Shape of the Litter Tray

    • Covered vs Uncovered Litter Tray?

    • The ‘Wrong’ Type of Litter Substrate

    • Using an ‘Outdoor’ Toilet

    • House-training ‘Accidents’

    • If the Problem Persists

    • House-Training Problem or Scent-Marking?





    1. Training Your Cat to Like the Cat Carrier





    1. Medicating Your Cat



    • Mixing in Food

    • Physically Medicating the Cat

    • Applying a Spot-on Treatment





    1. Teaching your Cat or Kitten to Accept Veterinary Examination Contents ix



    • Examining the Mouth

    • Examining the Ears

    • Examining the Feet and Clipping the Nails





    1. First Aid Advice for Common Feline Behaviour Problems



    • General Advice for all Problems

    • House Soiling

    • Aggression to People

    • Fighting in a Multi-cat Household

    • Furniture Scratching





    1. Friend or Foe



    • Signs of a Friendly Relationship

    • Signs of a Bad Relationship

    • Signs of a ‘Tolerant’ Relationship





    1. Approaching, Stroking and Picking Up



    • The Approach

    • Picking the Cat Up





    1. Recognizing Stress



    • Physiological Signs of Stress

    • Behavioural Signs of Stress



  • Glossary

  • List of Useful Websites

  • Recommended Reading List

  • Index

Free download pdf
Get our desktop app
Company
Features
Documentation
Resources
© ISSUHUB. 2024. All rights reserved.