146 Chapter 10to roam, and it is important to be aware that, although 6 months or older is the usual
age for a female cat to come into season for the first time, they can reach puberty as
young as 4 months of age (Joyce and Yates, 2011).
The strong desire to find a mate or to fight with rivals can make a cat less
aware of its surroundings and therefore be more at risk from road traffic accidents
and other physical dangers. Fighting also exposes the cat to a much greater disease
and injury risk. Conflicts can still occur between cats that have been neutered but
the frequency and physical intensity of fighting, and so the risk of serious injury,
is much reduced.
Other Cats
Conflict or confrontations with other cats, either with known cats within the home
or unknown cats outside, is a common stressor resulting in health issues and behav-
iours such as fighting, anxiety and indoor urine marking.
Multi-cat households
Close social bonds can and do occur between cats, and pet cats that are in a close,
friendly relationship with one or more other cats do appear to enjoy and benefit from
it. However, not all cats that live together get along well and even when the relation-
ship may appear amicable, tension and competition may exist between them and be
a major source of stress (see Appendix 16). Plus, even close bonded relationships
between cats can be easily broken and may not be so easily repaired.
There are many factors that can influence the nature and quality of a relationship
between cats in a multi-cat household and it is advisable to be aware of these to
maintain peace in a household with more than one cat.
The most common cause of stress and conflict between cats is competition for
resources such as food, water, resting places and even litter trays. Appendix 3 provides
information on how resource competition between cats that live in the same household
can be managed.
Adding another cat to the household can also cause major upset and potential
long-term stress, unless given plenty of consideration beforehand, and carried out in
a manner that aims to minimize stress and conflict for both the resident cat(s) and the
incomer (see Appendix 5).
Neighbouring cats
Being allowed outdoor access can be highly beneficial in that it can be the easiest and
most effective way of providing environmental enrichment and allowing a cat to per-
form natural behaviours. But there are also many things that a cat may find frightening
outside, such as encounters with dogs, unwelcome attention from people and loud or
sudden noises (e.g. thunder, fireworks, etc.). But the most common stressor is other
cats in the neighbourhood. There are, however, ways in which your garden and the
area close to your home may be made a more secure place for your cat.