Advice for Cat Owners 149
● If a cat flap is installed, ensure that it is an exclusive type that can only be used by
your cat(s) (see Appendix 8).
● Position food bowls, litter trays and resting areas well away, and not within sight
of cat flaps, doors or windows through which other cats may be seen.
● If other cats can be seen through glass doors or windows, block your cat’s view
to outside by using pot plants placed by the window or by covering the area
that the cat can see through (usually the lower third to half) with a temporary
window frosting.
Cats, Babies and Children
A new baby or children in the house, especially if the cat is not accustomed to babies
or children, can be another major source of feline stress. Situations may also arise
where the cat feels threatened, which could result in the child being bitten or
scratched. Advice on how to keep babies and young children safe and how to mini-
mize stress for your cat can be found in Appendix 10.
Cats and Dogs
The traditional view is that cats and dogs are sworn enemies, but it is very possible
for cats and dogs to live together in harmony. However, it should always be kept in
mind that dogs are natural predators and, although cats are also predators, they are
also small enough to be regarded as potential prey by a dog. Making the right choices
and taking time to introduce cat and dogs together correctly (see Appendix 7) is
important. Of no less importance is continued care and consideration for the cat’s
welfare to ensure that the cat is not put in danger or subjected to an enduring stressful
existence when living in the same house as a dog.
● Ensure that the cat always has regions within the house where he can get away
from the dog. This may involve using baby gates or internal cat flaps to section off
‘cat only’ rooms or areas of the house.
● Ensure that there are plenty of elevated areas, e.g. high furniture, shelves, work
surfaces or tabletops available to allow the cat to jump up and be out of reach of
the dog.
● Ensure that the cat has access to resting areas away from the dog.
● Ensure that your dog is well trained and under control so that you can call him
away from the cat when necessary.
● Be aware of your cat’s body language (see Chapter 3) so that you can see if your
cat is feeling threatened by the dog.
Avoiding House-training Issues
Urinating or defecating in the house away from the litter tray is a common feline
behaviour problem. Advice on how best to avoid or deal with this issue can be found
in Appendix 11.