ComPETability: Solving Behavior Problems In Your Multi-Cat Household by Shojai Amy
Author:Shojai, Amy [Shojai, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: FurryMuse Publications
Published: 2012-04-16T04:00:00+00:00
COVERING BEHAVIOR
Pet cats get rave reviews on cleanliness because they come preprogrammed to cover waste in the litter box. But one of the top behavior complaints of cat owners involves litter box behavior, including cats that refuse to cover.
Covering waste is not a universal cat behavior, and the opposite may be your catâs normal. Feral cats may cover waste if nearer to home and young kittens. Covering or burying waste reduces the scent signals that might alert predators to the presence of defenseless offspring. Feral cats in managed colonies may be more fastidious, as well, in part because the territory is shared. But typical feral cat behavior shows us that wild felines rarely bury feces. They use it to mark territory and so display it. Feral cats often leave waste on grassy tussocks that elevate and make it even more prominent.
To put this in a pet cat perspective, most household cats do bury the waste probably because itâs so close to their eating and sleeping areas. Consider that an outdoor free-ranging catâs territory might encompass more than two miles. Locating your catâs litter box across the house from a feeding station is still virtually in the catâs face.
House cats that choose not to cover waste inside the box or that leave a deposit outside the box may simply be doing what comes naturally. One study followed female pet cats out and about and observed them defecate 58 timesâand only twice did the cats try to dig a hole first, or cover it afterwards.
Humans also may have encouraged âcleanâ covering behavior in our pet cats by selectively choosing (and breeding) the ones that cover up waste. But cats that leave their creativity uncovered for the world to admire are not abnormalâtheyâre just being cats.
Cats that previously dug-and-covered in the litter box which suddenly leave a deposit uncovered should be evaluated to ensure it doesnât point to a potential health problem. When the cat receives a clean bill of health, look for potential behavior causes. For instance, this may be the catâs way of sending a smelly signal to other cats (or even a stray hanging around outside the window) that the territory is owned.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari(13003)
The Tidewater Tales by John Barth(12016)
Do No Harm Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh(6322)
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova(6197)
The Thirst by Nesbo Jo(5759)
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker(5615)
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari(4510)
Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Tegmark Max(4475)
The Longevity Diet by Valter Longo(4425)
The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy(3886)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot(3809)
The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson(3762)
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker(3751)
Animal Frequency by Melissa Alvarez(3741)
Yoga Anatomy by Kaminoff Leslie(3685)
Barron's AP Biology by Goldberg M.S. Deborah T(3617)
The Hacking of the American Mind by Robert H. Lustig(3566)
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot(3493)
Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff & Amy Matthews(3384)