Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere 2011; 39(02): 97-104
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1623563
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

Intercat aggression – general considerations, prevention and treatment

Innerartliche Aggression bei Katzen – allgemeine Bemerkungen, Prophylaxe und Behandlung
A. Moesta
1   Behavior Service, Department of Anatomy and Radiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
,
S. Crowell-Davis
1   Behavior Service, Department of Anatomy and Radiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
› Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Received: 07. Juni 2010

Accepted after revision: 04. Oktober 2010

Publikationsdatum:
05. Januar 2018 (online)

Summary

Although cats are a social species and capable of living together in groups of several cats, intercat aggression is a common behavioral problem. Intercat aggression can be classified as status-related, fearrelated, play-related, redirected and can also be due to the addition of a new cat to an existing group. Socialization of kittens, choice of the right cat for a multicat household, and the gradual introduction of a new cat to the household can help to prevent intercat aggression. Treatment of intercat aggression should combine behavior modification, management and – if necessary – medication.

Zusammenfassung

Katzen zeigen ein ausgeprägtes innerartliches Sozialverhalten und können in Gruppen von mehreren Tieren zusammen leben. Trotzdem ist Aggression zwischen Katzen ein häufiges Problem im Mehrkatzenhaushalt. Aggressives Verhalten zwischen Katzen kann statusbezogen oder aufgrund von Furcht gezeigt werden. Auch Spielverhalten kann als aggressives Verhalten misinterpretiert werden oder in aggressives Verhalten umschlagen. Umgerichtete Aggression ist ebenso wie Aggression als Folge der Einbringung einer unbekannten Katze in einen Mehrkatzenhaushalt verbreitet. Die Behandlung von Aggression zwischen Katzen sollte Verhaltensmodifikation, Management und – wenn notwendig – die Anwendung von Medikamenten beinhalten.

 
  • References

  • 1 Amat M, Manteca X, Le Brech S, de la Torre JLR, Mariotti VM, Fatjo J. Evaluation of inciting causes, alternative targets, and risk factors associated with redirected aggression in cats. JAVMA 2008; 233 (04) 586-589.
  • 2 American Association of Feline Practitioners. Feline Behavior Guidelines 2004. www.catvetscom/uploads/PDF/Feline_Behavior_Guidelinespdf visited on 12/05/2009.
  • 3 American Veterinary Medical Association. U.S. Pet Ownership Demographics Source Book. 2007
  • 4 Barry KJ, Crowell-Davis SL. Gender differences in the social behavior of the neutered indoor-only domestic cat. Appl Anim Behav Sci 1999; 64 (03) 193-211.
  • 5 Bonanni R, Cafazzo S, Fantini C, Pontier D, Natoli E. Feeding-order in an urban feral domestic cat colony: relationship to dominance rank, sex and age. Anim Behav 2007; 74: 1369-1379.
  • 6 Borchelt P, Voith V. Readings in Companion Animal Behavior. Trenton, New Jersey: Veterinary Learning System; 1996
  • 7 Bradshaw J, Cameron-Beaumont C. The signalling repertoire of the domestic cat and its undomesticated relatives. In: The Biology of the Domestic Cat. Turner DC, Bateson P. eds Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2000: 67-94.
  • 8 Bradshaw JWS, Hall SL. Affiliative behaviour of related and unrelated pairs of cats in catteries: a preliminary report. Appl Anim Behav Sci 1999; 63 (03) 251-255.
  • 9 Cafazzo S, Natoli E. The social function of tail up in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus). Behav Processes 2009; 80 (01) 60-66.
  • 10 Chapman BL, Voith VL. Cat aggression redirected to people – 14 cases (1981–1987). JAVMA 1990; 196 (06) 947-950.
  • 11 Crowell-Davis SL. Intercat aggression. Compend Contin Educ Vet 2007; 29 (09) 541-544.
  • 12 Crowell-Davis SL. Understanding cats. Compend Contin Educ Vet 2007; 29 (04) 241-243.
  • 13 Crowell-Davis SL, Barry K, Wolfe R. 1997. Social behavior and aggressive problems of cats.Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 1997; 27 (03) 549-568.
  • 14 Crowell-Davis SL, Curtis TM, Knowles RJ. Social organization in the cat: a modern understanding. J Feline Med Surg 2004; 06 (01) 19-28.
  • 15 Crowell-Davis SL, Murray T. Azapirones. In: Veterinary Psychopharmacology. Ames, Iowa, USA: Blackwell; 2006
  • 16 Crowell-Davis SL, Murray T. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitiors. In: Veterinary Psychopharmacology. Ames, Iowa, USA: Blackwell; 2006: 80-110.
  • 17 Curtis TM, Knowles RJ, Crowell-Davis SL. Influence of familiarity and relatedness on proximity and allogrooming in domestic cats (Felis catus). Am J Vet Res 2003; 64 (09) 1151-1154.
  • 18 Curtis TM. Preventing behavior problems in cats. Compend Contin Educ Vet 2006; 28 (02) 119-121.
  • 19 Curtis TM. Environmental enrichment for indoor cats. Compend Contin Educ Vet 2007; 29 (02) 104-106.
  • 20 Denny E, Yakovlevich P, Eldridge MDB, Dickman C. Social and genetic analysis of a population of free-living cats (Felis catus L.) exploiting a resourcerich habitat. Wildl Res 2002; 29 (04) 405-413.
  • 21 Dodman N, Shuster L. Pharmacological approaches to managing behavior problems in small animals. Vet Med 1994; 89 (10) 960-969.
  • 22 Hart BL, Cooper L. Factors relating to urine spraying and fighting in prepubertally gonadectomized cats. JAVMA 1984; 184 (10) 1255-1258.
  • 23 Hart BL, Eckstein RA, Powell KL, Dodman NH. Effectiveness of buspirone on urine spraying and inappropriate urination in cats. JAVMA 1993; 203 (02) 254-258.
  • 24 Industrieverband Heimtierbedarf e.V. The german pet market. www.ivhonline.de/en/home/the-association/facts-figures.html accessed 1/24/2011.
  • 25 Knowles RJ. Correlation of dominance based on agonistic interactions with feeding order in the domestic cat (Felis catus). Athens: University of Georgia; 2003
  • 26 Landsberg G, Hunthausen W, Ackerman L. The effects of aging on behavior in senior pets. In: Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; 2003: 269-304.
  • 27 Levine E, Perry P, Scarlett J, Houpt KA. Intercat aggression in households following the introduction of a new cat. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2005; 90 3–4 325-336.
  • 28 Liberg O, Sandell M. Spatial organization and reproductive tactics in the domestic cat and other felids. In: The Domestic Cat: The Biology of its Behaviour. Turner DC, Bateson P. eds Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1988: 67-81.
  • 29 Lindell EM, Erb HN, Houpt KA. Intercat aggression: a retrospective study examining types of aggression, sexes of fighting pairs, and effectiveness of treatment. Appl Anim Behav Sci 1997; 55 1–2 153-162.
  • 30 McCune S. The impact of paternity and early socialization on the development of cats behavior to people and novel objects. Appl Anim Behav Sci 1995; 45 1–2 109-124.
  • 31 McDonald DW, Yamaguchi N, Kerby G. Group-living in the domestic cat: its sociobiology and epidemiology. In: The Domestic Cat: The Biology of its Behaviour. Bateson P, Turner DC. eds Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2000: 95-118.
  • 32 Natoli E. Spacing pattern in a colony of urban stray cats (Felis catus L.) in the historic center of Rome. Appl Anim Behav Sci 1985; 14 (03) 289-304.
  • 33 Natoli E, Baggio A, Pontier D. Male and female agonistic and affiliative relationships in a social group of farm cats (Felis catus L.). Behav Processes 2001; 53 1–2 137-143.
  • 34 Natoli E, Devito E. Agonistic behavior, dominance rank and copulatory success in a large mulitmale feral cat, Felis catus L., colony in central Rome. Anim Behav 1997; 42: 227-241.
  • 35 Overall KL. Feline aggression. In: Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals. Overall KL. ed St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby; 1997
  • 36 Pageat P, Gaultier E. Current research in canine and feline pheromones. Vet Clin Small Anim 2003; 33: 187-211.
  • 37 Tennent J, Downs CT. Abundance and home ranges of feral cats in an urban conservancy where there is supplemental feeding: a case study from South Africa. Afr Zool 2008; 43 (02) 218-229.
  • 38 Wolfe R. The social organization of the free ranging domestic cat (Felis catus). Athens: University of Georgia; 2001
  • 39 Wolski TR. Social behavior of the cat. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 1982; 12 (04) 693-706.
  • 40 Yamane A, Emoto J, Ota N. Factors affecting feeding order and social tolerance to kittens in the group-living feral cat (Felis catus). Appl Anim Behav Sci 1997; 52 1–2 119-127.