Territorial Behavior in Cats
Most species of wild cats live in relative solitude. A cat's territorial nature is very much a reflection of its social behavior. Pet cats that are permitted to roam freely outdoors rarely spend much time with other cats. For the most part, cats prefer to share their territory, indoors or out, with few or no other cats. The more densely populated the area, the greater the tension between individuals, regardless of gender or reproductive status. This applies to outdoor cats and to cats in multi-cat households. The territory of outdoor cats may be shared by many individuals passing through at different times of day. Cats confined as housepets occupy a restricted home range as compared with the area they might otherwise claim outdoors. Cats usually adapt well to being kept indoors, particularly if they have been confined from a young age. Some kittens that have never been outdoors, however, can be quite persistent in their attempts to escape. Cats adopted as adults, even as adult strays, often thrive as housepets. Clearly, there is much individual variation in the territorial nature of domestic cats.
Territorial Aggression
Conflicts may occur between cats sharing the same territory. This
does not mean that cats always fight when they meet. When they
see each other, each cat assesses the other's body language. Do
they recognize each other? What was the nature of previous encounters?
Is there hesitation and defensiveness, or is the posture alert
and confident? One or both cats may detour from their usual route
to avoid encounters. They may approach each other, only to change
course at the last moment. They may approach closer to gain information
that cannot be gathered from a distance, such as scents that indicate
an animal is diseased and, therefore, a weakened opponent. If
neither individual retreats, tensions may rise. If one cat tries
to retreat when the other cat is ready to fight, a fight may result
anyway. If neither cat is willing to retreat or fight, they may
eventually pass each other by without conflict. If both cats are
equally motivated to challenge each other, a fight often results.
An assertive uncastrated tomcat, for example, is more likely to
antagonize another cat during the mating season than at other
times when sexual motivation may not be as high. Indoor or outdoor
cats may leave scratch marks or mark with urine and/or stool to
reassert territorial claims and to relieve emotional tension.
Conflict may arise between indoor cats upon first introduction
or following a period of calm coexistence. The age of the individuals
may be an important factor. Kittens reaching physical and behavioral
maturity, for example, may discover their own sense of territory
or may be suddenly resented by another resident cat. Housecats
may sort out their individual territories without fights. Cats
may come to an understanding of each other's temperament and physical
ability during play. Play times may end abruptly, however, if
one cat perceives subtle challenges in the other's behavior. Minor
territorial disputes between pet cats can be mistaken as playful
interaction. You may have to intervene in conflicts between cats
if the conflicts become severe and frequent. The more cats there
are in a household, the more chances there are for conflicts over
food, space and your attention.
Preventing Territorial Aggression: The best way to resolve
territorial aggression between cats is to prevent opportunities
for it. The factors contributing to it should be identified and
controlled. Do the conflicts more often occur at certain times
of day than at others? If so, it might be helpful to confine one
of the cats during this period so that the same territory may
be "time shared." Does one cat wait in ambush for the
other to appear? Do conflicts occur in specific areas of your
home? These locations should be neutralized by blocking access
to them, for example. Are the confrontations chance encounters,
erupting spontaneously?
It may be necessary to isolate each cat in a different area of
your home so that their paths never cross. Is the severity of
aggression serious and getting worse, or is it mild and constant,
without casualties? If the conflicts are brief and without physical
contact, it might be wise not to interfere. If the bouts seem
to be escalating in intensity, several steps should be taken.
As a temporary measure, it is almost always necessary to separate
the antagonists, confining them to their own separate quarters.
Whether the pets are kept indoors exclusively or not, all cats
not intended for breeding should be neutered. If fighting occurs
between intact cats that will be bred, these animals should be
caged or housed separately. In some cases, it is simplest to end
ongoing conflicts by relocating the antagonist in another home
where it will be the only cat. If none of these measures is effective,
contact your veterinarian for referral to a veterinary behavior
consultant in your area. Remember that territorial conflicts in
multi-cat households are virtually inevitable. Keep the number
of pet cats in reasonable proportion to the size of your home.
Roaming Outdoors
Cats instinctively explore and frequently patrol their territory.
The size of their territory may expand or contract according to
population density, exhaustion of natural resources, availability
of cycling females and interactions between aggressive rivals.
Younger cats tend to patrol wider areas than do aging animals.
Males tend to roam over greater areas than do females. Neutered
males may patrol smaller areas, while neutered females tend to
expand their territories. Many cats that have been reared indoors
from birth may become increasingly interested in the outdoors
and often attempt to escape even before they reach sexual maturity.
Though neutering a pet cat may diminish its determination to escape,
reduce the size of territory outdoors and reduce the frequency
and severity of cat fights, neutering alone will not deter any
cat with a strong predisposition to roam. Neutering is advised
for any cat that roams outdoors, either habitually or accidentally,
so as to help control the population of stray cats. Many cats
born as strays and adopted as housecats adjust remarkably quickly.
Indeed, many stray cats that are adopted remain indoors permanently
without protest. Cats that live in temperate climates may naturally
restrict their outdoor activity during cold winter months. These
individuals may adapt more readily to being kept indoors permanently.
Newly confined cats typically go through a phase of heightened
activity. Their agitation and frustration may be redirected to
undesirable indoor activities, such as destructiveness, excessive
vocalization, irritability and nocturnal patterns of peak activity.
These cats may seek escape routes for many weeks before resigning
themselves to confinement. Should the opportunity to escape present
itself, however, many of these cats may take it, even years later.
A young cat increasingly interested in going outside should be
denied the opportunity to escape. One successful escape virtually
guarantees that other attempts will follow. Young cats usually
outgrow this escapist phase when they are consistently unsuccessful.
Some cats manage to escape outside despite their owner's intention
to confine them. For these owners and for those that own adult
cats already accustomed to roaming outdoors, efforts to restrict
their pets' range can be frustrating. Be aware of your cat's position
as you enter or exit a door leading outside. Secure windows and
place screens as needed. Balconies even several stories high can
present attractive escape exits to more daring (or foolhardy)
cats. Provide a wide variety of toys that are attractive to your
cat (not just to you). Frequently play with your young cat so
that it is less prone to seek amusement elsewhere. Have your cat
neutered at an appropriate age as recommended by your veterinarian.
If you decide to keep your cat indoors, stand by your decision.
Even occasional outings will increase your cat's determination
to go outside. The initial transition period may be easier with
a short course of sedatives in small doses. Medications prescribed
by your veterinarian can help your cat become adjusted to confinement.
Given enough time and positive reinforcement, most cats adapt
well. While territorial roaming provides cats with exercise and
mental stimulation, cats can live a happy life while remaining
only indoors. The risk of injury (from motor vehicle accidents,
cat fights or confrontations with other animals), disease and
abuse far outweigh any possible benefit to your cat. It is not
cruel to restrict cats to an exclusively indoor existence. Rather,
the cruelty lies in exposing them to the dangers outside of a
safe home.