Many illnesses can be associated with stress in cats, so ensuring these points are met can help in the prevent certain problems in the future. Other benefits include a strengthened bond between cats and their owners, and easier handling of cats both in their home environment and in practice. These pillars include providing the cat with a safe environment, access to multiple and separate key resources such as a litter tray, food, water and sleeping spots, the opportunity to play and exhibit natural prey behaviour, positive, constant and predictable interaction and an environment that respects the importance of a cat’s sense of smell.
Pillar 1 – Providing a safe place
Cats need to be able to hide or escape from anything that they perceive as a threat. Providing this opportunity allows them to withdraw from situations they would find stressful and give them a sense of control over the situation.
Ideas for meeting this pillar would include card board boxes, a cat carrier left out all the time, cat shelving, cat trees, especially those with enclosed beds, igloos, beds placed up high and in multiple rooms of the house.
Pillar 2 – Provide multiple and separate key environmental resources.
This is focusing predominantly on ensuring each cat in the household has access to their own food/water sources. Toileting areas, play and resting areas and toys. Generally, the rule is one litter tray per cat plus one, although this is not as vital if your cat toilets outside, however one should always be available for a safe place to toilet.
These resources should be spread out around the house as they do not like to eat where they toilet/rest. This includes food and water being separate from each other.
Pillar 3 – Provide opportunity for play and predatory behaviour.
Cats have a strong instinct to display predatory behaviours such as locating/stalking/catching/killing/eating. These can be implemented in the home environment with suitable toys and puzzle feeders. It is important to have solitary toys such as balls/mice/kickers etc as well as interactive toys with the owner such as wands. Something worth noting when using a laser pen you will need to provide something physical, they can catch, as this can lead to frustration if they cannot catch something.
Pillar 4 – Provide positive, consistent and predictable, human-cat social interaction.
It is important to know your cats background and know them as individuals to know how much handling they like / do not like. If they are of a nervous nature then it is important to allow them to initiate interaction, as cats like to feel in control. Signs of a relaxed cat include:
· Slow blinking
· Rubbing around your legs or head bumping into your hand or legs
· Chirruping or purring
· Tail up and leaning into you
· Attempting to climb onto a person’s lap
· Following you around
Pillar 5 – Provide an environment that respects their important sense of smell
Cats use their sense of smell to process their environment. They have an additional organ in their hard palate called the vomeronasal organ, which helps them to process pheromones. Where possible, the use of strong-smelling air fresheners, detergents, perfumes or scented litter tray liners or litter should be avoided, as these are overwhelming for a cat trying to process their normal environment. Cats who are overwhelmed by their sense of smell may start to urine spray or pluck areas to re-establish their own scent.
For more information on this, see: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1098612x13477537