Often when we ask clients how their cats interact, we measure their ability to get along but the absence of fighting. We need to start looking for much more subtle clues regarding our feline friend’s behaviour. I would ask you to think about everyone you come in contact with. We can assume that we don’t like everyone – that doesn’t mean we will fight with them. Cats communicate with repulsion responses these are designed to repel potential threats. These can be passive or very active responses. Their aim is to avoid conflict or fighting. The signals cats use range from olfactory (smell) to vocal and then visual communication. This is all done to avoid a confrontation. Cats do not have appeasement gestures so once a conflict starts it is not easily diffused – they fight. More on this next week.
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