2024 AAFP intercat tension guidelines: recognition, prevention and management
Creators: name: Mills, Daniel
name: Rodan, Ilona
name: Ramos, Daniela
name: Carney, Hazel
name: DePorter, Theresa
name: Horwitz, Debra
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 300999
subject: Veterinary sciences not elsewhere classified

description: Intercat tension is a common, but often unrecognized, cause of impaired feline health and wellbeing. Globally, surveys indicate that intercat tension affects between 62.2% and 87.7% of multiple-cat (multi-cat) households – that is, households with two or more cats;1,2 25–31% of feline behavior cases in a behavior practice are due to intercat tension or conflict.3–5 Other behavioral concerns and stressassociated disease often occur secondarily to intercat tension. In a recent and large survey of feline relationships, 87.7% of 2492 multi-cat households reported signs of intercat tension.2 In this survey, 73.3% of respondents noted that signs of tension started with the introduction of a new cat, 23.6% reported gradual changes to a previously positive relationship and 3.1% saw abrupt behavior changes. As the majority of cases of intercat tension begin at initial introduction of a new cat, the Guidelines address best adoption choices, preparation of the home environment, including the availability of safe places for each cat,2,6 and the gradual introduction process necessary to prevent intercat conflict. Tension in intercat relationships, within the context of these Guidelines, is characterized by poor tolerance of other cats and lack of friendly interactions by at least one cat in the household toward another cat or cats. Cases of intercat tension are often multifactorial, and problem resolution may involve several treatment pathways. Signs can be subtle, such as staring or blocking, and go unrecognized by caregivers, or may be much more overt, with repeated episodes of physical conflict (eg, hissing, wailing, swatting). The Guidelines provide detailed descriptions of various presentations of intercat tension that will become recognizable with experience by both veterinary professionals and caregivers. Caregivers who have two or more cats living on the same premises assume an extra burden of responsibility for the wellbeing of their companion animals, and may face demands on their patience, resources and understanding beyond those that single-cat caregivers encounter.7 For the veterinarian who serves this growing multi-cat caregiver population, regular client education is an especially important component of the veterinarian–client–patient relationship. Veterinary professionals who knowledgeably advise their multi-cat caregivers and set reasonable expectations will help to ensure that relinquishment or rehoming of companion animals is not the default option for resolving intercat tension. By systematically addressing cases of intercat tension using the recommendations outlined by the Guidelines Task Force, veterinary professionals can offer practical advice for improvement or full resolution. Even seemingly intractable intercat conflict can usually be successfully managed or improved, as evidenced by the case studies included in the Appendix. As with any optimum clinical service model, the Guidelines’ recommendations are most effective when they are understood and implemented by the entire veterinary team.