Tension between multiple cats in a household can occur at any time. Most commonly, it happens when a new cat has been added to the household, but it can also occur between cats who have previously co-existed peacefully. The Intercat Tension Guidelines: Recognition, Prevention and Management, just released by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) provide comprehensive resources to veterinary professionals to help clients prevent and manage these situations.
Developed by a task force of board-certified veterinary and applied behaviorists and clinical experts in feline medicine and behavior, the 2024 AAFP Intercat Tension Guidelines: Recognition, Prevention, and Management Guidelines support veterinary professionals in understanding social behavior between cats and, more specifically, in recognizing intercat tension, preventing or minimizing its occurrence, and managing stressors.
Dr. Ilona Rodan, Co-chair of the Guideline Task Force, emphasized the importance of this work: “The AAFP’s Intercat Tension Guidelines were developed because intercat tension or conflict between household cats is common but often unrecognized because most signs are subtle. Intercat tension can occur even in two-cat households, and most frequently occurs when introducing a new cat into the home. These Guidelines aid veterinary professionals and caregivers in detecting and preventing signs of tension, thus minimizing fear-anxiety, stress-related diseases, and undesirable behaviors, and improving the wellbeing of cats.”
Key content of the guidelines
- Debunking the 10 common myths that have the potential to negatively impact the wellbeing of cats
- Visual examples of intercat tension
- An appendix with several case studies\A comprehensive table of psychotherapeutic medications
- A detailed algorithm that outlines a systematic approach to preventing, recognizing, and resolving intercat tension
- A step-by-step approach to introducing a new cat into a household with one or more resident cats
- A range of management tools to promote caregiver education
The guidelines offer multiple resources and tools, including a multi-cat home profile questionnaire, a behavior modification handout, and a comprehensive step-by-step guide for introducing a new cat(s) to a home with resident cat(s).
Dr. Daniela Ramos, fellow Co-chair of the Guideline Task Force, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the Guidelines: “In order to achieve success in managing any feline behavior problem, it is essential to understand the cats’ motivations, emotions, and development. Besides management tools, the Guidelines present a complete set of updated information on cat-cat social behavior and the process by which intercat tension arises.”
I like that they titled these guidelines “intercat tension” and not “intercat aggression.” Tension between cats can be subtle, but nevertheless damaging, because it forces cats to live in a constant state of awareness and stress even before things come to a head and flare up as true aggression.
I encourage you to read the guidelines. Even though they’re aimed at veterinary professionals, they contain a wealth of information that will help every cat parent gain a better understanding of feline behavior.
For more information and to read the guidelines, please visit https://catvets.com/guidelines/practice-guidelines/intercat-tension-guidelines.
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Hi Ingrid, The website link will not allow access to non-vet members of the site:
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They just updated their website and a lot of the old links no longer work. This should be the correct link https://catvets.com/resource/2024-intercat-tension-guidelines/ I’ve also updated the link in my post. Please let me know if you still have issues accessing the guidelines.
We have high tensions at night with my girls. Lu always sleeps by my head and Kiki by my side. But recently, Kiki has been going to bed early and taking Lu’s spot and Lu gets mad. Lots of hissing and spitting takes place until I put my hand up between them so they can’t see each other. They will lay down and sleep at that point.
I’m sorry you’re dealing with that, Janine. Do you think closing the bedroom door until you’re ready to go to bed would break that dynamic? Then they would both have to go to bed at the same time?