One of the most important considerations when thinking about the health and happiness of your cat is their sense of territory. Understanding how cats perceive and survey their territory can help you provide a more harmonious environment, reducing stress, preventing behavioral issues, and increasing overall happiness.
Territory is a cat’s safe space where they can feel secure and in control. It is where they eat, sleep, play, and engage in their natural behaviors. A cat's territory can include the home as a whole, or it can be divided into smaller areas, with certain sections reserved for specific activities like playing, hunting, eating, using the litter box, and sleeping.
Cats typically feel the safest when they are able to observe their surroundings from up high. This is why some cats like being on top kitchen cabinets, doors that aren’t totally closed, or even curtain rods. While these places don’t look like they would be comfortable, vertical spaces - including cat trees, shelves, or perches - help cats to feel secure and in control of their environment.
Cats use scent as their primary way of marking and understanding their territory. They have scent glands on their cheeks, paws, and tail, and they use these to leave their scent on objects around their environment and mark them as “theirs.” This behavior, known as scent marking, reassures them that the space is theirs. When a cat rubs against pieces of furniture, walls, blankets, or even on you, they are “scent marking.” This helps them to establish a familiar environment where they are comfortable and in control.
Another way cats mark their territory is by scratching. Scratching leaves both visual and scent markers - don’t forget they have scent glands in their paws. Providing scratching posts, sisal posts, or scratch pads will allow them to satisfy this basic territorial instinct without scratching your furniture or curtains.
Territory considerations are particularly important in multi-cat households. Cats can establish social hierarchies with the dominant cat claiming the best spots in the home - the highest perches or coziest, sunshine-filled beds. This can lead to conflict, especially if space or resources are limited. Cats may hiss, growl, or swat to defend what they perceive as their territory.
Dominant cats most likely won’t want to share their prized resources so it’s crucial that multiple litter boxes, food and water bowls, perches, and napping areas are provided. It will help avoid disputes, reduce stress, and allow each cat to feel safe, and relaxed. This is also why it’s so important to introduce cats slowly over the course of a week or two. When a new cat is brought into the home, the original cat may feel threatened and will need time to adjust to a new family member.
Cats are very sensitive and they are creatures of habit. When cats feel threatened by changes to their territory - such as moving, rearranging furniture, or adding a new pet - they can react with inappropriate behaviors, including not using the litter box, not eating, or overgrooming to the point where they have bald spots. Changes should be introduced gradually if possible and familiar objects like blankets, toys, perches, or cat trees should be kept so they still feel “at home” in the new space.
Understanding how your cat feels about their territory will help you create a more cat-friendly environment that meets - and hopefully exceeds - their wants and needs. Respecting and considering your cat’s natural territorial instincts will help them live a happier, healthier life.
Love, Nala
