The zoopsychologist explained the reasons for territorial and stress tagging

Territorial tagging in cats is a natural part of behavior and is related to the animal's perception of the surrounding space. Svetlana Kapustina, a zoopsychologist and invited expert of the Triol brand, told Izvestia about this on July 27.

According to the expert, for a cat, the apartment is a system of zones — a place of rest, feeding, games and observation. When a new object appears in the house, the familiar picture of the territory changes, and the label helps the animal to identify the object with its own scent and return the feeling of familiar space.

"Territorial tagging is a natural part of feline behavior related to how the animal perceives the surrounding space. For a cat, an apartment is not just a room, but its own territory, divided into different zones — a place to relax, feed, play, observe and be active," said Kapustina.

Stress labeling is no longer related to a specific object, but to the internal stress of the animal. Moving, renovation, the arrival of a new person or pet, changing the diet or rearranging furniture can be causes of anxiety. In such cases, the tags usually appear repeatedly and in different places, and with them may manifest a decrease in appetite, excessive licking, a desire to hide, or a change in behavior when communicating with a person.

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The zoopsychologist stressed that punishing tagging does not solve the problem and can increase anxiety. If the reason is related to a new item, do not immediately remove it after the first tag: the cat needs time to get used to the change. During this period, it is important to maintain the usual regime of feeding, playing and socializing.

With regular stress tagging, it is necessary to work with the cause of anxiety. According to Kapustina, creating a vertical space can help a pet — installing shelves, high scratching posts and places to relax on a hill. For a cat, height allows you to control the territory and feel safer.

Additional support is provided by playing with the owner, which helps the animal to realize its natural hunting behavior, switch its attention and strengthen its sense of predictability. Treats can also be used to form positive associations, for example, offering them next to a new object that makes the cat wary.

Earlier, on July 23, Polina Parfentieva, a cynologist and zoopsychologist at the veterinary hospital network, said that dividing dogs into "dangerous" and "safe" dogs only by breed or appearance is a big mistake. According to her, care should be taken with any animal, regardless of its size or appearance.