Vertical Territory and House Rules

Cats have a social system that includes a dynamic hierarchy.  Cats who hang out on the highest spots are typically top-cat at that moment. Cat hierarchies are not typically fixed in stone, but in our house, Gypsy has taken on the role of top cat, top dog, and top human.  There are a few times when this may change for a short time, and I am not sure yet if it is due to changes in the weather, food, time of day, or just some special reasons we are not privy too. Our cats also time- and room-share. One cat can be top-cat in one room at a specific time, while another shares the same privilege in another area.

Vertical territory is extremely important for cats. My kitties are litter mates and the vertical territory started about the time they had their ugly cat perch.  Once they were too big to share, it became territorial to the point I just got rid of it and sent them outside.

  Next came the windowsill, which was available for sharing; never a contest for top spot, although I did notice a preference for seating - left vs right.

 

It wasn't long after that they discovered counter surfing.  Gypsy in particular liked hanging out on the kitchen counter and using it as her personal highway.  That soon stopped when we cluttered the counter so there was no space to access it properly.  But where there's a will there is a way, and the kitchen area really has the best vertical spots for the kitties.    Smoke inevitably manages to get onto the kitchen window shelf.  If you put things on the shelf he invariably moves them.  If you ask - "What are you doing up there?"  the answer is in the look:  "Being a cat!"

Next came the discovery of the fridge.  Gypsy claimed this spot, and despite the many attack efforts by Smoke to claim the vantage point, Gypsy prevailed.  The higher you go, the better the view - especially out through the front windows and patio.  From the fridge they can watch everything in their world from up high. 

But, Gypsy has since moved it up a notch to the highest possible vantage point: the top of the kitchen cupboard "above" the fridge.  Lounging up this high is really the ultimate spot for the top cat.  Smoke has yet to achieve that level of superiority and doesn't even try to contest it.

 One might say this is a behavioural management issue, and we need to prevent it to preserve the sanitary integrity  of the counter and fridge top.  Yes, and we do our best -but lets face it, the pattern is that as soon as we leave the room or turn around, or go to bed, one or both of them are back up on the counter, or fridge.

The warmer weather will be coming soon and they will want to be outside more than they are now. This will allow for more vertical territorial opportunities for the top cat, like the roof of the garden shed.