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There are many similarities between canine and feline compulsive disorders, and the neurochemical basis for these conditions is thought to be similar across a range of species, including man. <font color="red">For a discussion of this, please see the chapter on canine compulsive disorders.</font color>

There are many similarities between canine and feline compulsive disorders, and the neurochemical basis for these conditions is thought to be similar across a range of species, including man. <font color="red">For a discussion of this, please see the chapter on canine compulsive disorders.</font color>

The factors that underlie compulsive disorders in the cat are different from those in the dog. The cat is highly self-reliant and depends on its own ability to control and utilise resources in its environment. It experiences strong drives to hunt, feed and carry out self-maintenance behaviours at set intervals. Hunting, for example, is not primarily regulated by appetite or satiation so that cats will continue to hunt regardless of their earlier successes or failure. The cat’s normal behavior is therefore highly structured and self-disciplined. This reflects the fact that, in a given area, the territories of several cats may partially overlap so that each individual can gain access to certain common resources, or traverse corners of each other’s territory in order to get from place to place. The temporal structure of the cat’s behaviour, combined with its system of marking, allows each cat to exist in isolation from others, thus minimising conflict and maximising the cats ability to utilise resources on demand. Great reliance is placed on the reliability of access to resources.

The factors that underlie compulsive disorders in the cat are different from those in the dog. The cat is highly self-reliant and depends on its own ability to control and utilise resources in its environment. It experiences strong drives to hunt, feed and carry out self-maintenance behaviours at set intervals. Hunting, for example, is not primarily regulated by appetite or satiation so that cats will continue to hunt regardless of their earlier successes or failure. The cat’s normal behavior is therefore highly structured and self-disciplined. This reflects the fact that, in a given area, the territories of several cats may partially overlap so that each individual can gain access to certain common resources, or traverse corners of each other’s territory in order to get from place to place. The temporal structure of the cat’s behaviour, combined with its system of marking, allows each cat to exist in isolation from others, thus minimising conflict and maximising the cats ability to utilise resources on demand. Great reliance is placed on the reliability of access to resources.

Environmental factors are therefore extraordinarily important in all feline behavioural problems, especially compulsive disorders. For the cat to live in an environment that places it in close proximity with potential competitors, inside or outside the home, and with limited control over access to resources and territory, can have a very damaging effect.  

Environmental factors are therefore extraordinarily important in all feline behavioural problems, especially compulsive disorders. For the cat to live in an environment that places it in close proximity with potential competitors, inside or outside the home, and with limited control over access to resources and territory, can have a very damaging effect.  

Canine compulsive disorder is frequently rooted in social deprivation, isolation and the stress of broken psychological attachment [as seen in compulsive disorders linked to attachment disorders and long periods of barren kennelling]. Feline compulsive disorder is more commonly associated with a lack of ability to carry out normal behaviour, combined with the social stress of perpetual competition and conflict. Improvement of the physical and social environment is therefore critically important for cats with compulsive disorders. Even without a compulsive element, the cat is likely to increase the amount of self-maintenance behaviour it performs as a substitute for thwarted hunting behaviour and territory maintenance.

Canine compulsive disorder is frequently rooted in social deprivation, isolation and the stress of broken psychological attachment [as seen in compulsive disorders linked to attachment disorders and long periods of barren kennelling]. Feline compulsive disorder is more commonly associated with a lack of ability to carry out normal behaviour, combined with the social stress of perpetual competition and conflict. Improvement of the physical and social environment is therefore critically important for cats with compulsive disorders. Even without a compulsive element, the cat is likely to increase the amount of self-maintenance behaviour it performs as a substitute for thwarted hunting behaviour and territory maintenance.