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Created page with "==Introduction== Within the general population house soiling and spraying are considered to be amongst the most common major problems, with aggression featuring far less than ..."
==Introduction==
Within the general population house soiling and spraying are considered to be amongst the most common major problems, with aggression featuring far less than it does in the dog. However, recent figures from the annual report [2003] of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors [APBC] showed that 23% of referred feline cases involved aggression toward other cats, making it the second most commonly referred problem after indoor marking [25% of cases]. A further 13% of the reported feline cases involved aggression towards people. Aggression is therefore a significant concern for many cat owners. Data on referral rates of feline aggression cases to individual behavioural clinics varies widely, with some clinics experiencing referral rates of 13% of their total caseload and others 25%.
Other work, carried out by a research team at Southampton University, has shown that 13% of owners reported aggression to people and 48% aggression to other cats. These figures were obtained directly from a sample of the general cat owning population, rather than those seeking professional help and they indicate that aggression problems may be even more prevalent in the general feline population than in the referral population.
There may be many reasons for this difference. Firstly, many cat owners may be unaware of the welfare and safety risks associated with aggression problems. Secondly, the owners of aggressive cats have the option to exclude these animals from the domestic home so that they become ‘outdoor’ cats. Thirdly, and most importantly, many cat owners may not be aware that anything can be done to help the situation and therefore do not seek help. Such obstacles to seeking advice place an additional demand on the veterinary practice to ask questions about feline behavioural problems during routine consultations rather than to expect clients to raise the subject themselves.
Feline aggression is also often regarded as less serious than canine aggression, and as a consequence cases may not be referred until they have become serious. Unfortunatley such an approach is not only detrimental to prognosis but also increases the risk of injury, so it is important for owners to understand how serious the consequences of feline aggression can be. Physical injury to people or animals and zoonotic infections are a very real danger since the cat is equipped with weapons in the form of claws and teeth. When feline aggression is targeted toward people, the danger it poses should never been underestimated. When the victims are children or elderly people with frail skin it is important to emphasise to owners that the potential injuries from cats are serious. The rate of bacterial contamination in cat bites is several times that in the dog, because bite punctures tend to be deep and a majority of cats harbour Pasteurella Multocida and other pathogens in their mouths. The victims of cat bite or scratch injuries may therefore be subject to what is commonly called ‘cat scratch disease’ and should seek medical attention.
The nature of aggressive responses in cats is strongly related to their natural behavioural responses and to their social and communication systems in the wild. The cat has a range of subtle body postures and facial expressions which can be used to diffuse tension and avoid physical conflict and, for a solitary hunter, this is important in order to prevent injury and consequent threat to the individual’s survival. In addition cats use a range of vocalisations to further increase the success of communication so that fighting is usually the ‘last resort’ defence strategy.
==Immediate Intervention==
In the UK cats are generally not regarded as property and therefore the implications of aggression by cats is very complex. Fights between cats belonging to neighbours can cause a great deal of ill-will but are unlikely to lead to successful litigation. However, injuries caused to a person or an animal, whilst in the home of the cat might be deemed the responsibility of the cat owner. Such injuries can, in some circumstances, be horrific.
It is therefore the owner’s duty to protect people and other animals from harm. Muzzling is not generally a viable option for cats, but the same basic safety provisions, such as exclusion from the room and provision of physical barriers between cat and victim, may be made as for aggressive dogs [see chapter…..on canine aggression].
The cat’s primary response to threat is to avoid it or escape from it. The most critical aspect of managing aggressive cats is therefore to enable the cat to manage its fear in a non-aggressive way. Giving the cat escape routes and reliable places to hide will reduce its need to display aggression.
Only 25% of dog bites will contain Pasteurella Multocida, compared to 50-74% of cat bites. Other bacteria may also be present, including Staphylococcus Aureus.
This means that all cat bites that cause skin penetration or bleeding should be treated medically without delay. A course of antibiotics and anti-tetanus may be required.
==Warning Signs of Aggression==
Important warning signs include:
*Tail twitching
*Flattening of the ears
*Stiffening of the shoulders and legs
*Dilatation of pupils
*Hissing and spitting
It is very important that clients do not attempt to soothe or calm the cat when it is showing this behaviour. Cats that are frozen in a self-defensive crouch are very close to launching an attack when provoked. They should look away from the cat and slowly move away.
[[Category:To Do - Behaviour]][[Category:Feline Aggression]]
Within the general population house soiling and spraying are considered to be amongst the most common major problems, with aggression featuring far less than it does in the dog. However, recent figures from the annual report [2003] of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors [APBC] showed that 23% of referred feline cases involved aggression toward other cats, making it the second most commonly referred problem after indoor marking [25% of cases]. A further 13% of the reported feline cases involved aggression towards people. Aggression is therefore a significant concern for many cat owners. Data on referral rates of feline aggression cases to individual behavioural clinics varies widely, with some clinics experiencing referral rates of 13% of their total caseload and others 25%.
Other work, carried out by a research team at Southampton University, has shown that 13% of owners reported aggression to people and 48% aggression to other cats. These figures were obtained directly from a sample of the general cat owning population, rather than those seeking professional help and they indicate that aggression problems may be even more prevalent in the general feline population than in the referral population.
There may be many reasons for this difference. Firstly, many cat owners may be unaware of the welfare and safety risks associated with aggression problems. Secondly, the owners of aggressive cats have the option to exclude these animals from the domestic home so that they become ‘outdoor’ cats. Thirdly, and most importantly, many cat owners may not be aware that anything can be done to help the situation and therefore do not seek help. Such obstacles to seeking advice place an additional demand on the veterinary practice to ask questions about feline behavioural problems during routine consultations rather than to expect clients to raise the subject themselves.
Feline aggression is also often regarded as less serious than canine aggression, and as a consequence cases may not be referred until they have become serious. Unfortunatley such an approach is not only detrimental to prognosis but also increases the risk of injury, so it is important for owners to understand how serious the consequences of feline aggression can be. Physical injury to people or animals and zoonotic infections are a very real danger since the cat is equipped with weapons in the form of claws and teeth. When feline aggression is targeted toward people, the danger it poses should never been underestimated. When the victims are children or elderly people with frail skin it is important to emphasise to owners that the potential injuries from cats are serious. The rate of bacterial contamination in cat bites is several times that in the dog, because bite punctures tend to be deep and a majority of cats harbour Pasteurella Multocida and other pathogens in their mouths. The victims of cat bite or scratch injuries may therefore be subject to what is commonly called ‘cat scratch disease’ and should seek medical attention.
The nature of aggressive responses in cats is strongly related to their natural behavioural responses and to their social and communication systems in the wild. The cat has a range of subtle body postures and facial expressions which can be used to diffuse tension and avoid physical conflict and, for a solitary hunter, this is important in order to prevent injury and consequent threat to the individual’s survival. In addition cats use a range of vocalisations to further increase the success of communication so that fighting is usually the ‘last resort’ defence strategy.
==Immediate Intervention==
In the UK cats are generally not regarded as property and therefore the implications of aggression by cats is very complex. Fights between cats belonging to neighbours can cause a great deal of ill-will but are unlikely to lead to successful litigation. However, injuries caused to a person or an animal, whilst in the home of the cat might be deemed the responsibility of the cat owner. Such injuries can, in some circumstances, be horrific.
It is therefore the owner’s duty to protect people and other animals from harm. Muzzling is not generally a viable option for cats, but the same basic safety provisions, such as exclusion from the room and provision of physical barriers between cat and victim, may be made as for aggressive dogs [see chapter…..on canine aggression].
The cat’s primary response to threat is to avoid it or escape from it. The most critical aspect of managing aggressive cats is therefore to enable the cat to manage its fear in a non-aggressive way. Giving the cat escape routes and reliable places to hide will reduce its need to display aggression.
Only 25% of dog bites will contain Pasteurella Multocida, compared to 50-74% of cat bites. Other bacteria may also be present, including Staphylococcus Aureus.
This means that all cat bites that cause skin penetration or bleeding should be treated medically without delay. A course of antibiotics and anti-tetanus may be required.
==Warning Signs of Aggression==
Important warning signs include:
*Tail twitching
*Flattening of the ears
*Stiffening of the shoulders and legs
*Dilatation of pupils
*Hissing and spitting
It is very important that clients do not attempt to soothe or calm the cat when it is showing this behaviour. Cats that are frozen in a self-defensive crouch are very close to launching an attack when provoked. They should look away from the cat and slowly move away.
[[Category:To Do - Behaviour]][[Category:Feline Aggression]]