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<font color="red">this section may need adaptation once we have a page on pheromonotherapy</font>

<font color="red">this section may need adaptation once we have a page on pheromonotherapy</font>

Pheromonotherapy may be used to assist behavioural therapy. The pheromone F3 [Feliway, CEVA Animal Health] can be used to reduce general anxiety so that the home or training environment is less threatening and it has been particularly beneficial in cases of cat to cat aggression within the same household. F4 [Felifriend, CEVA Animal Sante] is a social pheromone used by cats to identify familiar individuals and when applied to unfamiliar individuals this can increase the cat’s tendency to approach and show affiliative behaviour. This can also be useful because it reduces escape responses. Combinations of pheromone therapies are especially helpful when the target of aggression is a member of the family or regular visitor to the household of a cat that has been recently re-homed. F4 may produce dissonant emotional states (which can induce a panic reaction) when the person or animal to whom F4 has been applied is already familiar to the cat from some aversive encounter and therefore invokes visual triggering of hostile responses. Further work in this area is essential but at the moment F4 should be used with care, applying it only to unfamiliar individuals, preferably from species with which the cat was socialised as a kitten.

'''Pheromonotherapy may be used to assist behavioural therapy'''. The pheromone '''F3''' [Feliway] can be used to '''reduce general anxiety''' so that the home or training environment is less threatening and it has been particularly beneficial in cases of cat to cat aggression within the same household. '''F4''' [Felifriend] is a '''social pheromone''' used by cats to identify familiar individuals and when applied to unfamiliar individuals this can increase the cat’s tendency to approach and show affiliative behaviour. This can also be useful because it reduces escape responses. Combinations of pheromone therapies are especially helpful when the target of aggression is a member of the family or regular visitor to the household of a cat that has been recently re-homed. F4 may produce dissonant emotional states (which can induce a panic reaction) when the person or animal to whom F4 has been applied is already familiar to the cat from some aversive encounter and therefore invokes visual triggering of hostile responses. Further work in this area is essential but at the moment F4 should be used with care, applying it only to unfamiliar individuals, preferably from species with which the cat was socialised as a kitten.

====Psychoactive Medication====

====Psychoactive Medication====

In some cases of fear-aggression, the use of psychoactive medication may be useful to support behavioural therapy. Selegiline may be used to reduce apprehension. The effect of this drug is to increase exploratory behaviour and confidence in fearful situations. It can also enhance the perception of reward, and thereby improve responses to counterconditioning procedures. However, by encouraging the animal to move closer to the target of the fear-related aggression there is an increased risk of injury if the person startles the cat by making a sudden noise or movement. This appears to be worst during the initiation of treatment [the first 4-6 weeks of medication].  

In some cases of fear-aggression, the use of psychoactive medication may be useful to support behavioural therapy. '''Selegiline''' may be used to '''reduce apprehension'''. The effect of this drug is to increase exploratory behaviour and confidence in fearful situations. It can also enhance the perception of reward, and thereby improve responses to counterconditioning procedures. However, by encouraging the animal to move closer to the target of the fear-related aggression there is an increased risk of injury if the person startles the cat by making a sudden noise or movement. This appears to be worst during the initiation of treatment [the first 4-6 weeks of medication].  

Serotonergic drugs such as Fluoxetine and Clomipramine may be used to reduce aggression where anxiety is a causative factor. However, in many cases of fear-related aggression anxiety over the consequences of launching an attack may be the only thing that prevents it. Reduction of anxiety in these cases can cause disinhibition of this anxiety, producing greater risk of attacks and injuries. Great care must therefore be taken when considering the use of any psychoactive drug; they can only be used safely and effectively after a thorough assessment of the case, and in combination with a well organised behavioural therapy plan and management to reduce risk of injury. No drug is currently licensed for the treatment of feline fear-related aggression, so informed consent must be obtained at the time of prescribing.

Serotonergic drugs such as '''Fluoxetine''' and '''Clomipramine''' may be used to '''reduce aggression where anxiety is a causative factor'''. However, in many cases of fear-related aggression anxiety over the consequences of launching an attack may be the only thing that prevents it. Reduction of anxiety in these cases can cause disinhibition of this anxiety, producing greater risk of attacks and injuries. Great care must therefore be taken when considering the use of any psychoactive drug; they can only be used safely and effectively after a thorough assessment of the case, and in combination with a well organised behavioural therapy plan and management to reduce risk of injury. No drug is currently licensed for the treatment of feline fear-related aggression, so informed consent must be obtained at the time of prescribing.

====Summary of Treatment of Fear-Related Aggression Towards People====

====Summary of Treatment of Fear-Related Aggression Towards People====

==Prognosis==

==Prognosis==

Prognosis strongly relates to the owner’s expectation of therapy. Clients who expect that a cat will become overtly friendly and tactile with all family members and visitors to the house may be disappointed.  

'''Prognosis strongly relates to the owner’s expectation of therapy'''. Clients who expect that a cat will become overtly friendly and tactile with all family members and visitors to the house may be disappointed.  

Part of creating a good prognosis is therefore to teach clients about normal feline social behaviour and the kinds of activities that cats derive pleasure from. A balanced relationship involving appropriate levels of contact, greeting behaviour and play is likely to succeed. Cats that wish to avoid contact with certain visitors should be allowed to do so, because this represents a safe and normal response to fear, which is far more desirable than an aggressive attack.

Part of creating a good prognosis is therefore to teach clients about normal feline social behaviour and the kinds of activities that cats derive pleasure from. A balanced relationship involving appropriate levels of contact, greeting behaviour and play is likely to succeed. Cats that wish to avoid contact with certain visitors should be allowed to do so, because this represents a safe and normal response to fear, which is far more desirable than an aggressive attack.

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[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour References]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour GGP]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour BS]]

[[Category:Feline Aggression Towards People]]

[[Category:Feline Aggression Towards People]]

[[Category:Feline Problem Behaviour]]

[[Category:Feline Problem Behaviour]]