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→Signs of Fear
When frightened, animals engage in Species Specific Defence Reactions (SSDRs), known as "The Four Fs".
When frightened, animals engage in a set of Species Specific Defence Reactions (SSDRs), known as "The Four Fs".
These include:
These include:
* Fight
* Fight
The cat's primary response to fear is "flight" (avoidance or escape), but they will resort to aggression when escape is impossible in an attempt to drive the fear-eliciting stimulus away. Freezing tends to occur when either flight or fight are impossible, or as the animal evaluates its best option. A cat that is "frozen" but showing signs of stress can launch a sudden attack. Fiddling about may be a form of "self-distraction" in an otherwise inescapable situation of stress, but it may also have some value in diffusing tension in frustration and intraspecific conflict. Fear also potentiates the startle response, so fearful animals will react suddeny to unexpected stimuli and events.
The cat's primary response to fear is "flight" (avoidance or escape), but they will resort to aggression when escape is impossible in an attempt to drive the fear-eliciting stimulus away. Freezing tends to occur when either flight or fight are impossible, or as the animal evaluates its best option. A cat that is "frozen" but showing signs of stress can launch a sudden attack. Fiddling about may be a form of "self-distraction" in an otherwise inescapable situation of stress, but it may also have some value in diffusing tension in frustration and intraspecific conflict. Fear also potentiates the startle response, so fearful animals will react suddeny to unexpected stimuli and events.
* An increase in withdrawn and secretive behaviour including hiding
==Effects of fear and anxiety==
* Reluctance to go outdoors or to enter open spaces within the home
Typical signs observed by owner include:
* A desire to get up high onto inaccessible resting places within the home
* The cat being withdrawn, secretive and tending to hide.
* A decrease in desire for interactive behaviour with familiar humans
* A decrease in interest in social and object play.
* A decrease in interest in social and object play
* Reluctance to cross open spaces (e.e avoiding outdoors or crossing a room).
* Hiding under objects, or climbing to inaccessible high places.
* Avoiding contact with familiar people and other animals.
* "Jumpiness" (fear potentiated startle response).
* Low-threshold flight response
Behavioural problems relating to fear and anxiety include:
* [[Indoor Marking - Cat|Indoor marking]] behaviours, such as urine spraying
* [[Indoor Marking - Cat|Indoor marking]] behaviours, such as urine spraying
* [[Housesoiling - Cat|Loss of house training]], due to some fearful association with the latrine location
* [[Housesoiling - Cat|Loss of house training]], due to some fearful association with the latrine location
* Defensive [[Feline Aggression|aggression]]
* Defensive [[Feline Aggression|aggression]]
* [[Feline Pica|Wool-eating and other pica]]
* [[Feline Pica|Wool-eating and other pica]]
* [[Feline Grooming Disorders|Over-grooming and even self-mutilation]]
* [[Feline Grooming Disorders|Over-grooming and even self-mutilation]]
==Potential Causes of Problematic Fear==
==Potential Causes of Problematic Fear==