Changes

Training sessions of this kind should be undertaken when the cat is already voluntarily in the environment where training is to take place. Cats should not be carried to the place where training is to take place, because any accidental negative associations made in that situation may also affect the cat’s attitude toward handling, resulting in [[Feline Fear of People|fear of]] or [[Feline Aggression Towards People|aggression toward the owner]].  

Training sessions of this kind should be undertaken when the cat is already voluntarily in the environment where training is to take place. Cats should not be carried to the place where training is to take place, because any accidental negative associations made in that situation may also affect the cat’s attitude toward handling, resulting in [[Feline Fear of People|fear of]] or [[Feline Aggression Towards People|aggression toward the owner]].  

===Pheromonotherapy===

===Pheromonatherapy===

The F3 pheromone fraction (Feliway) can be used to increase the familiarity and security of the home environment which will indirectly alter the cat’s reaction to stimuli. Individual spots of F3 might be sprayed onto static environmental stimuli of which the cat is otherwise mildly fearful.

The F3 pheromone fraction (Feliway) can be used to increase the familiarity and security of the home environment which will indirectly alter the cat’s reaction to stimuli. Individual spots of F3 might be sprayed onto static environmental stimuli of which the cat is otherwise mildly fearful.

 

===Pharmacological Therapy===

===Pharmacological Therapy===

Treatment of specific fears of inanimate objects may be augmented with psychoactive drug therapy, although no drug is specifically licensed for this use in the cat. Extreme care must be taken in using these drugs when the cat also has a number of other [[Feline Fear and Stress|fear]] or [[Feline Aggression|aggression]] problems involving people or other animals, because anxiolytic psychoactive drugs carry a risk of producing disinhibition. [[Selegiline]] is the first choice for specific fears, as it is licensed for the treatment of this condition in the dog. It can be used in cats if the client’s informed consent is obtained. The onset of efficacy may be 4-6 weeks or more, and it is important to warn owners not to try to progress too quickly with behavioural therapy during the induction period with this drug, as the cat’s increase in confidence and reduction in apprehension are relatively fragile until the drug is in full effect. Attempts to take advantage of the cat’s growing confidence during the induction period can backfire, with the cat becoming even more uncertain of human contact. This is temporary but very disheartening for owners when it happens. Selegiline is most appropriate for fearful cats that also show a high degree of inhibition of normal behaviour, such as:

Treatment of specific fears of inanimate objects may be augmented with psychoactive drug therapy, although no drug is specifically licensed for this use in the cat. Extreme care must be taken in using these drugs when the cat also has a number of other [[Feline Fear and Stress|fear]] or [[Feline Aggression|aggression]] problems involving people or other animals, because anxiolytic psychoactive drugs carry a risk of producing disinhibition. [[Selegiline]] is the first choice for specific fears, as it is licensed for the treatment of this condition in the dog. It can be used in cats if the client’s informed consent is obtained. The onset of efficacy may be 4-6 weeks or more, and it is important to warn owners not to try to progress too quickly with behavioural therapy during the induction period with this drug, as the cat’s increase in confidence and reduction in apprehension are relatively fragile until the drug is in full effect. Attempts to take advantage of the cat’s growing confidence during the induction period can backfire, with the cat becoming even more uncertain of human contact. This is temporary but very disheartening for owners when it happens. Selegiline is most appropriate for fearful cats that also show a high degree of inhibition of normal behaviour, such as: