Changes

====Discerning patterns associated with aggression====

====Discerning patterns associated with aggression====

To safely treat aggressive cats, the motivation for every aggressive incident must be thoroughly understood and a pattern of behaviour identified if possible. The owner should be asked to describe what happened at each event, and not to interpret what happened. The first priority is to use this information to prevent injury. If attacks were truly unpredictable then this would constitute a serious and unavoidable risk that would not be acceptable.<br><br>

To safely treat aggressive cats, the motivation for every aggressive incident must be thoroughly understood and a pattern of behaviour identified if possible. The owner should be asked to describe what happened at each event, and not to interpret what happened. The first priority is to use this information to prevent injury.<br><br>

Signs that a cat is becoming likely to react aggressively:

 

Signs that a cat is becoming likely to react aggressively include:

* Avoidant behaviour: Running away or hiding, struggling whilst being held and freezing.

* Avoidant behaviour: Running away or hiding, struggling whilst being held and freezing.

* Signs of increased arousal: Pupillary dilation, increased respiratory rate (including panting), trembling, agitation.

* Signs of increased arousal: Pupillary dilation, increased respiratory rate (including panting), trembling, agitation.

* Timing: the times of day when aggressive incidents, or near misses, have tended to occur.<br><br>

* Timing: the times of day when aggressive incidents, or near misses, have tended to occur.<br><br>

One problem with aggression dogs and cats is that the actual number of aggressive incidents may not be large enough to properly identify a pattern. However, "near misses" are as important as actual aggressive attacks; once owners understand the signs that are typical of the build up to an aggressive attack they can usually provide a much more extensive list of incidents that came close to an attack. This is a better guide to the underlying cause of the problem and the triggers for aggression.

One problem with aggression dogs and cats is that the actual number of aggressive incidents may not be large enough to properly identify a pattern. However, "near misses" are as important as actual aggressive attacks; once owners understand the signs that are typical of the build up to an aggressive attack they can usually provide a much more extensive list of incidents that came close to an attack. This is a better guide to the underlying cause of the problem and the triggers for aggression.<br><br>

If the pattern of aggressive incidents is inconsistent, with the same events leading to completely different patterns of response from the cat, then it is likely that there is either an underlying medical cause, or unidentified stressors are altering the cat's state of emotion and arousal so that it responds variably.

==Prognosis==

==Prognosis==