Changes

==Human Injury Caused by Cat Bites and Scratches==

==Human Injury Caused by Cat Bites and Scratches==

There is limited data available on the prevalence of cat bite/scratch injuries. One Italian study using emergency department treatment records found a rate of 17.9 cases of cat bites/scratches per 100,000 admissions, compared with 58.4 per 100,000 for dog bites<ref>Ostanello, F., Gherardi, A., Caprioli, A., La Placa, L., Passini, A., Prosperi, S. (2005) Incidence of injuries caused by dogs and cats treated in emergency departments in a major Italian city. Emerg Med J 2005;22:260–262.</ref>. Whereas dog bites cause crush, laceration and puncture wounds that become infected on 3-18% of occasions, cat bites usually cause a penetrating injury and 28-80% result in an infection that more often involves Pasteurella multocida and/or Staphylococcus aureus<ref>Davies, H.D. (2000) When your best friend bites: A note on dog and cat bites. Can J Infect Dis. 11(5). 227-229</ref>. Human facial injuries due to cat bites are particularly serious, as surgical repair cannot be carried out until microbial infection is eliminated and damaged tissue debrided. Injuries to the hands and feet can result in serious complicates, such as osteomyelitis. Another factor is the rising incidence of sharing of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus between animals and their owners, with infection cycling between the animal and its various human acquaintances, which could become a significant problem infected cat bites<ref>Oehler, R.L.,  Velez, A.P., Mizrachi, M., Lamarche, J., Gompf , S. (2009) Bite-related and septic syndromes caused by cats and dogs. Lancet Infect Dis. 9.439–47.</ref><br><br>

There is limited data available on the prevalence of cat bite/scratch injuries. One Italian study using emergency department treatment records found a rate of 17.9 cases of cat bites/scratches per 100,000 admissions, compared with 58.4 per 100,000 for dog bites<ref>Ostanello, F., Gherardi, A., Caprioli, A., La Placa, L., Passini, A., Prosperi, S. (2005) Incidence of injuries caused by dogs and cats treated in emergency departments in a major Italian city. Emerg Med J 2005;22:260–262.</ref>. Whereas dog bites cause crush, laceration and puncture wounds that become infected on 3-18% of occasions, cat bites usually cause a penetrating injury and 28-80% result in an infection that more often involves ''Pasteurella multocida'' and/or ''Staphylococcus aureus''<ref>Davies, H.D. (2000) When your best friend bites: A note on dog and cat bites. Can J Infect Dis. 11(5). 227-229</ref>. Human facial injuries due to cat bites are particularly serious, as surgical repair cannot be carried out until microbial infection is eliminated and damaged tissue debrided. Injuries to the hands and feet can result in serious complications, such as osteomyelitis. Another factor is the rising incidence of sharing of methicillin resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus'' between animals and their owners, with infection cycling between the animal and its various human acquaintances, which could become a significant problem in infected cat bites<ref>Oehler, R.L.,  Velez, A.P., Mizrachi, M., Lamarche, J., Gompf , S. (2009) Bite-related and septic syndromes caused by cats and dogs. Lancet Infect Dis. 9.439–47.</ref><br><br>

Cat scratch disease is a common and mostly benign condition caused by post-scratch infection with the gram negative bacteria Bartonella henselae or Bartonella quintana<ref>Klotz, S.A., Ianas, V., Elliott, S.P. (2011). "Cat-scratch Disease". Am Fam Physician. 83(2). 152–5.</ref>. Symptoms are usually seen within 7-14 days of injury, but can take up to 2 months. Symptoms include headache, joint and muscular pains, but severe cases can result in menigioencephalitis or endocarditis<ref>Klotz, S.A., Ianas, V., Elliott, S.P. (2011). "Cat-scratch Disease". Am Fam Physician. 83(2). 152–5.</ref>. Cats are generally less likely to cause injury to people than dogs, as their primary response to threat is escape and avoidance. The greatest risk of injury is when handling cats, but some cats will actively seek out and attack people.

Cat scratch disease is a common and mostly benign condition caused by post-scratch infection with the gram negative bacteria ''Bartonella henselae'' or ''Bartonella quintana''<ref>Klotz, S.A., Ianas, V., Elliott, S.P. (2011). "Cat-scratch Disease". Am Fam Physician. 83(2). 152–5.</ref>. Symptoms are usually seen within 7-14 days of injury, but can take up to 2 months to appear. Symptoms include headache and joint and muscular pains, but severe cases can result in menigioencephalitis or endocarditis<ref>Klotz, S.A., Ianas, V., Elliott, S.P. (2011). "Cat-scratch Disease". Am Fam Physician. 83(2). 152–5.</ref>. Cats are generally less likely to cause injury to people than dogs, as their primary response to threat is escape and avoidance. The greatest risk of injury is when handling cats, but some cats will actively seek out and attack people.

==Risk Assessment==

==Risk Assessment==

If bites/scratches have been frequent and unpredictable and with little warning, and it is difficult to institute measures that alleviate risk of injury, then risk is high.

If bites/scratches have been frequent and unpredictable and with little warning, and it is difficult to institute measures that alleviate risk of injury, then risk is high.

Unless the damage caused by previous bites has been minimal, and the underlying cause for the aggression can be treated effectively then the prognosis if poor.

Unless the damage caused by previous bites has been minimal, and the underlying cause for the aggression can be treated effectively then the prognosis is poor.

Making an assessment of the owner's willingness and ability of comply with treatment and management instructs if critical; poor compliance can lead to serious injury.

Making an assessment of the owner's willingness and ability to comply with treatment and management instructions is critical; poor compliance can lead to serious injury.

After a problem has been successfully treated, there may still be an ongoing risk of incidents, and risk management may need to be continued for the remainder of the cat's life.

After a problem has been successfully treated, there may still be an ongoing risk of incidents, and risk management may need to be continued for the remainder of the cat's life.

The apparent predictability of attacks is crucial to the safe management and treatment of aggressive cats. '''It is very rare for aggression to be truly unpredictable''', unless the animal has an impulse control disorder or the stimuli that elicit or contribute to aggression originate internally (e.g. pain or dysphoria). However, the behavioural changes that warn of an aggressive attack are often missed or misinterpreted by owners, leading to an escalation of behaviour that surprises the owner.

The apparent predictability of attacks is crucial to the safe management and treatment of aggressive cats. '''It is very rare for aggression to be truly unpredictable''', unless the animal has an impulse control disorder or the stimuli that elicit or contribute to aggression originate internally (e.g. pain or dysphoria). However, the behavioural changes that warn of an aggressive attack are often missed or misinterpreted by owners, leading to an escalation of behaviour that surprises the owner.

====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.<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>

It is then important to identify contexts, stimuli, and events that are associated with aggression:

It is then important to identify contexts, stimuli, and events that are associated with aggression:

* Contexts: particular places where aggressive incidents have occurred

* Contexts: Particular places where aggressive incidents have occurred.

* Stimuli: noises, movements, unfamiliar people, other cats.

* Stimuli: Noises, movements, unfamiliar people, other cats.

* Human actions/interactions: Handling, grooming, picking up or corning the cat. Shouting/shrieking at the cat, pushing the cat away, sudden movements, threats (raised hand).

* Human actions/interactions: Handling, grooming, picking up or cornering the cat. Shouting/shrieking at the cat, pushing the cat away, sudden movements, threats (raised hand).

* Interactions with other cats: play, grooming, competition around resources (food, water, latrines, cat doors).

* Interactions with other cats: Play, grooming, competition around resources (food, water, latrines, cat doors).

* Relationship to events or activities: Arrival of a visitor, entry of another cat, play, grooming, feeding, owner departure from the house)

* Relationship to events or activities: Arrival of a visitor, entry of another cat, play, grooming, feeding, owner departure from the house.

* 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.<br><br>

One problem with aggressive 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.

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.