694
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Misdirected Feline Predatory Behaviour Towards People (view source)
Revision as of 09:41, 28 August 2014
, 09:41, 28 August 2014→Introduction
As a result, a cat that is denied the opportunity to engage in hunting real prey or appropriate toys may display predatory behaviour toward other rapidly moving objects such as human feet and hands. Human shrieks and squeals increase the cat's arousal and intensify the behaviour. The behavioural sequences involved in predation are practiced and perfected through object play so that in some texts the terms '''‘misdirected play’ or ‘play-related aggression’''' are used to describe a predatory form of behaviour that occurs in the absence of any genuine prey.
As a result, a cat that is denied the opportunity to engage in hunting real prey or appropriate toys may display predatory behaviour toward other rapidly moving objects such as human feet and hands. Human shrieks and squeals increase the cat's arousal and intensify the behaviour. The behavioural sequences involved in predation are practiced and perfected through object play so that in some texts the terms '''‘misdirected play’ or ‘play-related aggression’''' are used to describe a predatory form of behaviour that occurs in the absence of any genuine prey.
It is important to be aware that bite intensity is under control of local reflexes involving mechanoreceptors around the mouth; once the cat is biting, movement by the "prey" will cause an automatic increase in bite pressure that the cat is unable to fully control. Sudden movements can therefore result in unintentional severe bites.
Elderly people and children are particularly at risk from this sort of behaviour and injuries can be serious due to pathogenic bacterial infection after a bite or scratch.
==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==